Thanks for the very nice knock on the head that we can't forget that those darn processing speed and working memory issues are going to create bottlenecks.
Oh Elh!
I forgot about those darn bottlenecks. DS12 had severe problems with written expression, back before he learned to touchtype at age 9, and then a whole world of higher challenges opened up! But before that it was a pure pain in the rear. Comprehension high/production low - I wish there were special schools for these special kids. In 6th grade at age 10 we insisted that any assignment that involved more than 3 sentences of writing that the teacher direct him to use a laptop we provided or one of the school's computers. He spent a whole year 'not writing' and then the next year his handwriting improved 1000%! Weird, huh?
In 4th grade, DS was totally against the idea of using a keyboard in class, but over the summer we sent him to SIG's day camp and I forced him to take a writing class. He toted an old laptop and did all his writing in it and had fun and by the time september rolled around - he was totally ok with the laptop idea. My son isn't the kind of person that I ever expect to change his mind, but my prayers were answered and he did change his mind on this one!
I'm going to say something amazing now. Since grades at this age don't count, why not have him in above age classes and make him stop homework after 15 minutes a subject and expect bad grades? I'd rather see your son intellectually engaged and stinking up the joint in terms of his homework completed, than limited to the levels were he can do the output. You say that you are considering homeschooling, if so, you may as well keep him in school now, and pull him later to let him catch up 'production-wise.' In a perfect world, you can get the teachers in on the plan. Otherwise, after 15 minutes (maybe 20 in LA) write in big letters, THIS REPRESENTS A SOLID 15 MINUTES OF MY SON'S WORK. I INSISTED THAT HE STOP NOW.
A weird thought, no? Not sure if I would have the guts to do it, but it may be your 'least-worst althernative.'
It's no wonder that you hate supervising homework! I don't blame you one bit.
Hopefully the interventions will be enough. It's amazing how it doesn't have to be completely right - just better than it was.
Love and More Love,
grinity
