God Brought Us To It

Four years ago she complained when reading picture books and dug her heals in at the shear mention of a chapter book.

But on Friday she was finishing book 2 in the Narnia series she has determined to read.  She just began with The Magicians Nephew last month... and here she is on the final pages of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  How did we get here?

God brought us to it.

My patience with her was not always what I would have liked.  But when God intervened, and I bent my knees and heart in prayer for her... everything changed.

Her reading progress went from prayer into submission... my submission.  She had to learn how to read and become educated through ADHD.  And I had to learn to teach through ADHD.  And letting go was a vital step.

Back then...

I let go...

... of all books having to be READ by her and allowed her to listen to some audio books while 'reading' along.  I also continued to read chapter books, voices and animation included, at bedtime.  My hopes were to spark an interest in literature... to see stories as an adventure she might want to take on her own sometime
... of expecting her to read on-and-on-and-on for 15 minutes straight all by herself and we would read together, trading off on pages (in picture books) or paragraphs (in chapter books).
... of expecting her to read every chapter in a chapter book as I transitioned her from picture books to chapter books.  Instead I rewarded every chapter she read by reading a chapter to her (essentially taking turns on chapters)

I started...

... rewarding her reading time with computer time.
... renting movies which were based on books she had read.
... taking her on field trips that helped her actually see and touch similar settings from the books she was reading.
... encouraging plays and crafts inspired by the books she was reading.

Exploring and drawing at a not-so-"Secret Garden"

Puppet Show from The Magic Tree House's "Sunset of the Sabertooth"

She...

... got tiered of the audio books... she wanted to know what the non-audio books said.
... got tiered of waiting for me to get done with my turn reading and told me she didn't need my help anymore!
... didn't want me to read chapter books to her anymore, I think it interfered with her own private interaction with the text... and she wanted to develop her own thoughts on accents and voices and images!
... doesn't care as much about the computer time as she does about finishing a story to see what happens.
... looks forward to the movies to compliment her reading and often fills everyone in on the details the movie is missing! (Living book report!)
... sketches pictures from stories and has found a love for art and an opportunity to put on paper that which her imagination is enjoying
... has discovered that reading is and adventure and she is an adventurous individual!

... and now!

After four years of submission to prayer, trusting God, letting go, and encouraging (instead of complaining and riding)... she prefers chapter books with NO pictures ('I like to paint my own picture in my mind' she says!), she gobbles them up one-after-another, and I can't do anything except sit back, watch her read, and feel the joy that comes with obedience to homeschooling God's way instead of my way!

If you have a challenged reader in your homeschool, I encourage you to pray, submit, and let God lead and work in your teaching and their learning... and watch miracles happen.  

May God Bless your homeschool,

Linking up with Sue today at:

Some Days...

Last week's challenges and this week's business brought me into a Thursday evening that felt more like the whir of a subway terminal then the peace of a near-week-end mount to cool down.  I admittedly hit "snooze" twice this morning before simply turning the alarm off and tucking back in.


Some days are like that.

It hasn't happened to me in a while and I will also admit that the earlier days of our homeschooling adventures saw this occurrence much more regularly.  But this past year I just felt God leading us to push-through, work hard and learn self discipline.  After all, my oldest daughter starts homeschool high school this coming fall... perseverance and dedication are quality life skills she will be needing all too soon.

But so is the once-in-a-blue-moon, call into work (even though you aren't really sick) because you just need to regroup.

In all of life... some days are just like that.

And as long as every day isn't like that and, however a homeschool is arranged, we push and persevere to reach our goals... our children will learn the important and valued skills.

And while important is good writing, math, and reading.  Important is also knowing when to say "no", how to stop, and recognizing when God is calling for the body (and mind's) need to take a break in avoidance of overworking.

Time is valuable.

Hearing God's voice in the inner-workings is valued most of all. 

All days should be just like that.

I pray today's set down taught my dear ones that it is O.K. to stop, to say no to the spelling and yes to the bike riding... to recognize God had other things just as important in store and our minds could benefit from the temporary break.  Hopefully they learned that while some days are like that; all days are successful when we choose to Submit.

My dear friend, Rebecca, at Mom's Mustard Seeds is going to be doing a series on "Not Letting Your Curriculum Rule You".  I am looking forward to her insight... especially after days like today!  Learning is important... so is letting go!

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Be blessed this weekend!

Linking up with Sue today at:

The Mother's Homeschool Journal #21

In my life this past month…
... I took a lot of time off!  I was just plugging forward so fast, so hard, I forgot to stop and smell the sunflowers.  

