Video: How to Homeschool When Kids Have Bad Attitudes and Siblings Fight

Looks Different in Different Seasons

Behavior struggles look different depending on how old your children are. One of the most common challenges we have had in our homeschooling family is bad attitudes and sibling arguments.

When they are young, kids often quarrel over sharing a toy, who should be first, not wanting to obey. With older kids, sibling conflict often shows itself in clashing personalities. As teens gain independence, they can disrespect parents or house rules.

Address it or not?

How can you tell if the sibling quarrels in your home are something you should address or leave the kids to work out amongst themselves? This is something that I believe you get better at with parenting experience.

A general rule of thumb I use is this. When the matter involves injustice, it should be addressed, if it is more of a clash of personalities (often with older children), it may be a good chance to let them try to work it out.

What about when the conflict is between parent and child? This can show itself in many ways. If a child is noncompliant or doesn’t want to do anything you ask, it is hard to move forward in home school work. Without respect, how can you accomplish anything? This type of behavior should be addressed as the first priority.

Helpful Solutions

One of the most obvious solutions is to have conversations with your kids about being kind and putting others first. If you are a family that reads the Bible and great literature together, the concept of loving your neighbor will be something you come across all the time. This is a great way to talk to your kids about how to love the other people in your home.

In addition to conversations, try these other problem-solving strategies that have worked well for us!

#1 Have clearly defined expectations and boundaries and stick to them!

We can’t hope for peace in our homes if the kids don’t know what to expect. Additionally, if the boundaries are unknown and/or consequences keep changing, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Write out a list (preferably a short list) of realistic expectations and put it in a visible place for all family members to see.

Younger children especially need a daily routine. It’s not necessary to write out specific times, but the most important thing is that you have a rhythm established.

#2 Whisper

Be the first to set an example. When arguments escalate and the temperature rises, respond by lowering your voice. (I’m not referring to an angry, passive-aggressive whisper, but a quieting of the spirit.) Visibly de-escalate the situation by calming yourself down first. When you start whispering to solve the conflict, kids often begin to lower their voices.

#3 Separate them from the situation.

Sometimes when tension runs high, the best choice is to separate a child from the situation. Have the child go to another room for a few minutes to calm down until you can talk to them reasonably about the issue. You have a much better chance of sifting through problems when emotions aren’t quite so high. This doesn’t need to take much time, but a little bit of space quiets contention.

#4 Keep kids near you.

Often when we as homeschool parents are distracted or trying to get something else done, this is the time that our kids start to squabble. If you observe this becoming a problem in your homeschool, try keeping your kids near you. Being WITH them can be the best way to solve problems quickly!

Work at a table or in one room together where you can keep close tabs on conversations and struggles. As they work at their own pace, you can assist with any special needs. Close proximity tends to minimize conflict.

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The post How To Homeschool With Real Struggles and Challenges appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Once a month on the blog I like to share “our life” collectively as homeschoolers by interviewing an everyday homeschool mom. You will find a wealth of encouragement and resources in this post, Learning Beside Children With Learning Differences: Interview With Jenn. Enjoy!

Hi! I’m Jenn. I’ve been married to my husband, Nick for 22 years. We met in high school and married after college. Nick is a sales engineer; he works from home and travels and average of 4-8 days per month. I have a background in social work, specifically foster care and adoption. I am currently working part-time doing post-permanency casework. We have three children; 2 birth, 1 adopted (and have fostered 2 other children). Libby, age 15; Lincoln, age 13; and Levi “Mark”, age 8.

*This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no cost to you.

What attracted you to homeschooling?

While we have homeschooled from the beginning (almost), I never intended to homeschool. When Libby was four, she went to preschool and Lincoln and I hung out. I missed her and didn’t like not be able to watch her learn new things.

