Revised Language Arts Plan for 4th Grade

 We spent a month on Masterbooks' Language Arts (3rd grade level) and only reached Day 10 in the workbook.  Also, that was the worst tears/frustration my dyslexic 4th grader has ever had with schoolwork.  So, we dropped Masterbooks on Monday and I spent the week coming up with a new plan.

Here's my plan for the school year.

Reading and Spelling

• Barton Reading and Spelling (we're in level 3)
• Lexile level readers from the library

Handwriting 

• Handwriting without Tears Cursive

Grammar

• Reading through the Brian Cleary grammar books + some homemade grammar exercises that I'm going to put on the dry erase board once a week (exercises based on the books we read)
• A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink.  What is a Noun?
• A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime.  More About Nouns.
• To Root, to Toot, to Parachute.  What is a Verb?
• Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp.  More About Verbs.
• I and You and Don't Forget Who.  What is a Pronoun?
• Hairy, Scary, Ordinary.  What is an Adjective?
• Dearly, Nearly Insincerely.  What is an Adverb?
• Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally.  More About Adverbs.
• But and For, Yet and Nor.  What is a Conjunction?
• I'm and Won't, They're and Don't.  What is a Contraction?
• Cool, Whoa, Ah and Oh.  What is an Interjection?
• Under, Over, By the Clover.  What is a Preposition?
• Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy.  More About Antonyms.
• We're going to watch the grammar songs/videos from Schoolhouse Rock.
• Schoolhouse Rock/Grammar Rock Videos (on Youtube)
• "A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing"
• "Verb, that's what's Happening"
• "Conjunction Junction"
• "Interjections"
• "Unpack Your Adjectives"
• "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here"
• "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla"
• "Busy Prepositions"
• "The Tale of Mr. Morton"

Writing

• Bravewriter (The Writer's Jungle)

Struggling with Masterbooks Language Arts (and dyslexia)

For fourth grade language arts, we are using Barton Reading and Spelling (a program specifically for dyslexics), Handwriting without Tears, readers from the library and Masterbooks' Language Lessons for a Living Education 3.  

My son does really well with Barton Reading.  It's boring and you have to win the lottery to be able to afford it, but he's progressing in his reading and spelling.  And the font is great for dyslexia.  Barton uses larger, bold text and my son does so much better reading with text that is larger and more pronounced.  The exercises with the wooden tiles are also very helpful.

Handwriting without Tears Cursive = so far, so good.  You can't go wrong there.

He's reading Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy (a library book) and he's able to read almost every word.  It's a big confidence booster.  Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy is about a 590 Lexile, so maybe a late 2nd grade reading level...

He is seriously struggling with Masterbooks' language arts.  I think this curriculum might be ok for a student with mild dyslexia, but I don't know if my son will be capable of continuing it, even using it a grade below his.  I'm not real happy about this, because it was relatively expensive and I don't like to curriculum-hop.  But, he's not going to learn anything or enjoy learning if he's crying during language arts.  He's very resilient and used to struggling in everything, so if he reaches the point where he's crying, something is really wrong.  

I'm at a loss as to what language arts program would work for my son.  I'm considering putting together a language arts program for him from scratch.  

Googling language arts + dyslexia doesn't seem to be helpful, either.  There are lots of reading programs for dyslexic students, but I don't see any writing and grammar programs for dyslexic students.   

I don't feel like just learning to read is enough at this point, though.  He needs a bit of writing and grammar instruction, especially at his age. 

A Helpful Podcast: "Classical Education for Students with Learning Differences w/ Courtney Ostaff"

 I am really enjoying this episode of The Well-Trained Mind Podcast.  Here's a link to the show itself. https://welltrainedmind.com/the-well-trained-mind-podcast/  The title of the episode is Classical Education for Students with Learning Differences w/ Courtney Ostaff.  The episode is part of Season 1, Episode 11.

The episode begins by talking about a famous reading comprehension study done called The Baseball Study: baseball-experiment-two-wisconsin-researchers-discovered-comprehension-gap-knowledge-gap. The results of the experiment showed that the more knowledge you have about a subject, the better reader you are about the subject.  

