-=> Quoting Zaynab Richmond to Alinda Harrison <=-
 ZR> I'd like to know more about learning styles.  My son (age six) also is
 ZR> not  interested in bookwork -- in fact, he resists it consciously.  I
 ZR> do want to  train him to be able to do a little of it without
 ZR> complaining, but it will not
 ZR> be our main program since he really hates it and I don't want him to
 ZR> hate learning.  
Find ways where you can incorporate interesting things having to do
with the basics i.e.  the alphabet, numbers, etc.  It may be that
your son is just not ready for most 'required' learning that the
public schools require.  Remember most boys are behind girls and
usually a boy will not be ready to really sit down and do bookwork
of any kind until they are 8 or 9. Since you are homeschooling, I
wouldn't worry too much about putting pressure on him unless he has
to be tested at the end of each year with the district if you
registered him.  Find out what their requirements are for that test
and if necessary concentrate on those and throw in some added fun
things to do like the zoo, ocean, rollerskating, arts and crafts
etc.  There is so much to learn that he does not really have to "sit
down and do bookwork" each time.  If you need any more help, see if
you can find a local homeschool support group for some ideas.  Of
course, we on here will all throw our 2 cents in .
 ZR> How much has your eight year old learned already?  I also have a
 ZR> seriously  difficult child, who has never been diagnosed as ADHD, but
 ZR> she was evaluated  by the school district and placed in a school for
 ZR> severely emotionally  disturbed children, which is also where the ADHD
 ZR> children are placed here.   She is a very bright child, and I had
 ZR> taught her to read before she started  kindergarten, but her behavior
 ZR> is outrageous.  She does well in the special  school, though.  There,
 ZR> they have two adults for every eight children and she 
 ZR> excels and loves it.  She is going for another year, at least...
 ZR> partly  because she really enjoys the school and partly because I need
 ZR> a break from  her!  I will be homeschooling just the six year old
 ZR> boy... who may have ADD  but is not hyperactive, thank the cosmic
 ZR> consciousness.  
My daughter is hyperactive up to a point.  But she is sure stubborn
just like her mother!!  I think your daughter just loves the one on
one that she gets pretty much and some of the interaction with other
kids her age.  Going for this year may well prepare her for
homeschooling next year .
 ZR> To give an example.. Aaron doesn't know any of the letters as far as
 ZR> naming  them when he sees them, and has never said the entire alphabet
 ZR> all the way through.  He also doesn't know most of the one-digit
 ZR> numbers yet.  He has  resisted this kind of learning when it was
 ZR> offered to him, yet /on his own/ he
 ZR> seems to develop an interest... but it has to be /on his terms/.  For 
 ZR> instance, yesterday he created a "wild west town" out of construction
 ZR> paper.  
 ZR> He brought me a piece of paper and insisted that I cut out the letters
 ZR> to  create the words, "Saloon of the Old West".  That was a lot of
 ZR> words, so we  settled on just "Saloon".  Then he wanted me to put the
 ZR> letters onto his  saloon for him, but I convinced him that if I wrote
 ZR> out the word he could  figure out the right order for himself.  I
 ZR> checked on this later and he did  get the order right -- he just did
 ZR> the whole word backwords so it reads:  "noolas".  I didn't tell him --
 ZR> he was so pleased with this project he went to sleep with it last
 ZR> night.  Oh -- he's left handed and has been doing things
 ZR> backwards ever since he was born (upside down).  So, I know I still
 ZR> have to teach him to start from the left -- don't know why he hasn't
 ZR> picked this up from all the reading we do, but one thing at a time.  At
 ZR> least he knows that words are valuable and that's a good start.
Lefties have it harder than rightys.  I know because my youngest is
a lefty.  they will naturally get things backwards for a time.
Naomi is just now getting the idea that somethings are not to be
done backwards.  However, gentle correction is nice at times, other
times like you did above is just best left as is not to bruise a
fragile ego :) Reading doesn't necessarily teach them how to start
from the left.  Another mother who had *2* leftys suggested to me
that you try doing some things from behind.  Sit your son down in
your lap and show him how to draw or write from behind you.  your
letters may not be legible if you are a righty and using your left
hand from behind but he will get the idea.  Start with the alphabet
on a write erase board and let him write and erase as often as he
wants.  He can even draw pictures then erase them.  That will allow
him some fun.  Naomi is being homeschooled too (1 month of
kindergarden) and she enjoys the extra time right now with mom.  I
go back to college on the 23rd.  Then it will be homeschooling at
night.
GOOD LUCK!! God be with you.
Jessica
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