Other
Children with Learning Disabilities
One of our children had a reading/language learning disability. If my son had been in school, he would have been tested, labeled, and placed in special classes which may or may not have offered him the help that he needed. The worst thing about the public school’s process of dealing with disabled children is the stigma it places on the child -- it hurts his self esteem and invites ostracism from co-students. It is not the school’s wish for the child to be hurt, but it is usually inevitable.
My son received individualized instruction as I sought to help him. I researched, read, and asked advice from experts. Since his reading was poor, he learned grade level information through family read-aloud time, audio books, hands-on activity, and oral discussion. Many of the methods that I employed were helpful, but he was still behind, reading on a fourth grade level in eighth grade. At 14, through a private testing and evaluation, an individual home program was planned for his unique needs to overcome his learning disability which was due to mixed dominance and lack of processing skills.
He presently is a university senior majoring in mechanical engineering and has earned several academic scholarships for excellence. I think that homeschooling is the best alternative for learning disabled children. Their education can be completely individualized. Schools have to work with children in groups. This just doesn’t work for children that need a lot of individualized help. There are many sources of help for homeschooling parents. In fact, there are so many more options available to meet the needs of these special children. | | jg_simmons |
Marriage & parenting
Carpooling: Is It Worth It?
This past September, I found myself without anyone to carpool with for my son's two-day-a-week science class.
I was frustrated at first, because that meant that twice a week, at nine and eleven, I had to take time out of my day to take or pick him up from class. I realize now, though, how valuable that time has been -- 22 minutes a day, 44 minutes a week of just him and myself in the car. I don't think we've had any terribly deep conversations, but it's been a sweet time to chat, do last-minute studying, and just simply connect one-on-one with my second born of four boys.
It's made me rethink my attitude towards carpooling. Sure, carpooling can save in time and gas; but maybe those short drives in the car to soccer, science, scouts, and youth group are worth the extra time and gas when I look at what I am investing in -- one-on-one time with my kids. | | bestillkim |
| | Other
The Essentials
We all have times every year of home schooling when we are not able to stay on track with our teaching plans and goals. Sickness, extended family needs, moving, and all kinds of interruptions that can take days away from school. Don’t despair. Go to Plan Two.
Plan Two is just this -- If children are middle elementary and above, have them, each day:
1) Complete a math lesson ( if they are encouraged by their parents toward independent learning, completing a math lesson alone will become more and more likely)
2) Write an essay (or substitute with a report or a letter)
3) Read for about two hours ( reading can come from assigned books and/or books of choice)
There you have it. Your children will be reading, writing, and doing arithmetic…the essentials. I advise you to plan ahead for these times by explaining this method to your children ahead of time, sort of like a fire drill. Make sure they understand what you expect of them when you let school go on autopilot for a few days or weeks.
If children are too young to handle these assignments, just let them play. If you need to keep them calm and quiet, have older children read to younger children, OR keep educational videos and games available. | | jg_simmons |
Bible & Spiritual growth
Foundation of Education in Religion
I beg leave to remark, that the only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.
Benjamin Rush
This quote is encouraging to me. In teaching our children at home, we are seeking to establish that foundation for education from which is yielded the virtues which are more and more lacking in our country. This kind of education with a Biblical basis is our hope for future generations to guard liberty and preserve our Republic. | | jg_simmons |
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