This episode of the podcast also talks about the importance of losing grade-level rigidity and continuing subjects like art, music, science, etc, for students with learning differences.  Because of my experiences homeschooling my own dyslexic kids, I completely agree with this.  I always felt like the more culture, literature, art, history, science, etc they could be exposed to would help scaffold them with any learning issues they have.

The podcast has links to the Baseball Study, as well as articles about writing with dyslexia/dysgraphia.

Phonological Awareness Cards for Dyslexia

 This is from the Louisiana Believes website.  I printed them out and we are adding these to our reading practice.

SET #1: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/default-source/literacy/phonological-awareness-activity-cards-set-1.pdf?sfvrsn=26a06718_8

SET #2: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/default-source/literacy/phonological-awareness-activity-cards-set-2.pdf

Phonemic Awareness Packet:  https://www.cru.org/content/dam/cru/communities/inner-city/educational-resources/Phonemic-Awareness.pdf

Dyslexia - What Has Worked So Far (Fall 2023)

 All five kids and I have signs of dyslexia, but the 8 year-old is the only one with an official assessment done by a doctor.  He has severe dyslexia.  In three of the categories, he had the lowest scores you could have.  According to the assessment, he has phonological issues (hearing the letter sounds) and visual attention issues (difficulty remembering symbols and their meanings).

I just wanted to record my thoughts on what has worked up until this point.  Each person is different, so what works for us may not work for others and vice versa (that goes without saying, I think).

What we have been successful with so far:

All About Spelling

• I am only using the Teacher's Guide.  I did not buy all the extras for it, but if I could afford it, I would've bought all the bells and whistles for this program.  But even only using the Teacher's Guide and a dry erase board, this is really making a difference with his reading abilities.
• All About Spelling

Explode the Code

• This has really helped him so much.  We're going to do this series of workbooks until we finish all of them.
• We are only using the workbooks, not the online version
• Explode the Code

Handwriting using the whiteboard app on iPad

• This app was free.  It's called Whiteboard.  We use our fingers or a stylus to form the letters - lowercase, capital, cursive and print.  You can make the letters different colors and the ink can be thick or thin.
• I work on motor memory and forming the letters correctly, instead of drawing them differently every time.

Dog on a Log Readers

• These are priceless.  Written by a lady who's daughter is dyslexic.  
• Dog on a Log Books

Sonlight Readers

• He really likes these, but any readers are fine.
• He especially likes the Frog and Toad books.
• This is the link for just the Readers.

Read-alouds

• I spend about an hour a day (or more if you count bedtime readings) reading aloud to him.  Sometimes, we sit on the couch and he listens.  Sometimes, he plays on the floor with cars, etc, while I read.
• I think hearing me read aloud is very, very important.  He's hearing correct pronunciations, speech patterns, sentence patterns, vocabulary we don't use every day, etc.
• We use Sonlight, so this includes read-alouds.

Dyslexia-Friendly Font

• He needs large simple font, white space on the page and very little clutter.  That's just the way it is.
• It doesn't have to be Dyslexie Font, but he likes that, too.  (So do I)
• Dyslexie Font

My Back-up Plan in case he stops progressing with reading:

• He is about a grade level behind in reading, but he is continually making progress, so I am not going to change anything.
• If he hits a wall with reading, my back-up plan is:
• Toe by Toe reading program
• Barton Reading

Other kids may need different resources, but this is what has worked for us!

Strategies for College Kids with Dyslexia

 Here are some of the strategies my college kids (with dyslexia) are using to make it through their classes:

1. They sit at the front of the class.
2. Oldest uses a text-to-speech app that reads her textbooks out loud to her. 
3. Bullet journals for note taking seem to be a big hit with two of them.  They seem to like the visual lay-out of bullet journals.
4. Use large print books when possible.
5. To keep up with the reading pace, they use Audiobooks when they need them.
6. They use the Writing Lab or a second person to read over their essays, etc before submitting them. 
7. One of mine has a multi-colored fountain pen set to go with her bullet journals.  Colorful text in their notes = Good
8. One of mine uses an online planner that updates him automatically when an event is coming up (because he loses track of time).
9. My daughter says it helps if she studies in the exact same room where she takes her quizzes and tests (if she is taking an online class).
10. They make a point of going to their professors' office hours if they need additional help.  They don't wait until right before the exam to get help.
11. All three of them use noise-cancelling headphones when they are reading/studying.

