homeschooling kids with Aspergers

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First, poll was contradictionary.

Nope. No homeschool.

Yeah, the poll was a mistake on my part. Didn't understand how to do it correctly.

And, give your reasons for no homeschooling.

Kris

Oh yeh, zero tolerance policies = self-defense is something you're punished for.

That's why these polices are usually just so much b.s.

i'm thinking seriously about homeschooling my 2nd grader.. see other thread, he's been causing trouble for us with false accusations of people hitting him because of the misinterpretation of physical touch/lack of appropriate response. but the larger issue: he learns so much better at home because of the fewer distractions (which seems to be a thread with AS kids). his handwriting is better, he finishes work faster, and seems to remember what he's done. every day after school when i pick him up i ask what he's learned, and -never- get anything more than "we had lunch" - if that.

my biggest concern, aside from the lack of daily interaction with non-siblings, is the time it'll take. even the online schools still require a lot of parental involvement.

I'm about to begin home schooling my 11 yr old son. We have struggled in the education system for long enough and he clearly cannot cope in the class room - even with support hours. Therefore, we have decided to do what's best for our collective situation.

I am terrified because I've had to change my work hours and will be surviving on half the income I had previously. BUT...my sons education and comfort is very important to us. We will do what we have to so that he can thrive and adjust to a world that doesn't understand him and he doesn't care much for.

I have designed a practical educational plan that includes many, many outings and hands on experiments (he adores that sort of thing) and our curricula is based upon natural learning elements. We're even going to weave his computer games into the home school day.

I teach at University and I hope that one day he too will be in a position to sit in a crowded lecture room without melting down and shutting his natural curiosity off.

Home schooling is not for everyone nor does it suit every situation. We are very glad we stopped fighting against it though and we're looking forward to our new venture beginning.

I am fascinated to read that there are so many other parents out there who ordinarily wouldn't homeschool, but who have come around to the idea out of necessity.

I have been anti-homeschooling for years, mostly because a good amount of the people I know who have homeschooled are members of my church, and have historically homeschooled their children for religious reasons, i.e. they don't want to have to deal with what they consider are subversive elements of sending their children out into the world, learning alternative lifestyles, etc. that don't mesh with our religion. Unfortunately, I've also observed that these children are incredibly socially backwards, because the only peers they had relationships with were their siblings. But in recent years, homeschooling has improved to such a degree that there are many more social opportunities out there. One of my best friends homeschools her kids, and they are three of the best socialized children I've ever seen. They are very bright, and very appealing children. I don't have the same fears about homeschooling as I have had in the past. And I know for sure that my son would enjoy it.

It is just such a painful decision to make. But when I read about all that many of you parents have sacrificed in order to do homeschooling, I can see that often it is the best alternative.

Kris

Meh...there's a youth centre about 6 minutes' drive away from us.

That should handle any socialisation required.

Touche on that Kris. The thought of home schooling my child used to make me run away screaming. I resited it even when the Aspergers specialist said she thought it was the very best option.

Once I stepped into my sons shoes though and felt how bad it was for him, I began to make changes to accommodate a life that would gel with home schooling.

I am now so positive and am loving the planning, organising and creativity required. I am still really worried about my income (partner doesn't have many frugal bones in his body!!) but I am hoping to change the way I earn by doing freelance writing.

I've started a blogt that acts as part diary for home schooling processes but my son is very edgy around people knowing he's got Aspergers. When it comes time to send it to the Home Education Unit I think he will have a major melt down.

Is this denial and shying away from a diagnosis unusual or do you other parents also experience it?

Hi, I also come from North Queensland and have attended autism groups where parents have expressed a lot of dissatisfaction with how their children are coping in school and how few accommodations are often being made in teaching these children.

One mother had to pull her 8 year old out of school because they wouldn't let him sit somewhere quiet in morning tea and lunch breaks and made him go out into the playground. The noise and activity was just too much for him.

Another one had to change schools because her boy started throwing his school uniforms in the rubbish bin.

I don't know if any of the parents from here are homeschooling because I haven't been to any group meetings for several months, but I know a lot of parents are worried about what will happen with their children once they get past the early primary school grades.

There is still this perception that children will grow out of their autism and that they don't need help once they're around 11 or 12 or older. In fact, this is so wrong and I hope the general community can learn that autism occurs in all age groups.

Good on you for arranging homeschooling for your son.

Hey Pandora
we've just returned from a couple of days in Townsville. Your water park on the strand is the best. And the Reef HQ Aquarium - what a mine field of home school activities. It was great.

Our school has been very supportive of our plight. They attempted to make as many changes as they could. Boy was allowed to have a lap top, to remove himself to quiet areas at any time and he had a nominated safe person on his side. Despite all of this, his hatred of organised school with zillions of noisy kids and time tables that seemed ridiculous to him just wasn't worth the anxiety.

Last term we home schooled 2 days per week and he attended school 3 days. Projects completed on his home days were supposed to be presented to his class on school days. SUPPOSED is the operative word here. He considered his peers and teachers to be "dumb" so he never bothered sharing his learning and knowledge with them. He yelled at them instead.

Home school is right for us but gee it's taken a lot of discussion, rearranging and soul searching on our behalf.

For those of you that are planning to homeschool older kids in the US, check out the online AP (Advanced Placement) classes . These are classes for bright, hard working students. The child can get college credit if they pass a test that is given in May. Kids with special needs are sometimes allowed to test in another room, use computers to write, or get extra time if needed. Our state pays for the test and for the online classes for low-income students. It seems to me that most homeschoolers qualify as low income due to one parent needing to stay home. You can get more information from http://www.collegeboard.com/student/tes ... about.html

I should probably start another thread for homeshcooling ideas.

Sandy

That's a good idea, Sandy, to start another thread for homeschooling ideas.

Pandora, I'm definitely under the impression that the years in middle school, or at least ages 11 through 14, are often the worst for our kids. They are actually often the worst for EVERY kid, autistic or otherwise, but for our kids, I think that the noise is unbearable at school, and the beginning of humor that they don't understand (sarcasm, double entendre, etc.), as well as the beginning of tight friendships or boy/girl relationships. Suddenly they begin to understand that they are different, and it's hard to take. I've had many friends with sons especially who begin to have depression at this age. It just breaks my heart. But not all of the do, and we need to do whatever it takes to make sure that that depression doesn't happen at all, if we can, or try to minimize it.

Kris