-=> Quoting Mike Martin to Regina Finan <=-
 MM> Howdy Regina:
 MM> Regina Finan wrote in a message to Mike Martin:
 
 RF>  Jonathon is LD.
 MM> I am a middle school resource teacher, so am well aware of the meaning
 MM> of LD. I do not care for the label, as I will swear most of my LD kids
 MM> are in some ways way above average intelligence.  If label we must, I
 MM> use Learning Different. 
 
 I don't much use the label unless I am looking at curriculums.  Only
 because some of these types of learning tools put things in words that
 Jonathon can understand a little easier.  As far as things go now, we
 just do school and however or where ever it takes us we go.  Sometimes
 we work on things together and sometimes they work seperately at their
 own grade level.  
 RF> We can work on sentences and do all subjects or all verbs
 RF> and  their is no problem.
 MM> Why bother.  As long as he understands the function of these words,
 MM> what does it matter if it is called a noun, verb, adjective, or
 MM> troglodyte.  I think we lose too many kids by freaking out on the
 MM> taxonomy of language, or meta-language before they are prepared, that
 MM> we confuse them about language itself.  Even while they are in the
 MM> early stages of learning to use language and before they have refined
 MM> their ability to abstract, we begin abstracting language.  You do not
 MM> have to know the structure of a car to drive it correctly.  For my own
 MM> self, I made "F's" and occasionally a "D" in English, yet I always
 MM> spoke, read and wrote well enough.  I was also labeled deficient in
 MM> reading, although I was reading doctoral level texts on fish in 7th
 MM> grade (I had a love for aquariums), and the teachers did not know
 MM> about that.  And I hated to write about literature.  In college, I was
 MM> accepted to two honor fraternities. And I never could distinguish
 MM> between a verb, noun, etc. until about 5 years ago, when I started
 MM> teaching special ed out of another career, and discovered the focus of
 MM> teaching is language...and I am pushing 50 now. 
 Well, I understand your point, here in Michigan I must teach English.
 Sorry I cut out your stuff.  Anyway I don't need an English Resource.
 I found a program I like and will get it soon.  Right now we are just
 taking it slow.  He does understand, its just the confusion of directions
 which throws him for a loop.
 Michigan had a change in laws last year.  Use to be all homeschools were
 considered private schools.  Now we have homeschooling and private.
 Kids are allowed to be homeschooled if it is performed in an organized
 manner, teaching required subjects, at their age level or learning level,
 which means to fullfil whatever needs they have.  Unfortunately, English
 is part of this.  I can deal with it.  It's just a matter of finding a
 good approach for Jonathon.  Since he understands it seperately, I am
 not too worried about it.  Jonathon (ADD) has learned to focus.  But
 to go from one thing to another on one assignment is too tough for him
 right now.  
 I am going to try different colors, but I don't feel it will help.
 When Jonathon gets directions for an assignment.  He can not organize
 them and sort them out.  Once the directions go into his ear, his brain
 does not comprehend them properly.  This is why he needs one step direc-
 tions.  To pick out a subject is fine, but to pick out a subject and verb
 at the same time is not.  His brain mixes it up.  Even if you do one and
 then go back and do the other.  Part of his problem could be seeing it
 on the page too, which is why I will try the different color and see
 if it does make a difference.  This way I can rule out a visual problem.
 Regina
... A feature is a bug with seniority.
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