-=> Quoting Zaynab Richmond to All <=-
 ZR> What surprised me was that she now tells me that not only do I have to
 ZR> keep  the journal, I also have to keep a time sheet... and she wants me
 ZR> to spend  4+1/2 hours per week studying spelling and writing with my
 ZR> son.  My son, on  the other hand, has little to no interest in being
 ZR> pushed into reading.  He  likes to make the letter shapes but doesn't
 I know exactly what you mearn.  My 8 year old knows answers, but hates to
 write them down on paper.  Sometimes I write them.  To me it is more impor-
 tant he knows things.  You have your work cut out for you, as children
 don't always want to do something especially when you want to do them.
 Do you have to be enrolled in this program?
 Flash cards can be really boring to a young child.  You may try some
 phonics program for the computer.  Also I like spelling voice.  You can
 put in the spelling words, record them, and then the child types out the
 word in the computer.  It tells them when they are wrong and what words
 they need to practice.  It is also shareware, but in my opinion very good.
 My children get better grades in spelling because it holds their interest.
 Another thing that works is put names of the things you have around your
 house in different colors and tape them to the object.  I wouldn't try
 refrigerator, but some smaller objects.  This way he will start to recognize
 words without really knowing he is beginning to read.
 ZR> :(  Later he got hold of a pipe cleaner and was making letter  shapes.
 Your son sounds like a visual person.  You may try to find visual ways of
 teaching him things using hands on.  Have him draw a picture of something
 and then put the name of it down.  Like a cat, dog, or doll.  Simple things.
 ZR> I eventually got him to do two rows of the letter S with a crayon,  but
 ZR> he was not very thrilled with this, refused to finish and wouldn't
 ZR> draw a  picture to go with it.  I am all for him learning to read and
 Then have him do a few at a time.  Obviously, his attention span is not
 very high with certain subjects.
 ZR> write, but am  feeling that pushing him is not right and that he'll
 ZR> learn in his own sweet  time... but in the meantime, how do I honestly
 ZR> satisfy a requirement for 4.5  hours a week of spelling and writing? 
 ZR> Any suggestions?? 
 ZR> A homeschooling friend tells me of a book called _Better Late Than
 ZR> Early_  regarding children who have this aversion to spelling and
 ZR> writing... even up  to age ten... my son is now six.  Has anyone here
 ZR> read it? 
 No I haven't.  But children this age really need more visual, hands on
 training.  My daughter came over again today.  We gave my grandaughter
 a real old computer with the alphabet game on it.  It plays music through
 a speaker.  She loved it.  After getting it home, she now is trying to
 find the letters on the keyboard.  She is 3 1/2.  She will not repeat the
 ABC's, but last nite after the computer she started to sing the song.  Her
 whole outlook on letters has changed. She hated any thought of the ABC's or
 numbers before this.  And would throw violent fits if my daughter asked her
 to say her 123's or ABC's.
 ZR> The other requirements sound like they'll be easy for us... Here's the
 ZR> lineup..
 ZR> Hrs/Wk             Subject
 ZR> ~~~~~~             ~~~~~~~
 ZR> 4.5             Spelling/Writing             Since this is not broken
                                                  down, spelling could be
                                                  out on the computer for
                                                  as many hours as you need
                                                  write an hour or so a week.
 ZR> 3.5             Reading/Literature           Look for cassette and tape
                                                  books at the Library.
 ZR> 4               Math                         Try bright color block for
                                                  counting.
 ZR> 2               Social Studies               At that age, I think you
                                                  got this covered.
 ZR> 2.5             Science/Health               Teach, brushing teeth and
                                                  clean, body and why you
                                                  clean the house.
 ZR> 1.5             Art/Music                    Find children music on
                                                  cassette.
 ZR> 2               P.E.                         Throwing a ball, sit up,
                                                  jumping jacks.
 If you have to stay in this program, then I suggest more hands on creativity
 and just explain to the school that this is yours sons needs.  Eventually,
 you will get him to write on paper when he becomes more comfortable with
 the alphabet and numbers.
 I don't know if any of this helps, but this is all I can think of.  Maybe
 going to the Library, which you can use as reading time, and finding some
 books to help.
 Regina
... "What?!? This isn't the Files section?!?"
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