Overwhelming sadness

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Today I woke up with overwhelming sadness. Not about Joshua. No, my sadness is more centered on J2 (of course, then it encompasses my whole life). He’s my 10 yr old with learning disabilities in the language area.

He still struggles to read 3 letter words. And, he must decode them as we go. Even if he just decoded h-a-s he’ll act as if he’s never seen it before in the next sentence. Working with Phonics Pathways does seem to be helping him….but his dad has not noticed it. Last night his dad shared some of his concerns with me and now I’m soooo upset. I was feeling so good about things – yes, we are slow, but we are making progress.

But now I think I’m just fooling myself. He’s 10 yrs old – for Crying out loud! I’ve been working with him since he was 4 to learn his letters. I’d take off time from time to time – praying that his ability would catch up with my desire.

What will become of him? How can I help him? Why can’t God just fix him? I need a boost of optimism and joy!

Numbered Days

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Today, for work, I was coding articles from the WInter 06/7 issue.  The Chapel article is entitled “Numbered Days” – written by Marla Novak.  This article is really blessing me today.  I can sooooo relate as a mother who’s lost a child and gained a renewed eternal perspective!

If you are awaiting your copy – read this article first! If you don’t subscribe – and you homeschool – you need to!! lol  But if you can’t for some reason – wait a few months and I’ll be putting this article online.

First Day of School, Take 2

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Yesterday was J2’s first day of school.  I use Homeschool Tracker and have been totally prepared for weeks … lesson plans printed, schedule created and everything!  But there is nothing like actually doing the work to show you what you need to do!

We started with Bible – we are reading the Proverbs along with the Miller Family.   And, then Grammy came over and we did PE.  We stretched out and walked for about 35 minutes…well, J2 rollerbladed.  I admit – this is 80% for me (though J2 does have a bit of a belly – his brothers are slim to skinny) – but J2 seemed to really enjoy it!  Last night he asked me a few times “Is Grammy coming tomorrow?  Are we going to walk again?”  So, I’m thinking he enjoyed it!

When we got back – we took a bit of a break and then started re-reading our Pathway Readers.   I’m glad we are reviewing as J2 really struggled. :(  But what else is to be expected with taking such a long break?  This year we also bought the workbooks that he can do on his own – working on building independence and also giving him more practice with the words.  This time in the readers also showed me that jumping right into the spelling book I bought him was not going to work. So I put it aside and we’ll use the new words in his readers…or ones he struggles with.  I’m glad I haven’t sent our course of study into AVCS yet – I can change it!

The rest of our school work sent great!  Daily Grams 2-3,  Miquon Math and History (self-created) rounded out our morning.  Oh! And, computer time! :)  We found this great program online called Study Dog! Check it out!! All three of my boys enjoy it!

Oh yes – the other thing I realized is that we need handwriting practice again.  So I ordered some cheap D’Nealian workbooks that I love!

All in all – a great day!  He whizzed through his work and only got a bit frustrated at his reading skills.  I pray I can encourage him today!!  Off to get busy!

Homeschool Meme

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As seen on Sara’s Blog:

1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED

Just one?? Currently it’s “Home Schooling Children with Special Needs: Turning Challenges into opportunities!” by Sharon C. Hensley, M.A.

2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT

My Computer! lol

3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT

Considering God’s Creation – a great science curriculum for some – just frustration for me!

4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR

We both enjoyed Saxon last year – taking a break this year – looking forward to it again next year.

5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR

Study Dog – it’s a downloadable program (free to lower income families) from the Literacy council (I can find the link if anyone wants it).

6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY

I’m pretty satisfied with our resources onhand. I just bought Handwriting materials though.

7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED

A local Christian support group for homeschooling parents of special learners

8 ) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING

I get a lot of information (products, styles, etc) from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine – however, that is not a catalog. Favorite catalog would have to be Timberdoodle.

9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com it’s pretty much the ONLY HSing website I use.

MIA

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I’ve been missing in action…and it’s hard to start up again!  While I was gone – Eric worked his butt off on that tent trailer…someone gave us another one (going to use for parts) and a van to haul it with!! PTL!

I had a birthday of signifcance 😉 and my mom rented a house at the beach for all of us to stay together at the Beach.  My mom and my family were there for the whole 7 days, my brother and his family came for about 4 days and my sister and her kids for about 3 days.  We missed my BIL who could not get away from work.  I’ve got pics to share – but that will have to be another day!

I’m working on getting organized for our new year of homeschooling J2 (J1 and J3 will attend the school where Eric teachs 4th grade – J1 will be in 5th grade this year and J3 is doing K). One area I want to work on with J2 this year is independence.  I’d like to move away from me sitting beside him as he goes through each lesson.  I’d like him to gain the confidence to realize he can do this!  (He’s a slow learner and had many challenges)

One thing I’ve done is moved us away from the dining room table and created a work station for him.  And, I’m considering an assignment sheet/book that we can review and then refer to for daily assignments (for instance, Monday – Math: Lesson 12).  He’ll still need me to read certain parts to him but I really want him to realize he knows more than he thinks he does.

Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas?  If it helps, my son is going to be 10 in about two weeks and doing 3rd grade work – except on language arts and then we are working at a 1st/2nd grade level.

Oh!  One more thing before I go – I’m having an Usborne Book party online!!  If you don’t know about these books, you need to check it out!  If you are like me and drool over these books everytime you see them, well, go see what specials Tricia is sharing with us this month!!  The Eshow will last only until August 17th – so don’t put it off!  If you order you will help me be able to afford the Ancient History book I want! 😉