Other
Enjoying Life Today
Until a recent diagnosis of our 4th child's terminal illness, I lived for tomorrow. Education was a necessity for the future. Teach numbers for ''one day.'' Now, realizing life is short, my eyes are opened. Education should enrich our lives today, not just in 10 years. I read ''The courage of Sarah noble'' because it inspires each of us today. Not so they can one day say they have read all the works of Alice Dalgliesh and answer a battery of questions on her literary style.
Yes, I'm considering their futures, their needs as they become adults, but I don't live so narrowly focused on getting through today, getting through math, getting through literature so that ''one day'', they'll use it. My baby will unlikely live into adulthood, but I homeschool him with a
new wisdom. My goal isn't for him to have a high-paying job, because he never will. Nor so that he will pass on knowledge to younger children, because he won't have that chance. But, because it makes him who he is today. He will be an imaginative young boy because of C.S. Lewis and ''The Chronicles of Narnia.'' He will be a compassionate five-year-old because of Marguerite De Angeli's ''Thee, Hannah!''. And, he will have a grasp of the magnitude of God's design from countless days of the Catherine Vos ''Child's Story Bible''. Enjoy life today. Educate for today. | | texasbooks |
Special needs
In Their Own Time
Most of these ideas come from seasoned authorities, not necessarily myself but I know I love to have reminders and need them frequently. This is just as much for my own benefit as anyone else.
Let all children, but particularly those with special needs learn in their own time. Quite often I find myself frustrated and pushing my special needs children to move further, achieve more. But why? Of course, they will benefit, if they are indeed ready, but could it be because their achievements are a reflection on me? Personally, the answer is yes.
Children will learn much easier and faster if they are developmentally ready for learning. I've seen this time and again with my own 4 children yet I still need many reminders not to push my children past their own abilities even if I think most others their age have passed that milestone. The best way for my children to learn is naturally, through literature and spending time with me, asking me questions about the world around them.
For more info, google Carole Joy Seid, Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Charlotte Mason and Dr. James MacDonald of Communicating Partners. | | sweetpetunia |
| | Homeschool helps
Why Am I Doing This?
Homeschooling is not only a major time commitment, but it’s also a lifestyle choice.
Sometimes, particularly when you’re a new homeschooler, you might ask yourself if it’s really worth it. If your children weren’t home all the time, you’d have time for . . . and you can fill in the blank. But, as someone who’s been “doing this” for over 20 years, I can state that it’s worth it. Yes, I’ve had those days myself; I’m a selfish, sinful human being, as are we all.
Most of my children are now adults, and we have a wonderful relationship, which was built upon years of personal interaction and togetherness. When your children have grown up and have gotten married and are now parents themselves, and they come to you and say “thank you” for making that sacrifice all those years . . . when they come and tell you that they plan to teach their own little ones at home as well . . . you will know that it was worth it!
I’m truly thankful to my gracious, loving Lord for allowing me the privilege of teaching my children at home; may He also bless you and your children as you teach them as well! | | bamagal |
Special needs
A New Chapter Begins...
We recently received an unexpected surprise. After tears and fears, we have come to realize one more reason Homeschooling is in our family's best interest, we now have not one, but two, children who are even more special than we already knew they were. See, we have taught under the premise that EACH child learns in their own way and we need to teach in a way that is best suited to their learning style, to give them the best possible education for EACH child individually. If that means we have a seperate curriculum for each of them, so be it. So we have been on the look-out for differences in learning styles, and these 2 of our children just weren't getting ANYTHING we tried.
We've talked to our family practice doctor and optometrist about our concerns for, in one case, several years. Yet, it came from a friend, the suggestion that we have them assessed for a learning difference, so we told each of the children that Mom and Dad had done everything we knew how & we needed help finding out how they learn best, so we can get equiped to teach them...tonight we have our first informational meeting on Dyslexia and how to teach because of it. | | cdforrester |
|