I couldn't seem to hear His voice and my heart ached for the peace His guidance brings.

So I had an adjustment.  

A chiropractic spiritual tweak to make everything right.

I blogged less, prayed more and journaled bunches.

By month's end His voice was loud and clear.  One message received in prayer:  Homeschool Journal recording should probably be once a month for me.  For a few reasons, the biggest one of which (other than my Father telling me so) was time and my often lack of.  So here I am, recording October :-)

In our homeschool this past month…
Brenden's math books were set aside for hand-made math to get him over a comprehension hump.  He seems to be trucking along now and back in love with numbers (even if they do wiggle around in front of his dyslexic eyes!) and ready to inch back into his books.  I'm so thankful for that freedom!

I am trying hard to get Ashley to search information in her math.  Referencing previous lessons for review points.  She runs hot and cold on the cooperation in that effect.  She doesn't realize I am more persistent than her!  

Brenden and Brooke finished their Flat Stanley reading and projects.  As I type this, Flat Brenden is having a good time with some friends in England and Flat Brooke is hanging out with a friend in Washington :0)  We are looking forward to their return and all the wonderful stories of their adventures!  Then they will be off to see their grandma in Tennessee!  (She will be able to see just how much they have grown!)

Language Arts is working well.  Some hiccups in our days are reminding me of how grateful I am that our curriculum this year has some wiggle room!  I have accidentally got the kids proudly calling it "L.A." because that is how I abbreviate it on everything!

yummy edible solar system!

topographical face!

We wrapped up our study on the initial colonization of the United States and our space study in Science.  I am concerned for how much is being retained, mainly by Ashley.  Her ADHD mind doesn't always want to sit and attend the information we read -or- the projects we do to get them interacting with history and science.  I am integrating videos whenever I can and that does help.  But when asked questions about the things she knows, she impulsively answers, "I don't know." and I have to pray against agitation (am I more upset that she won't access her memory bank or that she makes me look like a bad teacher when she does that?)  She did, however, complete her last History chapter review with much less complaint and greater accuracy then previous chapters!  Progress... right?  

(I'm thankful Brooke can at least be studious!  She even complained this week when sickness kept her from her math workbook and spelling words and journal pages!  lol)

When I consider all of these aspects in our curriculum, one thing I find myself doing is looking at Ashley,  and thinking of college 4 1/2 years away.  She will need to self-pace and pursue information when that time comes.  Yet another driving force behind our persistent push forward!  (To acquire knowledge and glorify God is our first reason for perseverance in school!)

 

We have made the alteration in our schedule to attempt weekly visits to the library where we are able to spppprrrraaaawwwwlllll way out and do our school work :-)  It has blessed us all and the kids look forward to it.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing this coming month…
Turkey day is upon us.  Thankfulness most in mind!  Considering traditions, 20 years worth, always under my own roof and now, under someone else's.  I feel a twinge of emotion and a pull to know wherever I go, there God is... and that is all that matters.  

In that regard, we discovered our new church will be having a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving.  We are so thrilled to be part of a church now that is actively trying to provide for the needs of the congregation (including making sure everyone has a 'family' to be with that day) that we are going to sign up to be part of it.  So we plan and pray and look to new traditions and observations... 

My favorite thing this past month was…
Wedding Anniversary and hand-made rings from my daughter :-)  

 And our week long retreat for prayer and waiting on God for discernment.

 

What's working/not working for us...

During retreat we talked about much.  One result being a need for some tweaks in our school/daily schedule.  This makes the third tweak since the school year started!  They aren't major changes, just some shuffling around of small things to reveal a big difference.  

I'm just thankful for flexibility and grace in what we do... that when we see the days aren't set just right, we can adjust, accommodate, and make it all work.  I'm so thankful to know God cares how our schedule goes too... after all, a well planned day should result in some devoted time with Him!

I’m reading…

I had to share this one!  One of my first books studied in the School of Biblical Studies was Philemon.  This story takes place in that time, in that region, and apparently is about Philemon, his wife, and the dynamics of an obscure apostle named Paul and a slave named Onesimus :-)  Fiction of course but so fun to consider the personal reactions and events from a daily perspective in early 1st century!  (Apparently there are more books in the series too!)

The Centurion's Wife

When I am not studying in the book of Mark (our next inductive target!) or doing other motherly/wifely/etc duties (ie, whenever I can steal some minutes) I am reading this!

I’m praying for…

 A team from the organization we volunteer as staff with is in South Africa this week meeting with pastors in that region.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Be blessed this November, in homeschool and out!