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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: Feb 17 2013 at 10:58pm | IP Logged
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My 11 year old ds who is severely dyslexic and also has some high functioning autistic issues has a formal diagnosis of dyslexia from a few years ago and after 2 years of Orton-Gilligham tutoring is about up to grade level with reading--though it is still a workout and needs to be done in short lessons. He does okay with comprehension again though extra time is needed. Hard to forsee what he will want to do but I am curious how you prepared your children with learning issues for college? I know his diagnosis will give him extra time on the ACT (so I have been told) but honestly it is hard to forsee him able to do so many of the things--essay writing sitting through lectures, ect. I am not even sure if he will be college bound but I do want him to be prepared for wherever his vocation will take him. Does anyone have any insights/articles to recommend? My oldest of 7 is in high school now and as I am preparing him I am thinking ahead as to how the heck I would be doing these things with my 11 year old with his struggles. Thanks for any help.
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Feb 18 2013 at 8:11am | IP Logged
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I don't know if what we are doing is right, but I can let you know a bit about how we approach things!
Our dd15 has a formal diagnosis, her main weakness being rapid naming, reading speed, and spelling. It also came out that she is gifted in math (came out for the psychologist!). One of the accomodations she will recieve at University is that she can request the lecture notes before a lecture, and hopefully a scribe. She is taking a course there next year, and I have a friend in the department and they said that they are very supportive.
To prep for college work:
-lots of audiobooks to keep up the literature. She loves books in this format (and lots of read alouds)
-lots of focus on her areas of strength, namely math and science (this is our biggie)
-introduction of science text not geared for homeschoolers, in little chunks so she can learn to glean information that way and begin to take notes
-visual teaching here at home: math is done with fab. videos for her Foerster book, she watches lots of Khan academy and physics clips etc.
-writing: we have decided to focus on writing essays this year realising that she is very well 'read' and this is where she really needs to focus. Ideally she would be reading the hundreds of classics ala CM that my older ds did at this age, but we are working with who she is (please remind me of this daily- it is much easier to type than do!)
At 11 I would be trying to work with where he is- teach to his strengths maybe, include lots of audio (we even use mp3s along with our science books in highschool), and work on what needs to be worked on with reading etc. My dd is not severely dyslexic, so I know this isn't the same experience. I did know that I didn't want to hold her back in other areas because of her reading disability- this is where homeschooling shines.
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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Maureen
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| Posted: Feb 18 2013 at 8:54am | IP Logged
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Kristie,
Thanks for all your suggestions. I, too, have a dyslexic daughter whose stregth is in math. Can you tell me where you got your videos to use with the Foerster book?
Thanks,
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Maureen, mom to 8 treasures
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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: Feb 18 2013 at 10:08am | IP Logged
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Kristie--Thank you so much for your insights. I see you are in Canada so I am wondering did she take the ACT up there and if so did she receive extra time? My son's strength is also mathematics and he is at grade level though still has not memorized his multiplication tables.
Laura
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Feb 18 2013 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Oooo, multiplication tables. My daughter knows them but they are not the instant recall like my other kids!
We use the Math Without Borders cds- she just does the questions that he assigns and gives full solutions too. She uses the text explanations if she needs them, but she feels he usually explains everything she needs.
We don't have to do the SAT etc. in Manitoba. She will be doing it next year however, as it might mean some money (and she may want to do engineering and that is its own animal as far as admissions go).
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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The Tin Mom
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| Posted: Feb 28 2013 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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Orton Gillingham is great! We have a friend who was told that her (now) 17 year old would never learn to read fluently. The young lady has written a couple of novels and earned "A's" in two college level classes. My friend used Orton Gillingham to teach both of her oldest dc to read.
We aren't close to a resource for Orton Gillingham, so used Sonday, which is OG based. All three of my dc (Dd19, Dd14, Ds13) are reading at or above grade level. Ds13 still struggles when put on the spot, but can work his way through most books. Dd19 is dual enrolled at our local community college. She has dysgraphia, along with other LDs. She had accommodations available, but didn't use them.
Some of the other things that we have found helpful or that Dd noticed in her classes:
- Audiobooks. Whenever and where-ever we can, we listen to audiobooks. Especially in the car. Ds loves these so much that he fills his iPod with things like Mrs. Frisby, Redwall, Lord of the Rings, etc. and listens on his own.
- Daily reading practice. And, find books that they enjoy. Ds got started reading with a silly series that was two levels below his age, it was easy and he enjoyed it, so he gradually worked up to more difficult books.
- Practice essays. Ugh. But, I let my children do most of these on the computer, so it makes things less painful.
- Practice hand-written essays. Ugh ugh. We learned this the hard way. Dd19 was invited to compete for a full-ride scholarship at her first choice university. The competition included a hand-written essay. Ummmm. Yeah. Up until a month ago, Dd19 had typed every essay she had ever written. Hand-writing an essay and not being able to cut, paste and delete was a shock to her system! LOL!
- Dd19 has told me that several other students took class notes on electronic devices in the classes she took. She didn't, but it was something that she saw, and the instructor allowed it. I would think that this is probably becoming more common.
- One of dd's accommodations was to have either a note taker or access to the instructor's class notes. She didn't use this for these classes, but it was available.
- Taking classes that she found interesting at the community college, while she was still home and in high-school was a great experience. It allowed her to see her weaknesses and strengths, as well as giving her the opportunity to see what college was like. I would highly recommend this if it is possible.
- Start taking the ACT or SAT as early as possible. You don't need to submit scores anywhere until you are ready....
Also, aside from the academics, we have found that being involved in outside activities is huge. I wish we had done this more with Dd19, but the younger two are very active in 4H. Dd19 was involved, but we didn't take advantage of the public speaking or other opportunities. I am gently pushing Dd14 and Ds13 to participate in as many competitions as time allows. It increases their confidence when they participate in these things, whether they win or not. That is Dd19's biggest issue. She has succeeded in so many ways, but still fears failure.
HTH. I am sure I am forgetting something. My brain is old and tired and I sometimes mix two posts up or repeat myself. Then, I feel silly! 
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4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: College prep with dyslexic kids
