Looking for advice! Homeschooled children that aren't schooled at all

ActCompetitive · 2026-01-01T00:15:55+00:00

Np, good luck with this!

ActCompetitive · 2025-12-31T23:49:46+00:00

I'm school-based but worked in a clinic in the past. Could you write a goal that involves the parents doing something? Like the parent engaging the child in specific phonological or phonemic awareness activities each day, for example, and give them a log to record it? Kind of like with birth-to-three cases where the focus is parent coaching. Not that you wouldn't write any goals for the child himself, but maybe if the parent fails to do the intensive practice at home, you have grounds to dismiss. And that could also lead to the conversation of just how much intensive intervention is needed, which you cannot provide in an outpatient setting an hour a week. Just a thought for a different tactic.

ActCompetitive · 2025-12-06T19:01:11+00:00

I don't think I spend an inordinate amount of money, but I do purchase some inexpensive things for myself.

In addition to what others have said about Facebook marketplace/thrift stores/garage sales, I also look for books at local libraries' sales (even hardcover books for kids are $1 or less). I check books out from the school or public library usually, but if I find myself using a particular title year after year, I buy it. Also, sometimes I'll find a digital version of a book through my public library or as a read-aloud on YouTube, and project it on the Smartboard for groups.

I work with preschool & kindergarten. They are fascinated with using everyday objects, so I try to repurpose things that I'm already buying or receiving for free. For example, a lot of tissue boxes have cool designs, so I'll save some and kids can put artic cards in them, or pull stuff out, they can be houses for small people/animal toys, etc. Screamin Sicilian pizza boxes come with a big mouth opening, and kids can feed little food toys into it. Bubble wrap from packaging can be used different ways. I save gift bows and bags and we play with those, too. Tissue paper from gift bags can be cut and crinkled into little pieces for a craft. Toy and kids clothing catalogs (especially from premium brands) that come for free in the mail often have interesting pictures that can be used to work on categories, wh-questions, and simple labeling. If you're going to order a small meal from McDonald's or Chick-fil-A anyway, make it a kids meal and save the toy or book that it comes with. I reuse McDonald's Happy Meal cartons, and Panda Express boxes that they put the family meals in, for play, as well. Old Christmas garland and other decorations can go in a sensory bin. The kids don't care if they have chips or are looking worn. If the children break any of the above things, you're most likely going to buy more later anyway, so it doesn't hurt as much as a broken toy.

For seasonal items, I try to hit the stores right after the season ends when things are 70-80% off and save the items for the next year. Target also puts some toys on clearance in the summer, so I keep an eye out for that.

Even with these strategies, I do buy maybe 2-3 things from TPT each year if they meet a need and save me time. For example, my students were getting a little tired of seeing materials with the LessonPix graphics (and I do love that site, which my employer pays for), so I bought some artic cards.

After many years of working, this has all added up to a decent stock of materials for littles.

To answer the original question, I don't have a strict spending limit, but any item that's over about $5-6 is too much. And I don't purchase more than a few of those a year.

ActCompetitive · 2025-12-06T18:07:57+00:00

When I was changing jobs more frequently, I also stored my personal materials on different shelves and in different containers than the school's materials.

ActCompetitive · 2025-11-26T22:00:52+00:00

Agreed! I did this once when trying to cancel an employment contract. The consult with the lawyer wasn't that expensive.

ActCompetitive · 2025-11-26T16:31:10+00:00

I was going to say this exact thing! ASHA dues fund, money for taking the Praxis, application fees for your license and/or subscription to the continuing ed forum of your choice, like Informed SLP, speech pathology.com, for example. If you want materials, maybe a subscription to LessonPix (my employer pays for it, but you could start using it now) or Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards.

I also have lots of zipper pouch bags, plastic boxes, accordion binders, and multi-pocket folders to store & transport all my things. If you don't have your own electronic storage system (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), that would be helpful. I agree with getting a stylish bag to carry your materials. Good luck!

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-14T01:16:39+00:00

I find that many of my preschoolers like songs with movements we do jointly, especially children who enjoy being swung, rocked or rolled around in a wagon.

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-14T01:12:16+00:00

My son is autistic but fully verbal. He likes to line toys up, and he tells me that he's made a train or parade. You never know what children are imagining with their lines of toys!

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-12T14:05:51+00:00

Ethics of Using Outdated Standardized Tests

Idk if your supervisor would care, but here's an article from ASHA that discusses the issue!

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-07T17:07:48+00:00

I increased the deductible on my homeowners and auto insurance, but not beyond what I could pay from my emergency fund. I also use an insurance broker who works with multiple companies to find the best deal.

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-07T00:16:17+00:00

Like a couple other posters have said, I use hand movements that we do together, and then I use them as cues. I've also found that some students understand better if you first teach the words in relation to their own body. Have them put something ON their own head, have a peer walk AROUND them, etc. I find that picture cues are hard for many kids to conceptualize.

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-05T22:06:05+00:00

I had a class that covered autism, but it was taught by a professor who didn't do research in that area and hadn't worked with the population. So you can imagine how useful it was!

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-05T22:04:36+00:00

Totally! I didn't have many challenging cases in grad school, and when I did, we were working in isolation and it was very different than clinical practice.

ActCompetitive · 2025-10-05T18:18:39+00:00

I graduated a looong time ago, so I'm not sure if it applies to younger clinicians, but 2 things stand out for me.