More Dyslexia Resources

 Online Dyslexia Screening: NeuroLearning 

https://neurolearning.com/

This screening is managed by two medical doctors - Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide.  They co-wrote the books The Dyslexic Advantage and The Mislabeled Child.  They are also board members for the group SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted).

You download the app, pay for the screening, go through the screening online (through the app) and they send you a 30 page breakdown of your scores and what they mean.  Dr. Brock even emailed us personally after the screening.

You can use your scores to decide if you need deeper testing with an educational psychologist or use the information they give you in the packet to help your child.

The Dyslexic Advantage

Drs Eide wrote this book together and it is worth reading.  I wish I would've read this 15 years ago when my oldest two were having learning issues in public school.  

https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/

There is an updated edition for 2023, but I think the book I have from the library is the older edition.

Toe by Toe

https://toebytoeusa.com/

This is a British company, but is available on Amazon if you are in the US.  We are not using this program, but this is what I'm going to use next if my son hits a wall with Sonlight reading.  

Homeschool Day 5/10

 2nd Grader

Math

• We played the board game The Mathemagical World
• We also played Snakes and Ladders

Reading

• We played Bananagrams
• He read his dyslexia reader

Sonlight B (history, Bible and literature)

• Usborne's Time Traveler
• Mountain Born

Extras

• Wednesday night church activities

10th Grader

Bible

• She watched the Bible Project's video on Song of Songs (Solomon)
• She read some background information about Solomon and Song of Songs

Science

• Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities

History & Literature

• The Days of Elijah
• John Hersey's Hiroshima

Extras

• Classical guitar
• Wednesday night church activities

Me

• I read about 7 chapters of The Dyslexic Advantage (Eide) and I wish I would've read this 15 years ago

College Kids Update

• All of them have finals this week
• Kid #3 has over 100% average in each class
• Kid #1 has not graduated yet, but has two companies fighting to hire her (which is incredible)

Co-op Day: 5/9

 2nd Grader

• Singapore math
• Sonlight Reading/Language Arts
• Sonlight B (Bible, history and literature)
• Karate Class (at PE co-op)

10th Grader

• Gymnastics (at PE co-op)
• Collaborative Ukulele/Guitar class (at enrichment center)
• Ballet class (at ballet school)

Me

• I picked up the book The Dyslexic Advantage by the Eide's and I read a big chunk of the book while waiting for the kids' classes

Using Sonlight for Kids with Dyslexia

 Since the 8 year-old's dyslexia assessment results last week, I'm reading as much as I can about using literature-based curricula (specifically Sonlight) for kids with dyslexia.  Here's some blog posts and links I've found:

https://blog.sonlight.com/literature-rich-homeschool-dyslexia.html

https://blog.sonlight.com/dyslexia-myths.html

https://learningabledkids.com/reading/first-year-overcoming-dyslexia-through-homeschooling.htm

https://www.bfbooks.com/Homeschooling-With-Dyslexia

https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/wp-content/uploads/Homeschool-Curriculum-Guide-Homeschooling-With-Dyslexia-1-1.pdf

https://homeschooling4him.com/homeschooling-your-child-with-dyslexia/

https://raisingtheextraordinary.com/dyslexia-literature-curriculum/

https://growingngrace.com/2017/04/13/literature-rich-curriculum-with-dyslexic-adhd-kids/

I need to make a giant cup of coffee and read through all of these.  Part of my brain says using a literature-based curriculum would be a terrible idea for someone with severe dyslexia, but he's been using it all year and really enjoys it.  I'm worried about what happens with HBL D when the readers match the history and you can't choose readers from different reading levels.

