newbie questions

[websaw]

Hi, I have been lurking here awhile. I have learned a lot from all of you! I have a question and wondering if any of you can help me. My son is 11. He was in the public school system K-4th grades. I pulled him out this year (5th grade) for the first time. He was in the special ed. program for learning disabilities in math, reading and writing. He has difficulty remembering multiplication facts. He is reading on a 4th grade level. His hand writing has improved, but still has problems writing letters backwards. However, since I have brought him home he has been much more confident and reads all the time. So I am thankful for that!

I think he might be dyslexic and have a language processing disorder. He is very right brained in that he "sees" everything he learns.I have just signed him up for Classical Conversations next year, but am having some doubts and concerns. I am concerned that it might 'blow him out of the water'. Is there anyone who has a child with some of these same learning blocks and participated in CC? Do you think he will be o.k.? Have a made a terrible mistake?

Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

[JennW in SoCal]

I don't know anything about Classical Conversations, but felt you needed someone to reply by the end of the day. This board isn't as busy as the others, but I'm sure someone will chime in with some concrete help.

Is this an on-line class or something for you to do with him at home which you can tweak to fit his needs? You can do the bulk of the work orally and limit the writing if need be. Read KarenAnne's blog posts for some ideas on how she taught her dd who struggles with dysgraphia.

By the way, my oldest ds, who has Asperger's and ADHD never did master his multiplication tables. Most of those facts sank in through the years, but he needed a calculator or fingers! He made it through Algebra 1 and geometry before graduating, and handles money well. He hasn't had to figure out math for college yet, though hopefully as a Theater major he can get by with something basic. Anyway, over the years we used computer games like Math Blaster, flash cards, he kept a multiplication chart next to him while he worked, he used manipulatives to count by 2s an 3s. The funny thing was that he was very math smart -- he knew exactly how to solve word problems, just had to use a calculator for the actual math.

[websaw]

Thanks for replying. Can you give me the link to KarenAnne's blog?
Thanks!

[RamonaQ]

Honestly, I don't know that much about Classical Conversations but my son sounds a lot like yours. In our case, we have not been involved in group learning situations yet.

Perhaps in your shoes, I would have a conversation with the director concerning your son and what appropriate accommodations could be provided, and whether they have worked with dyslexic kids before.

[NayfiesMama]

Did you sign him up for Foundations and Essentials? (the morning and the afternoon program)
For the morning, I would let the Tutor know ahead of time, just not to put your son on the spot. But, though the students learn a bit more... and a bit differently, the students in the 5th... learn just the same information as the non-readers, so it shouldn't be a problem. Let him stretch up... but just not pop :)

:)