Special Learners e-Newsletter, October 2006
|
|
In This Issue
|
|
Replenishing Your Oil
Remember the widow at Zarephath? I didn't. I recently reread her story in 1 Kings 17. When Elijah (who was accustomed to being fed by ravens, mind you) popped by her house, he asked the widow for some water, adding, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread" (vs. 11, NIV). She replied that she had no bread. In fact, she was out gathering sticks to use to cook a meal for herself and her son so that they might eat it--and die.
Elijah listened to her plan--to dine and die--and promised her, "For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land' " (vs. 14). From that day forward, she had oil a-plenty.
Great story. What's the point? The widow put God first, and then she baked her bread with gladness. In her initial encounter with Elijah, she acknowledged, "As surely as the Lord your God lives."
True indeed. As surely as he lives, he will replenish our oil if we seek Him first in all of our days and doings. Is your homeschool running on your energy and personality, or are you asking God to replenish your oil daily to enable you to rise to the task of homeschooling?
Let's start this school year strong--strong in the Lord and not in ourselves. It's the only way to ensure we will continue to bake our bread.
Christine Field
Special Learners e-Newsletter Editor
The Key to Homeschooling a Child with Special Needs By Barbara Frank
We recently started school again after taking off the summer, and while I have my 15-year-old daughter's work all planned out, I am a lot more relaxed about my 13-year-old son with Down syndrome. I've learned that I can't expect him to progress the way his older siblings did. But he does progress, and the more I pay attention to how he learns, the more successes he has.
That said, I think the most important thing he has learned so far is how to behave well, i.e. to be civilized. We spent years teaching him to eat properly, to say please and thank you, and to give up many of the odd behaviors that kids with disabilities sometimes have. I'm not saying he's totally well-behaved, but we can take him to church and expect him to sit and listen quietly, to be social with others and to have table manners. This may sound pretty basic to people who don't have any children with disabilities, but we've all come down a long road with this issue. I think when a child is developmentally disabled, behaving appropriately in public goes a long way toward making others feel more comfortable around them and treating them better than they would have otherwise.
This is particularly important if the child's disability did not come with any physical clues. My son is fortunate to have the facial features common in Down syndrome; it immediately makes people aware that he might be a little different, so they cut him some slack. (Once in a while, it causes people to turn in the other direction or frown, but we avoid that type of person anyway!) I feel sorry for kids with disabilities that don't show on their face or body, though, because it can really throw strangers who are not expecting them to be different.
It can be hard to discipline a child with disabilities in order to help him exhibit all the social graces he is capable of learning. Some parents feel sorry for their child and all the extra challenges he has, and they just can't make themselves do what it takes to bring him up to his potential in that department. It takes consistency on the part of the parent and hard work for both parents and child. It also takes a long time. But it is worth it in the long run--both for your child's self-esteem and for your own comfort.
|
Attention teens! College students! Christian leaders! Pastors!
Take your walk and witness to the next level - through Christian apologetics! At the
National Conference on Christian Apologetics, November 10-11, hear experts such as Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Erwin Lutzer, and more! Teens need apologetics, too! The conference features "Dare2DigDeeper," special apologetics instructional workshops just for
teens, hosted in association with Focus On The Family.
Register today - space is limited, and filling up fast! For complete information, call
(704)
847-5600, or visit our website.
|
 |
In "civilizing" our son, we learned it was important to discipline him in ways that hit home with him. For example, when he was young, he got into the habit of throwing food across the table. I tried smacking his fingers, and his dad even gave him the occasional swat on the tush, but those punishments didn't bother him at all. Then we tried turning his high chair around so he couldn't see the rest of us. That did the trick; he would sob as if his little heart was broken. Ever the social being, he found this punishment unbearable. Before long, all we had to do was barely move his high chair around and he'd put down the food he was about to throw. Today, we can take him out anywhere and he behaves like a gentleman, sometimes better than other boys his chronological age.
So yes, we're back working on reading, math, speech exercises, and other things. But all of those subjects would be a lot harder to teach if our son didn't know how to behave properly while we're working together. Of course, this holds true for all children, not just those with disabilities: if you don't have basic discipline tackled, homeschooling will be a lot harder than it has to be.
Copyright 2006 Barbara Frank
Barbara Frank is the mother of four homeschooled-from-birth children (ages 13-22), a freelance writer/editor, and the author of Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers and the new e-book The Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling. To visit her website, "The Imperfect Homeschooler," go to www.cardamompublishers.com.