Homeschool Day 5/4

 2nd Grader

Math

• Singapore math - this was pretty excruciating today (it was an addition/subtraction crossword), but we got through it

Sonlight Reading/Language Arts

• Backwards spelling
• He wrote a poem
• He read his Sonlight reader
• We practiced writing capital letters

Sonlight B (history, literature and Bible)

• Usborne Time Traveler
• Mountain Born (read-aloud) - yeah, he's not liking this book much
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle (bedtime read-aloud)

Extras

• Ballet classes at the ballet school

I am looking through the action plan I got from his dyslexia assessment yesterday.  I'm planning to get a pen and highlighter today and sift through it a third time.  I might need to add some things to his schoolwork, but I'm not sure.  He tested as severely dyslexic.

10th Grader

Bible

• Proverbs - she watched both videos on Proverbs by the Bible Project

Science

• Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology
• Video on hearing and balance
• Ellen McHenry's The Brain
• We finished the chapter on Brain Anatomy
• Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities

History & Literature

• John Hersey's Hiroshima
• Days of Elijah

Dog on a Log Readers for Dyslexia - Part 2

 Here's a link to them: https://dogonalogbooks.com/  These are Orton Gillingham decodable readers with progressive phonics (like BOB books, but much more difficult).  

This is my second post about them.  We just started Book #4. They are expensive.  The pictures are ridiculous.  The stories are ridiculous.  But, these readers are the greatest thing I ever bought for my 7 year-old.  

He cried trying to read the All About Reading reader, which is one of the best reading programs out there for kids with dyslexia.  But the Dog on a Log readers?  For some reason, he is able to focus on the print better, he doesn't complain of headaches or stomachaches when he's reading them.  He is making so much progress since we started using them over the winter. 

These readers are a miracle in this house! 

The first book took him a month and a half to get through (that's how much he was struggling).  We were literally sounding out one page a day.  Now he's going through about a book a week (which is getting expensive).

The review page with sight words at the end of each story is really helpful.  He is actually recognizing these words without painfully sounding them out.

He finished Book #3 last week and he was so proud of himself that he was yelling and jumping around his room and hugging his stuffed animals.  It was the greatest moment! 

There are two versions of the books: the red books and the purple books. https://dogonalogbooks.com/picture-guide/  They have the same phonics progression, but the purple books have more white space and fewer words on each page.  We are currently using the purple books, but I think he could switch to the red series and be fine now.

Dog on a Log Decodable Books for Dyslexia

 Here's the link to their website: https://dogonalogbooks.com/picture-guide/

I can't say enough good things about these books.  My son is making so much reading progress lately and I really think it's because of these books.

The print is large and the pages are very minimalistic.  He doesn't get as distracted when he's reading these books and they are progressively decodable.  These books are wonderful.

Dyslexia Resources I've Found This Week

 I'm reading several books this week:

No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids with Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties

The author is Marianne Sunderland.  Here's a link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58646102-no-more-school

This is a short read - about 150 pages.  It was a good book for me, since I knew nothing about dyslexia when I started reading it.  There is a great chapter called "Reviving the Shut-Down Learner" (chapter 11) that really would've helped me when I first pulled my oldest two kids from public school.  The author is very supportive of unschooling, relaxed eclectic homeschooling, etc.  

The Gift of Dyslexia

The authors are Davis and Braun.  Here's the link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/824615.The_Gift_of_Dyslexia?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=07TK4yvmP3&rank=1

I'm only on chapter 5, so I don't know how I feel about this book.  The reviews online are pretty mixed about it.  It is the only resource I've seen so far that describes visual disturbances with dyslexia.

Activity Book for Kids with Dyslexia (100 Logic Games in Writing, Spelling & Math)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60176119-brain-training---100-logic-games-writing-spelling-math-activity-book

My 7 year-old hasn't started working on this yet, but it looks wonderful.  It has mazes, puzzles, fill-in the missing letters, etc.  The print is huge and this book looks pretty fabulous.  I'm excited to work through it with him.