We had a core group of friends at the time who were a few years ahead of us; I was hearing their stories of homeschooling, observing them, and hanging out with them at play dates. When the next year came around, Libby would have been starting Pre-K (she missed the cut off for Kinder) and Lincoln pre-school, we decided it made more sense for me to start homeschooling than it did to send them both to preschool. I also figured if it didn’t go well, she could start Kindergarten as planned the next Fall.

We borrowed some curriculum from friends and had a lot of fun reading aloud, going on hikes, writing letters, counting things, doing a low-key Kindergarten year. We ended up moving from Lancaster to San Antonio, TX in April of that school year, and I decided to homeschool there and find a community. We did three years of Classical Conversations before working with a group of people to start our own Charlotte Mason (CM) co-op, which we did for three more years before
moving again.

What does homeschooling look like with the specific needs of your child?

During Libby’s First and Second grade years it became evident that something was not clicking with reading. It took some time and evaluations but she was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia in fourth grade. It was difficult to know when and if testing was needed but ultimately, we felt it was in her best interest to have the diagnosis so that she knew why her brain worked differently and so that we could talk about the strengths of a dyslexic brain.

We also suspect that she has ADD (co-morbidity is high and ADD in hereditary). The ADD affects executive function skills such as processing speed and working memory.

Homeschooling allowed us to work at her pace with reading, but provide the information through reading aloud or audiobooks that she was capable of comprehending. We worked on phonograms and remedial reading instruction through fifth grade.

We used an Orton-Gillingham program called Logic of English. She read her first chapter book in fifth grade and has not stopped reading since! Now in ninth grade, her reading level is on grade level for fiction because of context clues within the story; text books are still difficult and I will read aloud or we find audio books (library, audible, librivox, or learning alley). Reading aloud in a class setting is still difficult, as is spelling. We continue to remediate spelling using a program call All About Spelling. Voice to text technology has become very important for writing papers and taking notes.

How did you balance the learning needs of another child?

During Libby’s learning journey we needed to balance that of a traditional learner in the home, who everything came fairly easy for, and who was only 16 months behind. It was a learning curve to not hold Lincoln back, but not have Libby be frustrated. We needed to separate some subjects which I would have rather kept together and we needed to have conversations about God giving us different strengths and weaknesses.

At various points in time, we sought outside therapies to help Libby (and us) navigate her learning differences and support mental health. Learning differences/ADD are also associated with other issues such as anxiety, anger, and depression so we were always keeping our eyes open about needing outside support.

Adding another child with special needs

Within a year of moving to San Antonio we began fostering. We cared for three babies; two returned to family. One was not able to return and we pursued adoption. After three, years Mark became a forever Yackanech.

His learning journey is unique too. From five months until three years we did occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy, and special instruction. At three Mark transitioned to the IU services and he received speech in the school setting. At that time, he qualified for a full-time preschool through the IU that would have placed him in a room with non-verbal children. We determined that it would be a better fit for him to remain home and in a language rich environment with his sibling and me. We took a break from PT and OT, as he was doing much better, but continued with speech at the school.

At age 4, we had him go to a church pre-school when we moved to new city because we did not have the support network/family nearby and I wanted to meet some of Libby’s educational needs. Mark loved preschool but struggled with attention, transitions, and music class. We had a 20-minute sensory diet routine that we did every morning before he went to preschool to help him. This routine took trial and error to figure out but included jumping on a trampoline, swinging, going for a bike ride, hanging upside down, and deep pressure input.

How do you solve a child’s educational puzzle?

We are currently working through some of Mark’s educational puzzle. He struggles with common adoption issues (grief, trauma, sensory issues, attention) that manifest while educating him. We are just now hitting an ability to sit and focus for 20 minutes at a time.

We are working with a therapist/behavioral specialist to help grow his abilities and help me in learning the best ways to manage his behaviors while parenting from a place of connection. In the next year, we will have him evaluated to determine if there are learning disabilities or global intellectual disabilities. We continue to do many of the same things for Mark that we did for Libby; lots of review, work at their level with the encouragement to make one more step (ability plus one), and lots of read alouds and oral narration.

