It is finally the last day of fourth grade. The past 5 years of schooling have not been without perils and challenges. As I reflect, I realize that each of those challenges has presented me with an opportunity to learn something new about Cameron.
Kelly was an easy learner and an even easier student. By time Cameron went to school, Kelly was going into 7th grade. I knew next to nothing about the challenges an ADD kid would bring to the table. Sure, Tylar (my nephew) was ADHD, but in my eyes Cameron was much different than him. I did not have to deal with the day to day issues Tylar brought home with him. I stood back and supported my grandparents the best I could. I did not see many similarities between the boys. Cameron did not beat my mailbox with a baseball bat and he certainly did not climb on my roof to spell out obscenities with Christmas lights. Of course, those things happened when Ty was about the age Cam is now. I remember Ty to be a very active child. Cameron, not so much.
From Kindergarten Cam presented challenges. How many kids have been suspended in Kindergarten? Mine was. All those guns, etc. we let him play with were a bad idea and soon became material for the landfill. Again, in 1st grade he found a way to become suspended. 2nd grade we moved alot but he got himself into quite a bit of trouble. The end of second grade we moved to Pennsylvania and with June's help found a fantastic doctor who finally was able to properly treat Cameron for his ADD/ODD. In third grade we finally started homeschooling. An option I had considered previously but could not accomplish due to working full time. With Cam's grades in math, he had to repeat 2nd grade math. So, I taught him using the curriculum provided by PA Cyber and we made major headway. After a year of that stress, I opted to put him in virtual classes this year. In many ways, it was a Godsend for my sanity. Being able to put him in front of the computer at 10 a.m. and know he was in class for 3 1/2 hours was great. As the year progressed, his attention waned and the past week I think he's literally been chomping at the bit to get out. I am too!
I found that I spent a good amount of time reteaching concepts to him when I helped him with his homework. I've been thinking that maybe I should go back to self-pacing him (teaching him myself). The curriculum will change this fall so I'm a bit nervous about taking on this challenge again. I want wants best for Cameron. I want to know he's learning as much as he can. Virtual had it's positives in that he could not be distracted by other students but if I was out of the room, noone could see that he was reading a dictionary rather than a Science book. So, all in all, maybe my teaching him is best.
As for Kelly, my heart breaks every day. She'd be going into her senior year this fall. She is an incredibly bright young lady. She's had high aspirations for her future since she was a preschooler. We've gone through veterinarian (to work with Platypus' in Australia) to regular doctor, EMT/Paramedic, anything in an office near Mommy, Film/TV Director, Film/TV Producer, and recently a location scout and photographer. Currently, she is planning to get her GED and go to school for Radiology technician. I hope that whatever her dream is, she can fulfill it. I wish she would go to a community college and get a business degree and maybe pursue the location scout/photographer angle. She has a beautiful gift in her eyes. She's extremely talented in the artistic realm. That is a gift she received straight from her father. Her brain is mine, her art is her dad's. I guess she got the best of both of us.
The countdown is on, it's just after 11 a.m. and Cameron's last class is schedule to end at 1:30. He'll need to complete his Arts Alive class this afternoon as we are packing up his computer tomorrow, so hopefully by 4 p.m. we will be done with 4th grade and ready to start our summer. 2 weeks of absolutely nothing and then he starts 5 weeks of a part time summer camp program at the nearby Parks/Rec program. It will be almost 4 hours a day of swimming, arts and sports for him and 4 hours of peace and quiet for me. Yippee!!!
My bff Danielle is going to NJ next week and if it's possible, I am considering taking Cameron and driving over for a day or so to visit with her. There's nothing like drinks on the beach with your bff from junior high as you watch your kids play in the sand and surf.
Kelly was an easy learner and an even easier student. By time Cameron went to school, Kelly was going into 7th grade. I knew next to nothing about the challenges an ADD kid would bring to the table. Sure, Tylar (my nephew) was ADHD, but in my eyes Cameron was much different than him. I did not have to deal with the day to day issues Tylar brought home with him. I stood back and supported my grandparents the best I could. I did not see many similarities between the boys. Cameron did not beat my mailbox with a baseball bat and he certainly did not climb on my roof to spell out obscenities with Christmas lights. Of course, those things happened when Ty was about the age Cam is now. I remember Ty to be a very active child. Cameron, not so much.
From Kindergarten Cam presented challenges. How many kids have been suspended in Kindergarten? Mine was. All those guns, etc. we let him play with were a bad idea and soon became material for the landfill. Again, in 1st grade he found a way to become suspended. 2nd grade we moved alot but he got himself into quite a bit of trouble. The end of second grade we moved to Pennsylvania and with June's help found a fantastic doctor who finally was able to properly treat Cameron for his ADD/ODD. In third grade we finally started homeschooling. An option I had considered previously but could not accomplish due to working full time. With Cam's grades in math, he had to repeat 2nd grade math. So, I taught him using the curriculum provided by PA Cyber and we made major headway. After a year of that stress, I opted to put him in virtual classes this year. In many ways, it was a Godsend for my sanity. Being able to put him in front of the computer at 10 a.m. and know he was in class for 3 1/2 hours was great. As the year progressed, his attention waned and the past week I think he's literally been chomping at the bit to get out. I am too!
I found that I spent a good amount of time reteaching concepts to him when I helped him with his homework. I've been thinking that maybe I should go back to self-pacing him (teaching him myself). The curriculum will change this fall so I'm a bit nervous about taking on this challenge again. I want wants best for Cameron. I want to know he's learning as much as he can. Virtual had it's positives in that he could not be distracted by other students but if I was out of the room, noone could see that he was reading a dictionary rather than a Science book. So, all in all, maybe my teaching him is best.
As for Kelly, my heart breaks every day. She'd be going into her senior year this fall. She is an incredibly bright young lady. She's had high aspirations for her future since she was a preschooler. We've gone through veterinarian (to work with Platypus' in Australia) to regular doctor, EMT/Paramedic, anything in an office near Mommy, Film/TV Director, Film/TV Producer, and recently a location scout and photographer. Currently, she is planning to get her GED and go to school for Radiology technician. I hope that whatever her dream is, she can fulfill it. I wish she would go to a community college and get a business degree and maybe pursue the location scout/photographer angle. She has a beautiful gift in her eyes. She's extremely talented in the artistic realm. That is a gift she received straight from her father. Her brain is mine, her art is her dad's. I guess she got the best of both of us.
The countdown is on, it's just after 11 a.m. and Cameron's last class is schedule to end at 1:30. He'll need to complete his Arts Alive class this afternoon as we are packing up his computer tomorrow, so hopefully by 4 p.m. we will be done with 4th grade and ready to start our summer. 2 weeks of absolutely nothing and then he starts 5 weeks of a part time summer camp program at the nearby Parks/Rec program. It will be almost 4 hours a day of swimming, arts and sports for him and 4 hours of peace and quiet for me. Yippee!!!
My bff Danielle is going to NJ next week and if it's possible, I am considering taking Cameron and driving over for a day or so to visit with her. There's nothing like drinks on the beach with your bff from junior high as you watch your kids play in the sand and surf.
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