peneth4

Hi all

We're just starting out homeschooling our high functioning autistic
som (soon to be aged 12) and I'm after, ideally some advice or at
least some support. Sorry about the length of this but it will
help to get an idea of where we're at.

Some basic history ~ Until the end of June he attended our
local state school who were as supportive as they could be. They
provided a very modified curriculum and he was exempted from the
year 7 diagnostic testing all kids are supposed to do. We have
always wanted them to focus more on his social learning rather than
academics which they have done. Because we were going overseas
for 6 weeks we decided it would be best if we pulled him out of
school 2 weeks before we left so he finished state school mid
June. We've been approved to homeschool by The Dept of
Education, Qld based on the lesson & curriculum plan and philosophy
statement I supplied (borrowed from another HS parent).

The government in Queensland now demands that ALL children be taught
using the Rich Task concept which means producing heaps of exercise
books, projects and completed worksheets. The paperwork I
submitted to the government basically said we would follow this
concept (only way to guarantee we would be given permission). We
said we would use combined elements of Natural Learning (Holt) and
Steiner with thematic projects based on Carol Gray's social
stories. Also, as he hates writing we will encourage him to use a
computer and keep reading, spelling and comprehension to his
educational level rather than his year level.

Stupidly I said we would teach him from 9 – 12 each morning during
the week and that at the end of each month if the rich tasks have
been met he gets a reward (trip out that's fun for him) and that we
will be having monthly tests again with rewards for success. They
also have the address of our blog in which I complete a brief
outline of the past week ( http://threlfall-
homeschool.blogspot.com/ ). On the plus side I did say that he
shows preference for retaining information delivered in a natural
and non-educative way.

So, My problem ~ 10 months from June the Qld Dept of
Education Home School Unit is going to want to see the results of
the "rich tasks curriculum" that I've said we're doing.

We are very aware that, in regards to learning, Liam needs to get
the system out of his system, anything that even remotely stinks
of `school' causes him to stut down, I've tried getting him to do a
few work sheets with little success.

Requested help ~ Anyone got any ideas on how I can put
together a portfolio of rich tasks that will keep Qld Education
happy whilst allowing Liam to destress and deschool himself?

Many thanks
Penny

Kelly Nishan

--- In [email protected], "peneth4" <peneth4@...>
wrote:
>> So, My problem ~ 10 months from June the Qld Dept of
> Education Home School Unit is going to want to see the results of
> the "rich tasks curriculum" that I've said we're doing.
>

Is there any reason you can't do them for him?
Kelly