What challenges have you faced homeschooling your child/children and how have you overcome them?

At times, I have wondered with each of my neuro-diverse children, if sending them to public school would be better. They would have more eyes of them to see if their learning differences need more remediation, instruction, or honestly if it would just be easier.

Instructing special needs children; parenting special needs children is a huge blessing and is refining, but can also be exhausting. I would have a friend encourage me and remind me that they would not get the individualized instruction, to the same degree, in a school setting.

We have also been able to keep a long-term goal in perspective…to encourage children to become lifelong learners. I want them to know how to learn; in the way their brain learns best. Sometimes, I need to reframe my expectations, adjust my methods, and pray for my heart to be soft and compassionate.

The other blessing of homeschooling is allowing non-traditional learners to find the activities that they love, bring life, and build their confidence in non-academic areas. We have been able to learn baking, sewing, embroidery, art, drama, choir, horseback riding and spend lots of time hiking and being in nature.

Any advice for other moms who have a child with special needs?

Remember your child is a person and all children develop differently. Don’t compare, but find another mom that “gets it.” Homeschooling special needs children is different, you may be walking beside your child a lot longer than most. Be willing to advocate for their needs and get testing or therapy if the learning disorder is impacting their self-esteem or your relationship.

Community is also important. The consistency of meeting with friends and fellow mamas while my older ones were younger and I was learning about homeschooling was key to me continuing homeschooling.

What resources have you found the most helpful for the unique differences of your child/children?

Online Resources

A Gentle Feast (CM book/curriculum guide for a family)
Logic of English
All About Spelling
Heggerty (phonetic awareness assessments and curriculum)
Learning Ally (audio books; need LD diagnosis to access)
Librivox Free public domain audio books
Homeschooling With Dyslexia

TCU College of Science and Engineering: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (TBRI video library)

Books

For the Children’s Sake

When Children Love to Learn

Charlotte Mason Volumes

The Dyslexic Advantage

Smart But Scattered (ADD information/Executive Functioning Help)

The Connected Child (Parenting Children from Hard Places/TBRI)

Sensory Needs

Helping the Out of Sync Child (Sensory Needs)

Your Kids Table Easy to Use Sensory Diet Template

Leave a Comment!

I hope you have you enjoyed Learning Beside Children With Learning Differences: Interview With Jenn. If so, leave a comment to let her know how her story helped you!

For more resources on this topic, you may also like reading…

Adoption and Finding Resources for the Special Needs of Your Child with Rebekah

The post Learning Beside Children With Learning Differences: Interview With Jenn appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Toddlers are into EVERYTHING! They pull things out, dump, and scatter. They are little monkeys and can be quite a distraction when you are trying to help your school-age kids focus on their work. Is it possible for a mom to homeschool and care for toddlers at the same time? Yes!!

As a mom to 10 kids, I know how challenging it is to homeschool while pregnant or with a new baby, however, in my opinion, homeschooling with a toddler takes the cake! Let me share with you some practical ways to homeschool when you have young kids in the toddler stage.

Video: Best Tips for Homeschooling with Toddlers in the House

#1 Include Them

Give them their own “work” to do to make them feel a part of your school time. Some homeschool moms like to create busy boxes. In their bin give them “school” work… maybe a coloring book, play dough, wooden blocks, board books, crayons, new toys, etc. Let them sit at the kitchen table and “do their school work” along with the rest of the crew.

You don’t need to ALWAYS include them. It’s important to give your big kids your undivided attention during the morning as well, but giving them your toddler one-on-one attention at the beginning of your homeschool day will give them a good start.

#2 Establish a Routine for your Toddler

If you don’t have one already, this is the perfect time to establish a routine for your little people. While a timed schedule can be restrictive for a toddler, a routine can help her to know what to expect next. It establishes predictable boundaries.

Sample Routine:

Wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, make bed

Breakfast

Clean up/Chores

Outside/Inside Play (depending on weather)

Lunch

Read aloud to them

Nap

Snack and play time

#3 Take Your Toddlers Outside!

