I am Angie, and I homeschool my two boys. Tim is 5 1/2 and is ‘in’ kindergarten now. He is mildly autistic, he’s come a long way compared to where he was two years ago, but he does still have some problems. Josh is 3, and the way it looks right now, he’s gifted.
Tim is currently doing 1st grade language arts and math, 2nd grade science,and 3rd grade social studies on Time4Learning. He started in 1st grade science and 1st grade social studies, but passed those levels and we just move on. Josh is doing kindergarten language arts and math since there isn’t a preschool section for him, but he’s doing just fine!
I make my own curriculum, it just seems to be the best way to do it for us. I teach the core subjects, plus whatever else Tim wants to learn about. If Time4Learning has something directly to do with what we’re learning about, we do it. Regardless, we use Time4Learning every day, doing two subjects one day, two the next, and we keep alternating. Tim’s reading skills are below his cognition level in science and social studies, so I have to read what those say, but he doesn’t seem to mind. It’s great to find an online curriculum that helps my kids so much!
Angie
March 17, 2008 | 7:52 pm1
It is VERY time consuming, or at least it was in the beginning. Now that I’m used to it, it’s not that bad. I use books from the library, lots of online resources, educational videos or shows, worksheets/workbooks that I buy from the local stores, and things that are more hands-on. A child with autism typically has to learn with all of their senses, and that’s what I have to incorporate. I know a lot of mom’s who buy the packaged curriculum only to use half of it. I can’t afford to waist money, so that’s what led me to doing my own curriculum. It really helps me tailor Tim’s education to Tim, and I think that’s why he’s so successful. And, because he’s at different grade levels in each subject, it would be really hard to buy a curriculum, I’d have to buy several different ones, and there’s no way I could afford that. I do have to say that most of what we use is online. I would be lost without my computer!
Jeaton
March 17, 2008 | 4:19 pm2
The idea of creating your own curriculum sounds time consuming and in order, if that makes any sense. Is it a variety of books, online resources, etc.,?