We have 'tailor-learned' for years. By that I mean we tailored the learning to the boys individual needs. We used a basic child-lead learning approach. This year, we are trying out curriculum! Can the transition be made? Mission impossible?
T has severe dyslexia (Dysphoneidetic Dyslexia), central auditory processing issues (CAPD), memory issues, autism (PDD-NOS), tourette syndrome, and he is inattentive. He is presently 12 years old. T loves to create, invent, imagine, and thinks in 3-D (how my mom describes him).
T can only read certain things. He can read titles, signs, common words, simple short vowel words, but only in capitals. Apparently that's common with dyslexia because the letters are clearly defined as capitals. We have tried phonic program, after phonic program...I didn't know he had dyslexia until last year when we were able to get (and actually pay for) a full diagnostic assessment. Things have changed!
What Is Verticy Learning?
VerticyLearning.org is a curriculum that is created specifically for "a language-based learning difference"1 (LLD). Well I'm pretty sure T fits that definition! We have chosen the reading and writing curriculum, which is "Language Arts consists of a Phonics/Spelling and Grammar/Composition program that is based on the Orton-Gillingham method of multi-sensory learning. "2 The kit is pretty comprehensive, it has a lot of material. The phonics/spelling and the grammar/composition programs work together, intertwined to help the child's comprehension skills and build confidence as he/she learns.
T has severe dyslexia (Dysphoneidetic Dyslexia), central auditory processing issues (CAPD), memory issues, autism (PDD-NOS), tourette syndrome, and he is inattentive. He is presently 12 years old. T loves to create, invent, imagine, and thinks in 3-D (how my mom describes him).
T can only read certain things. He can read titles, signs, common words, simple short vowel words, but only in capitals. Apparently that's common with dyslexia because the letters are clearly defined as capitals. We have tried phonic program, after phonic program...I didn't know he had dyslexia until last year when we were able to get (and actually pay for) a full diagnostic assessment. Things have changed!
What Is Verticy Learning?
VerticyLearning.org is a curriculum that is created specifically for "a language-based learning difference"1 (LLD). Well I'm pretty sure T fits that definition! We have chosen the reading and writing curriculum, which is "Language Arts consists of a Phonics/Spelling and Grammar/Composition program that is based on the Orton-Gillingham method of multi-sensory learning. "2 The kit is pretty comprehensive, it has a lot of material. The phonics/spelling and the grammar/composition programs work together, intertwined to help the child's comprehension skills and build confidence as he/she learns.
What Makes VerticyLearning.org different?
VerticyLearning.org also has an online portion for each program, which I LOVE. I don't have to look up added visual aids, stories, or resources, it's there for me! Also, they have Education Consultants! If we get stuck, there is someone to contact and help us out! I don't need to hire an expert or tutor to implement the program, or teach me about Ortho-Gillingham approaches, they thought of that. They do give an option to take the "Advisory Teaching Service" if you feel you want that little extra training.
We are starting with Level A/Orange. I talked to an Educational Consultant (which is free and she was super nice!) to help assess T and find out what part of the program we should start with, before ordering. We decided to start right at the beginning because of his gaps, we can use it as review and go as fast or as slow as needed. Some of it will be review and some will be new.
Our Mission Possible
T can never just do something, it has to be an adventure. We have to tie things into his imaginative play!
We are spies. We have been given the mission of Orange which is spy-code for 'breaking the reading code'. Of course we have top secret spy names: T is Double 38 (Yes, he has a favourite number) and I am Double 00. The Reading Deck Cards (part of the program) are clues given to us by the head agents to help us decipher and decode for the mission. The online resources are actually times we communicate with the head office. Everything is in spy-code so the enemy spies won't find out what we are doing!
We have ordered our curriculum and are presently waiting for the package to come in the snail mail! We already have our login information which is typical Calvert. It has a Learning Guide Portal for me and a pupil Calvert Portal for my son. My eldest attends high school online, my youngest relates his Portal to his big brother's school and is really excited.
I hope T is as excited as I am when the curriculum gets here! I will keep you all posted!
Fingers crossed!
References:
1 Frequently Asked Questions, Question 1
2 Frequently Asked Questions, Question 3
We are starting with Level A/Orange. I talked to an Educational Consultant (which is free and she was super nice!) to help assess T and find out what part of the program we should start with, before ordering. We decided to start right at the beginning because of his gaps, we can use it as review and go as fast or as slow as needed. Some of it will be review and some will be new.
Our Mission Possible
T can never just do something, it has to be an adventure. We have to tie things into his imaginative play!
We are spies. We have been given the mission of Orange which is spy-code for 'breaking the reading code'. Of course we have top secret spy names: T is Double 38 (Yes, he has a favourite number) and I am Double 00. The Reading Deck Cards (part of the program) are clues given to us by the head agents to help us decipher and decode for the mission. The online resources are actually times we communicate with the head office. Everything is in spy-code so the enemy spies won't find out what we are doing!
We have ordered our curriculum and are presently waiting for the package to come in the snail mail! We already have our login information which is typical Calvert. It has a Learning Guide Portal for me and a pupil Calvert Portal for my son. My eldest attends high school online, my youngest relates his Portal to his big brother's school and is really excited.
I hope T is as excited as I am when the curriculum gets here! I will keep you all posted!
Fingers crossed!
References:
1 Frequently Asked Questions, Question 1
2 Frequently Asked Questions, Question 3
Jen B has received the VerticyLearning.org curriculum for free in exchange for writing weekly reviews about using the product. The views expressed in this post are entirely Jen B's (and T's) opinions and are of no affiliation or directly related to sponsorship by Verticy.
