2022-23 School Year is Around the Corner.... Are You Ready?

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Happy Monday Beautiful People!

It is already the 1st of August and school is literally just around the corner. We are very excited about this school year and are also very blessed to be able to homeschool as well. Do you have all the supplies you need for your school needs? If you are a homeschooler for the first time this year you may wonder what types of school supplies are needed. You are in luck (depending on what kind of homeschooling) you are doing. For instance, if you are a family that has opted to stay fully remote with your local school district, your school supplies may already be supplied for you. (Check your local school district). 

On the other hand, you may be fully homeschooling, and this is your very first time, as I mentioned above. In this case, purchase only what you need for the age(s) of your children.  Below I will give you a typical homeschool school supply list for ALL ages: 

1. Pencils

2. Markers

3.Crayons

4. Colored Pencils

5.Calculators

6.Library Cards (Check your local library for assistance)

7. Headphones

Other Types of Homeschool/Remote Resources: 

Lessons and Worksheets

Online Books and Reading

Save Money on School Supplies at Dollar Stores Nearby

Have a fantastic school year and stay safe!

~MomAdvocate

Summer Vibes.....It is Like Hades in the PNW!!

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It is almost August, and it is pretty hot here in the PNW! We have an excessive heat warning and my oldest just informed me that she wants to walk to the corner market for some sushi?! I am not sure where her mind is at sometimes, especially when it's this hot and she wants to go walking around. I don't get it :-O! 

Anyway, we are finishing up this month with ongoing worksheets that I created in all of the subjects that my youngest struggles with and so far he is doing well. Since his birthday was on Monday (he turned 16), I said that he didn't have to do any worksheets this week to give him a break. But he still needs to attend online summer school classes (that I can't cancel, LOL!). 

How are you keeping your kids busy this summer? 

~Mom Advocate

Happy 4th of July 2022!

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Happy 4th of July Everyone!

We hope that your festivities are safe, fun and memorable. 

From our family to yours :-). 

~MomAdvocate

One More Week of School Left....Summer Here We Come!

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We are almost done with this school year and my son is beside himself with giddiness and completing of his lessons each day. It has been such a whirlwind, but worth every minute, second, and hour of each day that we have spent learning a new way of schooling and enjoying the flexibility of our environment. I hope that this coming year brings you joy, mental health and stability. 

With gas prices as high as the ocean tides, it has been a balancing act of picking and choosing to run a quick errand to the store or just picking up groceries as well as delivery. Having gas prices as high as $6 per gallon gives me pause and seriously considering an electric or hybrid car in the not-too-distant future. ***SIGH***

I have put together a workbook for my autistic teen son, so there is no summer slide and have been doing this since he was in kindergarten (really for both of my kids), so that he can still be keeping abreast of all school subjects. 

Thankfully we will still have access to his online curriculum from school and can even print it out, FREE of charge.  It is definitely a blessing, so we don't have to spend any extra money for any type of camp or otherwise. Here are those books that I purchased: 

Social Studies

Writing Skills

Science

My son was so excited to see them and touch them. It will be fun to try them out for this last week of school, so that he can anticipate what to expect as we near the beginning of summer break for 2022. 

I hope you have an awesome summer with you and your loved ones. Stay Safe, Healthy and Have Fun!!

~MomAdvocate

Summer Break Beckons and State Test Rant

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We have a few more weeks left of school and cannot wait! So proud of our son who just completed his SBAC testing(***SIGH***). It was definitely nerve wracking, but he has such an awesome special education teacher that helped him through each painstaking minute, moment and second of his test taking ordeal. Thankfully we were able to get it all done and so now we are just chilling and celebrating with a three-day-weekend of sorts, so that we can just exhale for a moment. For those of you that are still test taking, GOOD LUCK! We know how painstakingly stressful these days can be not only for the parents, but the students as well, especially students with special needs challenges, anxiety, tears, panic attacks, etc.  

  I am not sure where your stance is on state test taking is in general, but it is and has been a debate for YEARS, especially in the midst of the pandemic.  Without sounding too negative about state testing in general, the only thing I will say is that testing students should not be the only alternative or pathway to graduation. There should be options for students who don't always meet the criteria for graduating from high school and that alone should raise a red flag for parents everywhere. 

   If you are a parent of a special needs child who happens to be graduating this year from your local high school congratulations to you for all of your advocacy, strong communication between your teachers (Gen Ed & SPED teams), as well as a strong sense of  trustworthiness, then I applaud you. Of course your journey will not stop here on advocating for your special needs child/teen/young adult but it is definitely a milestone to be extremely proud of accomplishing. 

   On the other hand, if you are a parent that is having more questions than answers at this time in your autistic child/teen/young adult's high school graduation then you need to sound the alarm and to let the staff know you and your child's needs, especially as they transition to adulthood or continue to struggle because of miscommunication. Usually by this time in your child's life you should know what resources are available to you and them, so that there is no error in the ongoing advocacy and journey you will be facing moving forward. Whatever you do, Don't Give Up!

   Advocating for a special needs child is definitely not a race, it is a marathon and you have to pace yourself day by day. It gets better with time, like a fine wine. I wish you well today and always and keep advocating. You are your child's best point of contact and biggest cheerleader in this crazy world. 

Have a wonderful day and Be Blessed:-). 

 

Happy Autism Awareness Day! Month! World!

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11 1/2 years ago we learned that our son had a lifelong disability of autism. I had just laid my mother to rest, and this news hit our family like a ton of bricks, so I grieved twice. 

It has been a crazy, tumultuous, frustrating, tearful, emotional and very challenging ride which continues on the daily, but we keep going. Sure, there have been roadblocks in our path and journey, but we have learned to navigate, advocate, and bulldoze them down. 

We knew that the road would not be easy and still have to do what we can until our dying breath as his parents and advocates. Thankfully the world has come a long way to recognize this lifelong disability that is no longer invisible but seen from around the world, in our schools, in our communities and our backyards. 

Happy Autism Awareness Month to all the caregivers and teachers who work with these awesome individuals every single day. Keep up the great work!

From Mom Advocate:-)

Keep On Doing What You Are Doing....

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Hello Beautiful People!

It has been a minute since I posted on this Blog, but I am ever faithful when it comes to doing this once a month. 

Our autistic teen son is still attending Connections Academy and will continue on this path until he graduates high school. The only regret we have as parents is not doing this sooner. He is so much more relaxed and less stressed than when he was attending his old school(so are we).   As I have mentioned in a few posts that it took lots of trial and error to find what worked for our son and how he learns, so to find a learning environment that works is a total game changer moving forward. 

We are going to keep on doing what we are doing and carry on. As a small note of encouragement to other parents of autistic children or whatever his/her special needs are, keep advocating and fighting for the right educational path for your child and their specific needs. For us, it boiled down to strong communication between staff and parents, transparency with progress, pathways to graduation, curriculum that works for where he is at (and not the other way around), and so much more. This way of learning fits and our son no longer has to change the way he learns for the schools' benefit. 

Wherever you are in your journey keep going and continue to be a squeaky wheel until you are able to get the results you seek for your child's education and journey forward. 

Have an awesome Day!

Sincerely, 

MomAdvocate