The great thing about taking toddlers outside is that it wears them out!

A fenced-in yard can make it so convenient for everyone to go outside. You can be available to older siblings who might be working at a table and also keep an eye on your toddler playing in the yard. If you don’t have a fenced yard, let them play on the deck or patio with a play kitchen, water table, or a dishpan with soapy water and cups.

When the weather is too cold to be outside for too long, it is still helpful to take them out, even for just a little bit of time. Yes, dressing them for the weather takes a bit more work, but being outside can be a great mood changer for everyone.

#4 Put Things Out of Sight and Limit the Toys That Are Out

It took me having about 3 or 4 toddlers to figure this out, but wow, was it a lifesaver! One day when I was in the thick of homeschooling a few of our older kids, I went down into the basement to find that the toddler at that time had gone down and pulled everything off of our shelves and dumped it.

It was such a mess. It took me over an hour to clean it up. This was not the first time this had happened, but this particular morning, I decided it would be the last.

I went online and purchased a few small wardrobes with doors. I put (almost) all our toys, especially the ones with small parts: puzzles, Lincoln logs, blocks, etc into these wardrobes.

Having the toys out of sight helped us to be able to get out activities as needed, but also not have them accessible to destructive hands. (Having doors on the wardrobes was enough for that toddler, but if needed, I would have put locks on them.)

#5 Give Your Toddler Snacks in Their Booster Seat

Giving snacks to a toddler in their booster seat or high chair is a great way to buy some one-on-one time with an an older sister or brother. If you do this regularly, for example, a mid-morning snack, they will gradually be more content to sit there and play for extended periods.

#6 Make a List of Entertaining Activities

I learned this in a moment of desperation. Once when I had the (all too familiar) scenario of trying to help one of my older children with book work at the school table while my toddler was monkeying around the house pulling out one thing after another, I desperately pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote down all the activities that could hold her attention.

I took this list and put it on my refrigerator so that when I was in that overwhelming moment, I didn’t have to think. I could just refer to the list and pick an activity for her to do.

FREE Printable Busy Ideas for Toddlers

Need some great ideas to keep your toddlers entertained while you homeschool? Take a look at my list of busy ideas for toddlers. Sign up for a FREE printable download.

#7 Wear a Toddler

Often moms wear a baby while they are working around the house to help them to get things done. But don’t forget that you can wear a toddler too!

I often wear my babies in the first several months, but then when they start walking I wear them less and less since they want to be down exploring. BUT when they hit that 18ish months stage and tend to get needy and whiny, I sometimes forget how helpful it can be to use my baby carrier.

#8 Get Things Done During Nap or Quiet Time

Toddlers need a nap time, but I think moms need toddler nap time even more! As a busy homeschool mom, you should use nap time to do the things you aren’t able to do when your toddler is up.

Read aloud to an older student, work individually with whoever needs help, catch up on household chores, or if needed, take a nap!

What if your toddler is slowly not needing a nap anymore? Then make it a priority to have a quiet time. If she has difficulty learning to stay in her room or bed (or wherever she has quiet time), it is worth stopping everything and taking the time to teach her to stay quiet for quiet time.

If you have a young toddler who is moving from two naps to only an afternoon nap, try giving her a 1/2 hour or so of morning quiet time in her crib every couple of days.

Here is a rule of thumb I try to remember. Whenever a toddler is inconsolable, fussy, or generally cannot be appeased, she is probably tired and needs a nap! This can be easy to forget in the moment.

Moms With All Young Children

Finally, the main thing to know if you are a mom with all younger kids, is that this season of homeschooling will get easier! When your oldest child is in Kindergarten or 1st grade and you have younger children at home as well, it can be such a juggle to manage everything because your kids are ALL dependent on you. They can do so little for themselves.

Additionally, you are probably just trying to find your way with a homeschool curriculum, schedule, and a community of homeschooling friends. Maybe you’re even questioning if you can do homeschooling.

