Intro

[RamonaQ]

Hi all,

I have been so delighted to discover this forum. Frankly, I don't know why I didn't look earlier as we have predominantly used a classical homeschooling approach over the years. What finally spurred me to look here has been the continued work with my dyslexic son (10yo). I have been so thrilled to see the discussion of many tools and experiences for homeschooling dyslexic children. So thank you all for sharing!

Last year we finally begun to seek additional resources for our son, after a many year "wait and see" approach advocated by my husband who also had reading challenges as a kid. This year we are using Verticy (provided by our virtual academy), which I can share our experience if anyone is particularly interested.

I also have a daughter (7yo) who is not dyslexic, and I have been shocked how easy reading has been for her :tongue_smilie:

Looking forward to "meeting" you all.

[Shari]

Hi and welcome!

I'd love to hear more about Verticy! I am looking into their Writing/Grammar program. (In fact, I called about ordering it this past Monday but they are closed for the holiday.) Can you tell me about your experiences with Verticy? My dyslexic 9yo is having a hard time with the whole writing process. He knows what he wants to say, but the mechanics of handwriting, spelling, grammar, and punctuation totally defeat him. It is quite a pricey program so I'd love to hear from a 'real' person before I make a purchase.

[EKS]

I also have a daughter (7yo) who is not dyslexic, and I have been shocked how easy reading has been for her :tongue_smilie:



Welcome!

I also have two children, the oldest of whom is dyslexic. Learning to read for the younger one seemed akin to breathing, while for the older one it was a drawn out multi year struggle.

[RamonaQ]

Hi and welcome!

I'd love to hear more about Verticy! I am looking into their Writing/Grammar program. (In fact, I called about ordering it this past Monday but they are closed for the holiday.) Can you tell me about your experiences with Verticy? My dyslexic 9yo is having a hard time with the whole writing process. He knows what he wants to say, but the mechanics of handwriting, spelling, grammar, and punctuation totally defeat him. It is quite a pricey program so I'd love to hear from a 'real' person before I make a purchase.

Well, this is our first foray into a full out boxed curriculum. Previously, we followed much of The Well Trained Mind (don't know the abbr. yet). Using STOW for 3 years, along with the activity books, Singapore math, copywork, dictation, etc.. However, I was reaching a point of SEVERE burnout and was needing someone else to do all the planning and resourcing. We have now completed 3 months/ 60 lessons of Verticy.

And, although we have the "full" version of Verticy we are not using the spelling/phonics...I know, crazy!!! For spelling/ phonics we are using a vision therapy program built on Lexia SOS that was created by our Dev. OD. I build the spelling word lists from the words we work on each week. I also do dictation based on those words (harkening back to our previous approaches). In consultation with the Verticy folks, they felt that using our current program would meet many of the same goals as the phonics/ spelling. And, we still have this component if we want to go back and use it after we finish the vision therapy, if I still see there are areas that need work. Or maybe we will be on to something else :lol:

My most favorite part of the the Verticy program is the writing/grammar. There has been a gradual, sequential build up to writing paragraphs, beginning with creating sentences, with grammar reinforcement. There are many types of paragraphs that ds has learned to write. Again, that has also been very gradual. First learning the concept of topic sentence, supporting sentences and concluding sentences. They provide various tools for graphic organization, including software that will turn graphic organizers into outlines. At this point, ds can easily write a paragraph based on a provided topic; he still doesn't LOVE it but a least he doesn't fall apart into a puddle of tears anymore.

The grammar/ writing book is Writing Skills from EPS, which you could get to check out if you don't want to shell out the $$ for Verticy. However, Verticy does add value with additional exercises, strategies, and enrichments. I see as our year progress we will be done with Writing Skills soon, and I think Verticy takes over from there.

At this point, we are working hard to have ds typing all his work to allow for use of spell checkers and ease of editing. However, he has handwritten much of his work and the amount of writing, for him, has been good and also manageable.

The literature has been accessible by ds. There is a combination of reading and listening to stories read online, along with comprehension quizzes. They are OK, some are great, some are kinda dull but I am thrilled that ds can do all of these on his own. Ds has also developed skills to begin to do literary analysis, which although not an area of huge concern as ds has deep comprehension and understanding, this has been a nice set of tools to discuss literature.

