Cyberschool?

[MicheleB]

I know this is a forum for classical homeschooling, but I am wondering if anyone here ever tried cyberschool for their special needs child or if you might have some thoughts about our current situation:

My boys, in a nutshell, (grades 3 and 5) both have severe visual-perceptual processing disorders (they can barely read), fine motor skills issues, speech and language delays, borderline low-average IQs and some psychological issues as well.

I have homeschooled them by mainly reading everything aloud to them. We were doing OT an ST every other week at a clinic 1 1/2 hours away from us but had to stop over the winter. The ST had started the Barton program with both boys. Older son was in level 1 and younger son was still working on the pre-test type things.... syllables, isolating phonemes, etc.

My high school dds started a cyberschool this year that I am pretty impressed with. (It is called PAVCS, if anyone is familiar with it). I have been inquiring about enrolling my sons next year as well.

My initial talk with the Master teacher of their special education department was very good, very supportive, very helpful and overall, compared to my older son's public school kindergarten experience, just 100% better.

The cyberschool *does* use the Barton program (taught through me at home, but they supply all the materials) to children who qualify. She didn't want to 100% promise me that they would qualify because the school would have to conduct their own evaluations, but she felt they would.

They also use Touch Math for children with learning disabilities.

There is no "overtime" work. If during the course of a 45-minute lesson, the child cannot complete the lesson, they pick up the next day where they left off.

It sounds as if they work extensively with the parent (because we are their academic coaches) and that modifications an accommodations are made until everyone is happy.

So... what are your thoughts, experiences, other questions you might ask the school before considering this? We could never afford the Barton system, and driving so far for therapy is really a hardship (plus it's only 2x/month). Touch Math is also very expensive.

I'm really interested to hear what you all might say. :)

[Laurie4b]

I know this is a forum for classical homeschooling, but I am wondering if anyone here ever tried cyberschool for their special needs child or if you might have some thoughts about our current situation:

My boys, in a nutshell, (grades 3 and 5) both have severe visual-perceptual processing disorders (they can barely read), fine motor skills issues, speech and language delays, borderline low-average IQs and some psychological issues as well.

I have homeschooled them by mainly reading everything aloud to them. We were doing OT an ST every other week at a clinic 1 1/2 hours away from us but had to stop over the winter. The ST had started the Barton program with both boys. Older son was in level 1 and younger son was still working on the pre-test type things.... syllables, isolating phonemes, etc.

My high school dds started a cyberschool this year that I am pretty impressed with. (It is called PAVCS, if anyone is familiar with it). I have been inquiring about enrolling my sons next year as well.

My initial talk with the Master teacher of their special education department was very good, very supportive, very helpful and overall, compared to my older son's public school kindergarten experience, just 100% better.

The cyberschool *does* use the Barton program (taught through me at home, but they supply all the materials) to children who qualify. She didn't want to 100% promise me that they would qualify because the school would have to conduct their own evaluations, but she felt they would.

They also use Touch Math for children with learning disabilities.

There is no "overtime" work. If during the course of a 45-minute lesson, the child cannot complete the lesson, they pick up the next day where they left off.

It sounds as if they work extensively with the parent (because we are their academic coaches) and that modifications an accommodations are made until everyone is happy.

So... what are your thoughts, experiences, other questions you might ask the school before considering this? We could never afford the Barton system, and driving so far for therapy is really a hardship (plus it's only 2x/month). Touch Math is also very expensive.

I'm really interested to hear what you all might say. :)

Sounds like it's worth a try. It would give you a support system and the Barton is a good way to work on their reading. I don't know anything about Touch Math, so can't comment on that. I hope it works for you!

[Momto2Ns]

It sounds wonderful. If they really do all they say, then it is worth trying. I looked into our public cyber, but it was a bad fit. I think anything that provides what your child needs is a great option!

[MicheleB]

Thank you!!

I am still weighing some things but leaning towards it. If we try it next school year, I will come back to report. :)

[MicheleB]

I did just learn that the administration has approved my boys doing science, history and art at the same level! I really am impressed with their flexibility. I haven't found that anywhere else, especially not when my children were in regular public school.

So, I think we will be trying it! :)

[urban mama]

We enrolled our oldest in a charter school this spring, not because of his special needs but so that I would have more time to focus on the needs of my younger two. Part of our reasoning as we made the decision was "if we don't like it, we can always pull him out!"

So that being said, if it seems like a good fit philosophically and academically and they have the curriculum you think would work with your kids, try it! If it doesn't crack up to be all they said it would, pull them out! It's not like you're afraid to try homeschooling them :). Even with our oldest in charter school, he knows that I am still his primary teacher and Dad and I are still in charge of his schooling. It's just that, for now, this is the curriculum we have chosen for this season of life to best meet everyones needs!