My ds 8 was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD about a year and a half ago. He was having trouble learning to read, but now he seems to be reading words on grade level. He sometimes struggles with comprehension, especially when reading directions. We are using 1st grade BJU Math(not quite half way through) and 2nd Grammar/Writing. The problem is that he has sooo much trouble focusing that it takes forever to learn something. He just recently counted to 100 for the first time without making a mistake, even though we have worked on it for a year using many different methods. But he still can't do this consistently. Today I was trying to teach him a math lesson and he could not focus enough to even look at the page. He just kept staring off into space/daydreaming. I am about to go nuts! I don't want to put him on medication, because I have heard so many horror stories. He has been on a gluten-free, lactose-free diet (as well as some supplements) for about three weeks for some stomach problems, but it doesn't seem to be helping the ADD. Should I keep plugging along or should I try to get some help, and if so where? The Dr. recommended medication and I'm afraid she would recommend he go to school, if I went back to her. I know he wouldn't do well in that environment. Please give me some advice!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert, and my dc are not boys and they don't have add.

Have you tried bite-size lessons in small chunks thru-out the day? From what other moms have told me: there are some rare good days where focus is good, and for longer periods (ex: 2 hrs in the a.m.). And there are bad days where focus is 0. And then there are the in between days. So they end up picking the most important things, shortening lessons, and keeping things bite sized, physical, and/or hands on. Things like counting stairs, or while tossing a bean bag. They use a lot of physical labor to help focus (go stack wood and then count from 20-42).

I have girls with good focus, but even then, counting from 1 to 100 was a chore! Lots of drifting off, forgetting places, complaints. And then I would drop it because it was such a pain! But we got there eventually, sometimes despite my lack of attn to a subject:)
Sarah

I'm not an expert, but my 17yod is definitely dyslexic and my 15yos is about as ADD as they come. LOL And I've always homeschooled them.

My first thought is that you selected your materials well. BJU is solid material - it is eye catching and more fun than most. It has plenty of review built in, but for the math you can also purchase extra practice books. My dyslexic daughter needed tons of review in order for math to sink in. She would know something one day, and the next act like she'd never seen it before. Doing math 5 days per week and never skipping it was key. Short lessons are a great idea. If you are sitting right there working with him on each problem (and I highly suggest that you are!), you can help bring him back to earth by redirecting his focus to the problem at hand. You can do the lesson presentation itself, break for a few minutes, come back to do the problems. Or do 15 min of math first thing, and another 15 a couple hours later.

So glad to hear that he has progressed in reading. Hooray! That is a huge achievement. Comprehension comes slower for someone who is painfully picking their way through the words, but it does come. Give him time to mature and keep developing those reading skills.

It sounds like progress is being made, and I doubt that would be the case in a noisy classroom full of distractions. It would have driven my ADD guy out of his skin! I say, just keep soldiering on and develop a huge reserve of patience. Put all thought of grade levels out of your head and work at his pace.

Jen

As a mom to 4 of which 3 have dyslexia and one is VSL I can understand much of your frustration. There are a few things to keep in the back of your mind when it comes to teaching dyslexics (and then adding in ADD) but the biggest thing is you have to teach, reteach and then teach again many, many concepts that other kids just seem to understand quickly and then retain.

I highly recommend that you teach to his strengths - if he is visual, kinetic, auditory, etc. when you are working on the core subjects. BJU is great but it does have a lot of color on the pages and that can be distracting for him - do you find he gets distracted with the BJU english, too? Color is great but some kids need that removed because their brain is already working in overdrive and the color just adds more challenge to them. You could use a white board and write the problems on there (avoiding the whole trying another math program) to see if that makes a difference. Is he also dysgraphic - do the problems on the white board and orally.

As for reading comprehension - have him read books below his reading level and then begin having him tell you, a la narration, what did he read about. Ask very simple questions like who the character was or what happened - just short dialogue. I'd have a period of the day when you just work on reading instruction which would have him at or above grade level and just work on reading skills, phonics, decoding but don't inquire about the comprehension. Later, say after lunch, have a period of free time reading where he can either read alone or to you (or you read one side, he reads the other) and then work on the comprehension skills - give the two skills separate for now; later it will all come together.

Another option for comprehension would be to use Writing with Ease book 1. One day it is easy copywork and the next you read a short passage and then ask questions and the child must answer in complete sentences. This repeated activity begins to train the brain to listen and then think logically in response. I used only level 1 because the next book moves into way more writing then my dyslexic kiddo was ready for but that was okay. This year we've used First Language Lessons 3 - black and white, no distractions and reteach/review throughout has been excellent retention - finally! but it took time.

I know all about the "brain drain" where one day they know it all, next they don't. I always dread Mondays because it seemed that all he knew on Friday was gone by Monday but it has improved over time.

Hope this helps -- just a bit.

What does he eat for breakfast? I started giving my dd a protein rich breakfast (and greatly reducing the carbs) and her focus was considerably improved.

Sounds like you're doing gluten free, but is he getting a lot of sugar or other carb (natural or not) and not enough protein?

Have you read "The Gift of Dyslexia " by I think Ron Davis?

The next thing that caught my eye is that you are not using books that are written for dyslexics. Although if I was going with a all in one package I'd give BJU a shot.

Reading - many books are not written in a way that flows well or how you would talk.
If your son is not interested in the subject,IT WILL NOT STICK. LOL that is just how it is. I think a kindle with e-ink and text to speech is the best way to go for a dyslexic.
We liked the pathway readers - just a plug, they may not interest your ds.

If it were me I'd just work on the joy of reading and not comprehension.

Memorize something at his speed with him looking at the words the whole time.

I write this as a educationally challenged dyslexic with one dd who might be dyslexic but doesn't seem to be educationally challenged.

IMO, homeschooling is the best thing for a dyslexic child.

You're such a good mom. (((lucy5))))

What about using something like Miquon for math? Or just delaying *formal* math for a little longer?

www.ithaca.edu/hs/mathcs/compass/storyI-III.htm

What about things other than math and reading? I've known many people whose dc have learning difficulties who do things like KONOS or the Weaver, so they can do history, science, etc., that don't depend on reading, or the ability to sit and focus (because they're busy actually doing things, KWIM?).

Also, if you want more comprehensive testing, there's Dr. Paul Cates. www.faithchristianmin.org. He isn't free, and since he lives in Tennessee even getting to him can be tricky (although he travels extensively), but he's the best when it comes to testing and evaluating and coming up with a plan of action.

My son had ADD and it was one of the big reasons we started homeschooling 7 years ago. The school was pushing medication in the 3rd grade and it was NOT a good learning environment for my son. When we started (4th grade) I found that he could not do anything monotonous...after a few minutes of the same thing he would zone out. The key for us was to constantly change course. He did wonderful with CLE because of the small chunks and spiraling. It was honestly the only workbook that he could get through. He also did well with SOS.

He is 15 now and has outgrown most of those issues.

I have another ds that is dygraphic and a slow learner. He does well with CLE and ACE. I think the key is to find a format that your child can do well with.

We are going to BJU Distance Learning this year and I have high hopes that they will all do well with it.