So I have been anguishing over public school vs. home school. I see pros and cons to both but our issue is Autism. It's not like we can just make sure the teacher is nice and some what competent. It's not like we can just make sure it's a good area and decent students. We have to worry about how well do they know Autism and do they make adjustments for the individual.
These are things I was going to look into and quite frankly it would not have taken much to push me in that direction. The idea of a break during the day is really appealing. I feel like Selah could use more of my attention and I could work on home schooling her. But, luckily, I did not have to look into any of it. I was at a local park this afternoon and I ran into the preschool Spec Ed teacher and we had a lovely little chat and now I know what I'm going to do. NOT PUBLIC SCHOOL... that is for sure.
I found out that they will put Nevaeh in the general public of Kindergarten. The class size is roughly 20 kids. There is just no way that will work for her. One of the biggest struggles we have found with teachers and truthfully everyone, is that they see her talk and think she is fine, mild, barely Autistic. It's very deceving and it deceves me all the time. I will think I am reaching her and she is understanding but eventually it becomes painfully obvious that she has not comprehended anything I've said. Somehow the words get scrabbled in her head. Another thing is that she speaks in cartoons so if you say something that is simaliar to something she has seen she will say the appropriate (to her) response.
For example:
ME: Nevaeh are you ok.
Nevaeh: Yeah, I'm ok.
Seems like a normal conversation right. WRONG. She could be bleeding profusely or have a broken limb and she will say "yeah, I'm ok" and she has said that through tears when she is obviously NOT ok.
I know that because I'm her mom. So to make a short story long ;) I am meeting with a homeschooling mom tomorrow at a park to talk the basics and get me going. I feel like this is the Lord helping me along to do what I know in my heart is the right thing to do for me but am scared to death to do. I'm really looking forward to the encouragement and wisdom this lady has to offer me and feel hopeful now that I can do this.
you just missed it, i think this past weekend there was a big homeschooling convention in des moines that my parents went to. They are going to homeschool the three children they are adopting from the Ukraine, mainly the language barrier, but they are behind a few years in school at least from where they should be.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina, this is Aron, Jason's wife (he was friends with your Jason in TC) We are just starting our 3rd year of homeschooling.One of ours will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, the others are in 6th, 4th, and 3rd (not counting the babies) I thought it would be nice to bounce ideas off each other :D If you guys happen to come to Omaha, we should get together.
ReplyDelete@Lacey - So they are getting 3? Wow, what a blessing.
ReplyDelete@Aron - I would LOVE to get together with you and I'm very new and shakey at this and would love to hear all your woes and successes so I can learn from them. We have talked about making a trip to Omaha in mid-July. I will let you know when we do.
I love the way God works. You have a Devine appointment in the park with a special ed teacher. You may be scared to death to start home school but I don't think that it will be any harder than standing at the bus stop and wondering what will happen to her. You are a wonderful mom and I believe a wonderful teacher to Neaveh and all the girls.
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