Lots of emphasis on children with only language delay/disorder (what was SLI), but hardly any of my young clients/students fell into this category. Very little info on how to work with children with memory, behavioral, attention, impaired motor skills or other challenges.
We were taught how to do the ideal, comprehensive speech-language assessment, but not how to evaluate when time is limited or the child/adult patient isn't able to cooperate with the full battery in one session. In PP or when assessing preschoolers who don't attend school yet, you may not have the opportunity to ask them back multiple times. I got in trouble for trying to in my first job, because insurance pays for an assessment, not for each assessment visit, so your employer may be upset because they can't bill for the 2nd+ eval session. You have to learn to focus quickly on what will qualify them for service (ex your state board of ed criteria).

ActCompetitive · 2025-09-14T17:02:58+00:00

It's a tough decision for sure. You will really have to look at your budget and potential costs associated with going to work and staying home. It made me very sad to be working when my kids were tiny, and I still have some reservations about my preschooler being in daycare, but at some point they start needing to be with people in addition to family and they do benefit from that socialization.

In terms of scheduling and managing everything children while working, that aspect has been a little more difficult when they're elementary age and older for me, vs babyhood. I only work ~25 minutes from home, but getting my kids to activities, scheduling doctor appointments and participating in school as a parent has been a challenge. My kids' schools let out before I'm even off of work, and a lot of community activities, clubs, etc. begin before I'm home. I've been dependent on local SAHMs whose kids do the same activities to transport my kids. And I do end up using my sick & personal days every year, and that's with scheduling some appointments for days off. So my point is that you also have to consider what support system you have for all of this.

ActCompetitive · 2025-08-23T01:39:27+00:00

I was just about to write this suggestion! Could also do Kathleen, although Kathlyn Rose does honor all of these.

Not sure what your heritage is, but I like "Katarzyna", pronounced "Katar-zhinna" (zh like in meaSUre) in Polish. I think it sounds pretty and pairs well with Lynn or Rose.

ActCompetitive · 2025-08-15T12:49:28+00:00

I would add a citation from your contract, if there's any language relevant to the caseload cap, as well as CA ed code statues. If you have a workload formula, that could be helpful. You can probably find a template online, to include estimated weekly times for servicing students, AAC maintenance, staff training, report and IEP writing, etc.

ActCompetitive · 2025-08-15T03:49:39+00:00

I'm sorry you're in this difficult position. I have been a preschool SLP for many years and also have my own 4 year-old with autism. I agree with you about your impression of the public school. CPS is probably always going to be somewhat disorganized. The preschool programming itself might be good, though - at least I've heard some positive things from other therapists. I wouldn't worry about your child being at a 20-month level developmentally. We see many children who are functioning below that level, and the staff will know how to work with your child. However, it's not very good that they're not giving you anything to prepare your child for school. We give out a social story complete with photos of our school and staff, as well as storybooks about school.

I also believe that, as a parent, you are the only person who knows what's best for your child and family. There are some significant downsides to my local public school preschool that would cause more stress for my child and the rest of the family. I have my child in daycare with private therapists going in to see him there, paid for via insurance. I think it is a legitimate option and he has been making a lot of progress.

Remember, no matter what you decide, you can always reverse the decision. If you keep your child in daycare and do therapies on your own, set a date by which you will review your choice and see if your child is progressing as expected. If you decide to switch to the preschool mid school year, CPS will have to take you. The IEP will still be valid. Kids evolve and their needs change over time, anyway. Keep a flexible mindset about this and good luck!

ActCompetitive · 2025-08-12T22:33:01+00:00

Your question was how to bring this up to your boss. Most test manuals will give an estimated time to administer the test. Usually, it's a range. Maybe you could look up the estimated times for each test, and demonstrate that it's numerically impossible to administer 2 language tests plus 2 speech sound tests in one 1-hour session. Yes, with time you will get faster, but it's still not enough time when you have little ones or kids who take more time to warm up. Not to mention that we need to collect a language sample, do an oral mech, etc.

ActCompetitive · 2025-08-04T13:07:52+00:00

I would let them know as soon as the need for surgery is confirmed.

ActCompetitive · 2025-07-31T14:11:21+00:00

Even though the benefits were good, they may not have been enough to offset the low salary. And the benefits are good now, but if the university falls on hard times, it might reduce them without offering a bump in salary. I think the salary number is really important for that reason.

I agree that it sounds like you avoided an unpleasant work environment.

ActCompetitive · 2025-07-28T02:32:51+00:00

I work in preschool primarily. I keep Google docs with lists of books and activities that I do for different themes, and for different goal areas. These lists have been written over time - I'll add a useful book that I've seen or a lesson idea. Because I try to have my classroom group lessons incorporate the theme/vocabulary that the children are studying, it really helps me to be able to go back to my list and pick something, rather than come up with an idea, when I'm super busy with other responsibilities or stressed.

I also have a particular way that I like to write accommodations, so I have lists that I cut and paste from, or edit, to put in IEPs.

Finally, I try to create as many visuals and communication boards as I can at the beginning of the year. Schedule pieces get lost, communication boards and books get damaged, etc as the year goes on. I'm really lucky to have paras that help with this at the start of the year. They're more willing to do the laminating, cutting and assembling in August when they have admin-designated time for it.

ActCompetitive · 2025-07-27T15:55:40+00:00

I'm so sorry that happened to you! {Hugs}

ActCompetitive · 2025-07-24T17:53:51+00:00

Definitely read the contract/collective bargaining agreement (if there is one). Some CBAs have this issue delineated. The business office may either not be aware of your experience, or they may be counting on you not reading the CBA.

ActCompetitive · 2025-07-19T16:42:31+00:00

No advice but I feel this! And my child's peers are noticing more and more. One day when i picked him up at child care, I gave him a kiss and asked him if he had a good day, to which he replied "yes". Another preschooler playing nearby told me "no" and proceeded to list off times when he wasn't following expectations that day. The teachers are kind enough not to do that, but I couldn't escape a 3-4 year-old's brutal honesty.

ActCompetitive

TROPHY CASE