Our virtual academy has provided Kurzweil to us and I really like that all the text books are scanned into Kurzweil. So each day, I let my ds know what needs to be read via Kurzweil. I then add to his topic study notes (a page in Kurzweil) the vocab words and important topics that ds should be on the look out when he is listening in Kurzweil, and then he copies those definitions into his study notes. About once a week, I have him "read" through those study notes (have him read along while Kurzweil reads to him).

Science, math and history are grade-level Calvert. It is rigorous. I have liked the history especially. I am not super fond of the science. The math is ok, although I really did love Singapore math and that did work really well for us in the past.

We are enrolled in the ATS as that was what our Virtual Academy pays for. I can comment on that too if you need more info but this is pretty long so far!

I think it is worth talking to someone, and possibly going through the evaluation. I found it reassuring and the Verticy people quite kind and helpful. Likewise, I have found that the assessments have led to a placement in the curriculum that has led to much success and has begun to foster increased independence in learning.

I am interested, are you able to purchase just the writing/ grammar component?

[Shari]

My most favorite part of the the Verticy program is the writing/grammar. There has been a gradual, sequential build up to writing paragraphs, beginning with creating sentences, with grammar reinforcement. There are many types of paragraphs that ds has learned to write. Again, that has also been very gradual. ....

I am interested, are you able to purchase just the writing/ grammar component?

Yes the writing/grammar component is available separately, which is what I am planning to try. We've already done the placement evaluation and ds placed in the 2nd or 'Yellow' level. I was actually quite surprised at this, since ds cannot write in complete sentences. :confused: He does have the basics of grammar nailed down though, so maybe that is what they were looking for. With which level of the grammar/writing did your ds start?

As for our other subjects, I am pleased with our core, we are already using an O/G spelling program, and ds is reading at grade level, so I hesitate to spring for the full Verticy program. Maybe in the future. We have no assistance (financial or otherwise) through the local or state education system, so footing the entire cost is a major consideration.

[RamonaQ]

Yes the writing/grammar component is available separately, which is what I am planning to try. We've already done the placement evaluation and ds placed in the 2nd or 'Yellow' level. I was actually quite surprised at this, since ds cannot write in complete sentences. :confused: He does have the basics of grammar nailed down though, so maybe that is what they were looking for. With which level of the grammar/writing did your ds start?

As for our other subjects, I am pleased with our core, we are already using an O/G spelling program, and ds is reading at grade level, so I hesitate to spring for the full Verticy program. Maybe in the future. We have no assistance (financial or otherwise) through the local or state education system, so footing the entire cost is a major consideration.

We are using the Yellow level. Ds was writing sentences quite well but not paragraphs. So I can't comment whether there is enough instruction to get them up to strong sentence writing, but there is definitely initial coverage of sentence rudiments--writing practice and grammar identification-- and much of it is in the Writing Skills book.

Yes, I agree that Verticy is tremendously expensive. Honestly, as much as I have liked it, with our budget I am not sure that I would have sprung for the whole package if I was paying out of pocket. It is clear to me that some outstanding other resources could be assembled at a much lower cost.

[Shari]

Pm'd you

[RamonaQ]

Pm'd you

Thanks, I am so new I didn't know this board had PMs ;-)

[merry gardens]

Hi all,

I have been so delighted to discover this forum. Frankly, I don't know why I didn't look earlier as we have predominantly used a classical homeschooling approach over the years. What finally spurred me to look here has been the continued work with my dyslexic son (10yo). I have been so thrilled to see the discussion of many tools and experiences for homeschooling dyslexic children. So thank you all for sharing!

Last year we finally begun to seek additional resources for our son, after a many year "wait and see" approach advocated by my husband who also had reading challenges as a kid. This year we are using Verticy (provided by our virtual academy), which I can share our experience if anyone is particularly interested.

I also have a daughter (7yo) who is not dyslexic, and I have been shocked how easy reading has been for her :tongue_smilie:

Looking forward to "meeting" you all.
Hello and welcome. I'm relatively new to the board too and was also thrilled to see discussion about homeschooling children with dyslexia. I suspect my 8 yo son has dyslexia. I recently began teaching his younger sister to read. The difference is night and day.

[RamonaQ]

Thank you all for your kind welcomes. I will look forward to getting to know you!