Reply #116: I hear 'ya -- our son is 8 [View All]

[October]

He didn't meet the "ADD criteria," when his IQ was tested. (They were looking for that, I guess when his IQ was tested? Isn't that amazing!) The teachers "couldn't figure him out." He is bright, articulate, but often in his own world (bored to tears) and his work didn't always reflect his intelligence, etc.

Finally, after 3 years, we pulled him out of the school system. Where they see "problems" or things to "fix" with Ritalin, etc., we just see a unique little guy. He's polite, and was never a behavior problem. He's very friendly. One teacher never got over the fact that in 2nd grade (7 years old) he wrote the letter "i" upside-down. To quote her: "I've never seen anything like that in all my 30-plus years of teaching!"

My husband and I were dumbfounded by her being so flustered.

So, home schooling is what we do and I love it.

In the meantime, I've done my own research and found that our boy is a VSL (Visual-spatial learner). I discovered I'm the same way (no surprise, since I'm an artist). So, he's thriving now at home and actually loves school. I use a terrific and very progressive curriculum for him. Secular. He's also an excellent musician, so where he might not be a linear or convergent learner, he excels musically and I think that's cool. I mean, don't we need all kinds!

More on VSL's. (Not a personal plug.)

www.gifteddevelopment.com