As your kids get older, they become more and more independent. Also, with experience, you find your rhythm in homeschooling and it becomes familiar territory. So, if you are a mom with all little kids, hang in there! It gets easier AND the benefits of homeschooling are worth the temporary challenges of homeschooling with a toddler!

Similar Blog Posts You May Enjoy Reading:

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL WHILE PREGNANT

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL WITH A BABY.

HOW DO YOU HOMESCHOOL WITH ALL LITTLES?

HOMESCHOOLING WHEN ALL YOUR KIDS NEED YOU AT THE SAME TIME

The post Best Tips for Homeschooling with Toddlers in the House appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Want to know how to homeschool with a baby? It can be a unique challenge to have a baby while you are homeschooling. In fact, often homeschool moms have a baby and a toddler or preschool child which can really add to the challenge!

Let’s just admit it…as much as we all adore babies, they can be very distracting! And how about that couple hours sleep mom is surviving on?! Here are some tips on how to homeschool with a baby.

Video: How To Homeschool With A Baby

We are in the thick of it now with our baby Hollyn who is eight months old now and into everything! We have nine children and have been homeschooling from the beginning when our first was in Kindergarten, so homeschooling with a baby is familiar territory. It seems that since we started homeschooling 10+ years ago, there has always been a baby in tow.

Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking that there is some kind of trick or some mom out there has the answer to how to make it easier to homeschool with a baby. No, there is nothing easy about homeschooling with a baby or toddler around. Babies are needy. If they aren’t satisfied, they can be loud. Once they are crawling, all hope for a nice neat home is out the window!

BUT, babies are so sweet and really there is nothing more wonderful to interrupt and brighten our homeschool mornings than the gummy smiles of an adorable baby.

Spend the first waking moments in quality time with your baby.

When your baby first wakes up after nap time, this is the best time to engage with her. She is fresh, alert, aware, and most importantly, wants all of mommy’s attention! Step away from school and maximize on this important moment. While you nurse her, look into her eyes and talk or sing. As you change her diaper, play and laugh. Sing nursery rhymes like Pat-a-cake or This Little Piggy or whatever little baby games you like to play.

If you spend the first waking moments of her day in quality, focused time, it will meet her need for physical touch and eye contact with you AND it will also be the reassurance you need that she is getting plenty of attention.

Lower your expectations.

How many times do you hear yourself say, “I just can’t get anything done?!” Of course we all enjoy having things in order and checking things off our “to do” lists for the day, but that’s just a little more challenging with a baby in the house.

Babies are complicated. They are unpredictable. Just when it seems like they are falling into a schedule, they start teething or go into sleep regression. When they start crawling or pulling up, they like to dump and scatter. All of this can be distracting and just plain messy!

Don’t try too hard to keep up with your normal standards for the house and school work. You might find yourself stressing needlessly. If you lower your expectations, it can help you keep a positive attitude.

Nurse/feed the baby while your child is reading to you.

Nursing takes up so much time. It can be hard to just sit when there is so much to be done! Use this time to sit beside your child and listen to them read or watch them do their work.

As your baby gets older and is too distracted to nurse around the others, have your school age child do independent work while you slip away with baby and remind them that they should be prepared to show you their work when you are finished.

Wear your baby.

This such a time-saver when homeschooling. Sometimes a baby will only be consoled by being held. If you need to get a meal prepared or housework or laundry done, wearing your baby will be fun for them as they get to follow you and watch you work and it will help you to get a few things done at the same time!

Limit activities.

This can be a hard decision especially when you have older kids who are involved in many things, but paring down your schedule to the bare minimum may save your sanity!

We have encouraged our older kids to pick the one thing that matters to them most and we have invested in that. A baby is a good excuse to say no to all the extras!

Allow older kids to help.