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!
What are your favorite homeschool resources?
 We want to know!
Every year The Old Schoolhouse Magazine presents Excellence in Education Awards to companies who offer homeschoolers’ favorite curriculum and resources.
We need your vote!
Please tell us your picks for 2006 today!
Teaching, Loving, and Living with Your Strong-Willed, Bright, Creative, Right-Brained, Left-Handed Child By Karla Akins
WHACK!
Mrs. Q's ruler hit my backside and broke into two pieces. I jerked around and looked at my teacher's face. Something in my face must have startled her because she looked back at me with a mixture of surprise and horror at what she had just done.
I had been on my knees, turned backwards in my seat, "helping" my classmate with her work--at least in my mind I was helping. My plaid-skirted bottom had been in full view facing the front, and that is where the ruler landed.
I turned around and sat in my chair. My six-year-old face was hot with embarrassment. The ruler hadn't hurt, but to be swatted in front of all my classmates was humiliating. I straightened my kilt and sat with my head looking at my hands. Mrs. Q said nothing--or maybe she did say something but the blood rushing in my head kept me from hearing her. I don't know, and I remember nothing else after that.
Looking back on my childhood, I must have been a teacher's worst nightmare. I was usually in my own world, clueless to what the rest of the class was doing. I wasn't like this on purpose. I honestly didn't understand the structure and social rules of a classroom. I was bright, but I was confused. I didn't know how to read yet, and I hadn't made the connection between letters and sounds.
I remember that I was in the yellow reading group while most of my friends were in the green one. It didn't take me long to figure out that my friends could read a lot better than I could!
And to make things even more confusing to me, I was left-handed. Actually, I was "both-handed" until I was asked to pick a hand. Eventually I picked my left for writing, but because I never could master left-handed scissors, I cut with my right hand. I remember drawing teddy bears on my chalkboard at home for my parents equally well with both hands. They couldn't tell which hand I should use either!
My mother always came home from conferences crying because I always got such bad reports. "Why are you so good at home and so horrible at school?" she would ask. I had no idea myself. I didn't know I was bad at school. In my mind I was being helpful.
I didn't understand at all "the big picture" of things. I didn't put it together that my daily work ended up on my report card. It wasn't until seventh grade that I had that part figured out.
What was wrong with me? Why was it so hard for me to keep my desk clean and organized? Why did my papers constantly fall all over the floor along with books and pencils and supplies? Looking back, I imagine I must have been a teacher's absolute nightmare when it came to organization!
In third grade my teacher yelled at me for working ahead in my English book. She wanted to be the one to introduce the class to contractions but instead I raised my hand and explained it. She was furious about that! This same teacher made me wear a sign to the lunchroom that said, "I am a big mouth." "In a lunch room of three hundred students," she said to my mother at conference, "you can hear Karla clear across the room."
I didn't mean to be a big mouth. I didn't even know I WAS a big mouth. How very often I wish I could look that teacher up and let her know that God had made me with a big mouth for a reason. I became a preacher's wife, the mother of four sons and one daughter, a teacher, and a singer who doesn't need a microphone! Actually, "big-mouthedness" (is that a word?) is a genetic trait in my family. If only she could hear the voice of my 15-year-old! She'd think I was soft-spoken in comparison.
With all the challenges I had in public school, I am amazed that I managed to graduate and go to college at all. But because of these challenges, and because I was keenly aware of them and remembered all of them (I can remember the name of every teacher I ever had in school), I decided to homeschool my own children, who were also late bloomers.
Originally I had chosen to homeschool because of spiritual reasons. I really believed God wanted me to homeschool my children out of obedience to Deuteronomy 6:6-7. But as time went on, and as my little boys began to delay fluent reading until age 9, I realized that they would have been as lost as I was in my early years of learning.
In fifth grade I had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Strecker, who knew I liked to write poetry, so she gave me permission to make book after book of my own poetry. If I got done with my work before the other students (and I usually did), she let me design book covers for my collections of poetry and also encouraged me to enter writing contests. I was also encouraged to enter the science fair, and I won a purple championship ribbon in that too! Imagine the problem child suddenly blooming into a creative, productive student!
