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Special Learners e-Newsletter, August 2006
In This Issue Trusting in Chariots and Horses HSB Homeschool Blog Visit Lifeway Homeschool Message Board Getting Started Homeschooling a Special Needs Child Share Your Story About Your Editor, Christine Field
Trusting in Chariots and Horses Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (NIV) Who are you trusting in in your homeschooling journey? Some trust in the experts who have an answer for everything from potty training to pre-calculus. Of course, their varying opinions can leave you more confused than when you asked the question! When I practiced law, I was always amused to see advertisements for the services of expert witnesses. You could find and hire one to support just about any position. Similarly, the variety of folks under the homeschooling umbrella is vast. While you may enjoy the teaching of one, you are likely to find another around the corner with a different slant or approach. Some trust in curriculum. I have searched for the perfect curriculum for each of my children, sometimes coming close and often missing the mark. I have spent thousands of dollars with vendors and hundreds of hours with scissors, paper, glue, and a library card, convinced I could create that perfect learning aid. While I have met with some success, I have also been deeply discouraged. Only one thing has never disappointed: the name of the Lord. When I struggled with the difficulty of my lot in life, He gently reminded me of the solace, strength, and wisdom in His Word. Who are you trusting? Chariots and horses will fall and stumble. At the end of the day, at the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year, at the end of it all, only one thing matters: Did they know His Son? Did you trust Him? I had a weird year last year in which I learned many things. While challenged on all sides, I learned to trust more and worry less. Last summer I was diagnosed with some heart issues. My family history is horrendous. Both of my parents died from heart issues, my mom at age 56. My sister Katy died at age 53. Diabetes and heart disease have ravaged my siblings, causing amputations and bypass surgeries galore. Of eight siblings, one is deceased and three others have already had bypass. In my family, you feel like you just take a number and wait your turn under the knife. I've been lucky. Up until the last few years, I enjoyed seemingly good health. A few years ago, my husband and I had heart scans. His (of course) showed squeaky clean arteries. Mine showed substantial calcification that needed to be monitored. It does not bode well to acquire a cardiologist in your early forties, but I have had good ones and I am grateful to them. And so the diagnosis game began. The first was the discovery of a hereditary factor called LPa. Don't ask me to explain it, but it hastens the development of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. If you've got it, your arteries are going to clog up earlier and sooner. With this discovery, I was placed on aggressive cholesterol medications, although my cholesterol numbers are good. (Overall of 124 at last check. Woo hoo!) The medication will hopefully slow the process. Last summer my Boston-born cardiologist wanted to do more testing because my heart muscle was weakening. (No wonder I'm so tired!) I learned all about ejection fraction and had my first angiogram and CT angiogram. The result was that one artery is now over 90% blocked (the others are 30-40% blocked) and I have an aneurysm in my ascending aortic artery. It is currently 4.5 cm. When it gets to 5 cm, they will repair the aneurysm and bypass the necessary arteries in one surgery that will surely change my life forever. In the meantime, if the aneurysm bursts, the chances for survival are about 20%. Who do you trust in this situation? I straddled the fence. My alarm over my health was so great that I retreated into a fearful shell. I canceled some speaking commitments (please forgive me!) and made arrangements for my two younger children to attend a learning center for a few hours a day, then work with me in the afternoon. I settled in to await my fate. My 6-month CT angiogram showed the aneurysm was stable--no growth since last check. Then I turned 50 and realized I had spent the year not really living. I was so fretful about what news the chariots and horses might bring that I missed some of life. This year, we'll all be home full time, pretty much. The two oldest are taking one class each at the community college (in the honors program. Woo hoo!) and completing their last year of high school at home with me. I have only one more year left with them at home full time. We will make the most of each day. The younger two will not attend the learning center but will remain in the learning center of our home. In the event that this is the year for the surgery, they will learn a lot about life. I am confident we will all pull together and grow in our faith. My next CT angiogram is in August. What will the future hold? I don't know. But I know the One who knows. Psalm 139:16 tells me, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." I am learning to number those days aright and to relish each one, waiting with hope for what the Lord has in store for me next. How about you? What are you facing this year? In whom will you place your trust? The true life-expert is the creator of life--our loving God. The best curriculum is found within the pages of His Word. Spend some time there today and place your trust in the only place it belongs. HSB Homeschool Blog Tally the Homeschooled Cat has agreed to regularly visit the Company Porch for a few months while I get our school year planned out. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HSBCompanyBlog. If you haven't stopped by there, I get to post goodies on Mondays, and Tally will be guest blogging for a while. Check him out! US Subscriptions: Whether you are new to our magazine or a long-time subscriber, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has an incredible offer that you won't want to pass up! In the past, we couldn't offer the renewing subscribers the 19 free gifts - those were only for new customers. But for a limited time only, RENEWING subscribers get all 19 gifts (over $200 value), too! I'm a new subscriber…what do I get? With your paid two-year subscription to TOS you'll receive: •A 2-year/3-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine •19 FREE gifts for you All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and ONLY $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase Online Or, call 1-888-718-HOME Already a subscriber? Renew now and receive: • Two or Three more years of your favorite homeschool magazine and 19 FREE gifts (valued at over $200)! All this for ONLY $39 for 2 years and ONLY $59 for 3 years Click Here to Purchase! Or, call 1-888-718-HOME The first 3,000 two-year or three-year new subscriber or renewing your two or three year subscription, you will receive (by USPS mail) NINETEEN free homeschooling gifts. But you don't get four gifts - you get 19! And yes, even the shipping is paid for - and you are not required to buy anything again - EVER. Hurry! Promotion will sell out fast! - TOS Staff (US Residents Only) Click Here to View the FREE Gifts International Subscriptions: Whether you view your subscription as a gift for yourself, a homeschool conference delivered to your door, a professional journal, or simply a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with other homeschool families around the world, subscribe now to insure that you are in the first 2,000 and receive this incredible International Subscription Homeschool Gift Pack! One-Year International Subscription: Receive four issues of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine delivered directly to your door and 19 FREE gifts from our generous sponsors. Subscribe now! Only $38! And we have an additional gift for two-year and three-year subscribers! Two-Year or Three-Year International Subscription: Receive eight issues of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, the 19 free gifts, AND our Secrets of Successful Homeschooling e-book! Subscribe now! Only $69 for 2 years and $83 for 3 years! These special offers will expire soon, though. Subscribe or renew today so you don't miss out on this opportunity! We have three easy ways to subscribe! Subscribe online Call 1-888-718-HOME Mail your order to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC PO Box 10 White Pine, TN 37890 Hurry! Promotion will sell out fast! - TOS Staff (International Residents Only) Click Here to View the FREE Gifts Lifeway Homeschool Message Board As many of you know, Lifeway is associated with Broadman & Holman, publisher for Homeschool Methods by Paul and Gena Suarez and my own Homeschooling the Challenging Child. They have launched a message board just for homeschoolers, and I get to moderate it! Come join the conversation! I'll see you there! ShillerMath publishes Montessori-based homeschool math kits for ages 4-12. Each kit includes beautifully designed activities, diagnostic tests with answer keys, an audio CD with corny (but catchy!) math songs, a complete set of Montessori-based manipulatives, hundreds of worksheets, and free consumable replacement. No Montessori or math knowledge is required and there's zero lesson preparation - just read what's in quotes and you're good to go! Students using this approach consistently outperform their peers. Visit Their Website! Getting Started Homeschooling a Special Needs Child    By Tom and Sherry Bushnell Here are a few suggestions to get you going in the great adventure of homeschooling. These suggestions are by no means exhaustive, and all may not apply to every family. These recommendations are directed at the family who is facing teaching a challenged child. We would like to thank those of you who have sent in suggestions here and there on this topic. We cannot remember all the names, but we do remember the suggestions! If any of you have ideas that are not mentioned here, by all means send them in and we'll let others know. 1. Sit down and decide why you are homeschooling. It is important to be firm in your convictions. Homeschooling itself can be a controversial matter. Homeschooling a child with disabilities can be even more so. Be in agreement with each other as husband and wife. Pray for the Lord's wisdom in making choices. 