If you have older kids, allow them to help you. My kids LOVE helping with the baby because it usually means a break in school work for them! As soon as Hollyn wakes up from her nap, she is usually surrounded by 3 or 4 siblings who want “their turn” to hold her. I have to remind them that I want some time with her first!

When you need the extra few minutes, have an older child hold or play with the baby on the floor for a few minutes.

Another thing that is super helpful is to have a big kid read to a little. This is great for keeping toddlers entertained and for challenging the older kid’s read aloud skills at the same time!

Expect interruptions.

Diaper blowouts, toddler tantrums, someone unexpectedly ringing the doorbell…really, a hundred different things could potentially interrupt your day! Remember that you are homeschooling in a home, not a school. Home is not a sterile environment. Real life is happening here! And real life means interruptions.

One memory that stands out to me from when our kids were younger is how our neighbor (with no kids) would always choose the worst time to mow his lawn. Often all morning long, I would juggle between school and babies/toddlers. I was eagerly anticipating our quiet afternoon.

Then finally, lunch would be over and it was nap time! The baby would go down, all would finally be quiet. I could relax on the sofa with my big kids and read with them. Without fail, it seemed, our neighbor always started his mower just as I opened the book. I tried not to, but I would get so mad over this! Even closing the windows would not drown out the noise!

Interruptions like these are inevitable when you are learning at home. You will be better able to handle the interruptions if you accept them. Maximize on the moments when you can progress and accept the interruptions.

Be ok with small chunks of progress everyday.

You may have to temporarily toss out your idealistic plans for the year. It’s worth it if it keeps you from stressing out every day over what you are not checking off your list. Aim for the kids do math, reading, and writing every day and try to read to them as often as you get the chance. Keep your goals small. Kids do better with short lessons anyway.

I have found that my kids learn more when we do less if my attitude is positive and relaxed rather than when I am frazzled trying to cram everything in by the end of the day.

Do the important things during nap time.

What are you unable to do because the baby is awake? Do those things when the baby is napping. Even if your baby hasn’t fit into a nap schedule yet, whenever he or she goes down for a nap, use this time to work one-on-one with whoever needs it most.

Live in the moment with all of your kids.

Guard yourself from being distracted by texts, email, social media. Don’t let your mind wander to other things when your children are right here. Look into their eyes. Listen to them. Laugh with them. Correct them when they need it. This shows that you are attentive. You are their security and they want you to be engaged.

Have the right perspective. . Don’t be short-sighted.

You may feel like your other kids are sometimes ignored a little when you are busy breastfeeding, or buried in the house and school work, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. If you have more than one child you know that that first year with a baby is a flash and then it’s gone!

There are times in life where you focus more on one thing or another. Now is the time to focus on baby for a little while. This is a time for a little less school work than normal. This time will pass and other times will come.

I have found in our years of homeschooling that we have had both- bare minimum stretches and intensely productive stretches-and that in the end, they even out.

Be a mom who loves to learn. And who loves to learn with her kids! This will be the best thing you can ever teach them.

The post How to Homeschool with a Baby appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

If you are new to homeschooling, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are common mistakes new homeschoolers make…so you can avoid them!

These are mistakes I have heard over and over from EXPERIENCED HOMESCHOOL MOMS. These are also mistakes I have made myself.

Underestimating the Power of Simply Reading To Your Kids

Reading is a bridge. For your non-reader, reading to them takes them to places they cannot go on their own. To your reading child, reading to them bumps them up to a level they might not be willing to try reading on their own.

Reading covers a multitude of sins. When you begin homeschooling, you will likely make mistakes. BUT if you are reading often to your kids, it will cover so many things. Think about it, other than math (which is a skill) and writing (which is the overflow of reading), almost every other subject is learned through reading.

Read to them. Read in small chunks throughout the day. Read while they are all gathered at the table for breakfast or lunch. When they have food in their mouth and they are less likely to interrupt you!

Worrying unnecessarily About Socialization

While it is important for you kids to have good friends, another common mistake new homeschoolers make is worrying unnecessarily about socialization. