AJ's Tool Belt

I am using a variety of "tools" to facilitate her learning. Before we moved to Russia I knew there was a STRONG chance that the school over here would not be a good fit for her. It as either we all move and do everything we can for her or my family is separated for 4 years. Well that was not an option. I contacted the Texas Home School Coalition and had many conversations with the Special Populations department on what would be the best step. They provided me with a list of curricula that the Coalition supports and it was up to me what I went with. 

They did not have a "Special Education" curriculum but any curriculum can be differentiated to meet the learners needs. I am using Sonlight Curriculum. It is a Christian based curriculum with books on virtues, 101 stories from the Bible, and some others intertwined within the lessons. AJ enjoys it. It is a full curriculum with every subject accounted for. We are using the Pre-K at the moment and will start Kindergarten in September.

I am also using Unique Learning System. This is a full online SPED curriculum complete with lessons, monthly content checks, benchmark assessments, books, and different "packs" for math and language arts. I REALLY enjoy this system. In Texas, some of the teachers use this system for supplemental information and that is how I found out about it. It is pricey but if your homeschooling a child with "special" needs - I strongly suggest looking into this program. All the lessons are downloadable via PDF so you have them forever. 

Shhh.... don't tell any one but I am going to look into the copyright stipulations and see if I can make a hyperlink and put some fun lessons up for you guys :-)

Come September I will be adding another resource to her tool belt - Starfall Kinder Curriculum. Now this website is pretty cool because they have Free resources and apps that anyone can use. 

I almost forgot - PRESCHOOL PREP!!!! I can not say enough good things about this program. The DVD's you can find on Amazon and they are fantastic. The first set are Meet the Colors, Meet the Numbers, Meet the Letters, Meet the Shapes, and 3 DVD's on Sight Words. Remember how I said AJ learned 60 sight word since October? THIS SYSTEM HELPED! We started with Colors when she was 1 yr and even though she was not talking and saying the colors she had exposure to it. It is pretty cool. For those parent with typical kiddos this will help them as well. My sons (3 and 2) were exposed to these DVD's and knew their colors early on. 

The set that I just got is Letter sounds, Blends and Digraphs. It is more complicated for her but she is slowly understanding the different sounds. 

The links to all these sites with be in the side bar somewhere - Have not figured that part of the blog yet :-) Its a learning process!