2. Write down the goals you would like to see accomplished with your child in the year, next six months, and next month or so. Be specific. Break the steps down into manageable pieces to be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. Beware of "overestimating," and don't be afraid to back up. What is it going to take to get there? Will you need equipment, curriculum, teaching aids, or help? Next, order catalogs. Write for information on curriculum that you feel may suit your needs. Try to find a broad base to choose from. 3. Establish control in your home. Your child needs to be able and willing to follow your instructions. This comes about through consistent, loving discipline. Letting your child know what is expected of him/her and following through with your requests with bite, not just bark, really works. The Bible is clear on this one! 4. If you are worried about harassment by your local district or professional personnel, join HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). They are great confidence boosters! File your local district's Intent to Homeschool form on time. 5. Set aside funds each month for equipment, teaching aids, or other support material. Budget wisely and be prepared to shop around. Many materials are expensive, but there are ways around the costs. 6. Find a supportive educational consultant if you are feeling muddled or bogged down. With notebook in hand, try hiring a professional you trust as a consultant. 7. Get involved in a support group. If you cannot find one you are comfortable with (or that is comfortable with you), create your own. Get involved with the NATHHAN Network and/or NATHHAN Directory and get a copy right away from us. You need not wait until spring when the new ones are printed. As soon as you have sent in your confidential questionnaire with YES for directory, you can ask us for one. Write to a bunch of families that look like they might be able to help. So many great friendships have been formed this way. We cannot stress enough how encouraging it is to know you are not alone in this homeschooling endeavor. 8. Learn to keep track of your progress records. IEPs may not legally be required in your state, but it is wise to make a game plan of action, to mark progress, and to see how far you've come. Make two copies of your records, including medical, and store them in two different places. 9. Set aside a shelf or cupboard in your home for just your homeschooling supplies. This one area may need to be bigger or smaller depending on how much equipment, books, games, teaching aids, and curriculum you need. Be organized. This is a real key to eliminating frustration every morning. It is a waste of time when you go to get started and cannot find the things you need. A note about scheduling from Sherry Bushnell. We have found that in the midst of a very busy household, being organized is the secret to not becoming overwhelmed. Getting started on an organized schedule can be hard. Once you've spent a few days working the bugs out of your system, life is admittedly calmer. The arguments about who does what, where, and when are eliminated. My boys actually have fun trying to beat the clock to earn extra free time after their chores are done. Take advantage of little moments of time. Speech therapy can be performed at odd moments of the day in 3-5 minute intervals. The ABCs can be sung in the car on the way to town or shopping. Make to-do lists. Writing down goals and keeping track of them in your little notebook can be done while you wait for appointments or on the couch while you are putting your feet up for a moment. I, for one, leave a pad of paper next to my bed because I am always thinking of important thoughts or things to do in the night. (It isn't unusual for me to be writing the newsletter in my sleep!) The important idea is to seize the moment! Reprinted with permission from www.Nathhan.org. Share Your Story! We are looking for real parents to share their stories of real life with their special learners. If you would be interested in writing a short piece for us, contact me at christinefield@sbcglobal.net. About Your Editor Christine Field practiced law for eight years before becoming a full-time Mommy. She and her husband live and homeschool their four children in Wheaton, Illinois, where her husband, Mark, serves as Chief of Police. Three of their four children are adopted, one through a private adoption and two from Korea. She is the author of several books, including Coming Home to Raise Your Children (Fleming Revell, 1995), Should You Adopt? (Fleming Revell, 1997) A Field Guide to Home Schooling (Fleming Revell, 1998), Life Skills for Kids (Harold Shaw/WaterBrook, 2000), Help for the Harried Homeschooler (Harold Shaw/WaterBrook, 2002) and Homeschooling the Challenging Child (Broadman & Holman, 2005). Her next book, written with her husband Mark, called Homeschooling 101, will be published by Broadman & Holman in Spring 2007. She serves as a correspondent and Resource Room columnist for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. Her articles on life skills have appeared in Focus on the Family Magazine and Single Parent Family. To contact her about your special learner, or to have her speak to your group or conference, you may email her at mailto:christinefield@sbcglobal.net or visit her website at www.HomeFieldAdvantage.org. Her mailing address is:       The Home Field Advantage       PO Box 261       Wheaton, IL 60189-0261 Visit her blog at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/christinefield.

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