That was also the year I learned to play the violin, and I was passionate about it. I
wanted to show everyone I knew how to play it. I didn't "get" that no one else would be as interested as I was. I had a teacher inside of me just aching to get out!
By the time I was in seventh grade, things began to come together for me. I learned I was good at music, and I began to get good grades in school. And from that point on I was okay. I turned out okay even though I started late and learned late. In fact, I turned out more than okay. In twelfth grade I wrote a three-act musical and raised money for my high school friends to take it to a conference in New York City!
And I grew up to be a homeschool Mom with a sympathetic heart toward naughty little boys and girls full of wiggles and giggles and too many ideas to be contained in one little body!
I am not sharing these things to toot my own horn. I'm sharing them to encourage all the moms out there with little boys and girls who are more interested in collecting slugs and walking sticks than sitting still with a pencil. I'm sharing them so that the creativity in these bright, excellent children will not be quashed but shaped and encouraged to bloom.
My two biological boys (I also have adopted twins with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome) were late bloomers. But by the time they were 14 they were caught up with their peers in all academic areas. My oldest was a horrible speller until age 16 when something finally clicked.
If your child still isn't reading by age 12, maybe then it's time to find out why with some testing. But if your younger child simply isn't interested in reading and it makes him or her cry, don't panic. Give that child other wonderful things to do. In time, they will want to read in order to get the information that they want.
When my oldest son was about eight years old, I told him he could read in his bed with a flashlight. He thought that was a delightful idea. I gave him an old original edition of The Box Car Children, and, incredibly, he read it all in just a few days with that flashlight under his covers. He had not been reading much at all before then!
My second son, who is now a gifted writer and mathematician at age 15, didn't read until he was well into his tenth year of life. I had tried everything with him to help him learn to read. I had been an elementary teacher before my children were born, so I had taught many, many children how to read before. But I couldn't teach my own boys how to read before they were ready! Finally, my middle son learned to read, and by the time he was in ninth grade he was not only caught up with his peers but had passed them up in many academic areas.
There are a lot of reasons for late blooming, which I will share more about in my next article. For now, embrace that wiggly, giggly, creative, late-blooming child! There is probably a budding artist, musician, teacher, or engineer inside just aching to get out!
In addition to her personal homeschooling experience, Karla runs a cottage school where she works with children with special needs every day. Their needs range from MR to emotionally disturbed oppositional defiant.
You can learn about Karla by clicking any of the links below:
www.LibertyScholars.com
www.homeschoolblogger.com/karlakakins
www.homeschoolblogger.com/love4books
www.homeschoolblogger.com/karlakayakins
 |
The Schoolhouse Store Spotlight
Most of us have participated in the traditional September Back-to-School shopping spree, purchasing supplies and goodies for our children. With the school year back in full swing and organization and scheduling in the forefront of our minds, this is the perfect time for Mom to receive some helpful supplies" as well. Our BusyWoman Planner/Purse/Tote Set is a great way to get organized and look good at the same time!
This matching purse and tote set comes with a Busy Woman Basics Daily Planner with planning pages to start you on your way to an organized schedule, this daily planner is sure to get you on track. Your choice of blue, black, burgundy or hunter green. Check it out HERE. |
HSB Homeschool Blog
Each month I will feature a different blog site from www.HomeschoolBlogger.com
Would you like to have your blog featured in the Special Learners e-Newsletter?
Drop me a note at christinefield@sbcglobal.net with your information.
Do you subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine?
Here's what our readers are saying:
"This is by far the best homeschooling magazine I have ever seen. There is no fluff! Your articles are like meat after a diet of candy. Just what I need!"
--Laura Beck, CO
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 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!
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
|
Testimonials
Writing can be a lonely thing. It brings such joy to me to hear from readers who have been touched by something I wrote. When you drop me a note, please include permission to use your comments in the newsletter.
Write Me! Emall: christinefield@sbcglobal.net
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.
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following information is a reminder of your current
mailing list subscription:
You are subscribed to the following list:
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine Newsletters - Special Learners using the following
email: speciallearners@tosmagazine.com
You may automatically
unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:
http://www.tosmagazine.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/speciallearners/
If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the
entire address.
Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this
automatic unsubscribe mechanism.
You may also change your subscription
by visiting this list's main screen:
http://www.tosmagazine.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/list/speciallearners
If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: speciallearners@tosmagazine.com
The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:
http://www.theoldhomeschoolhouse.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
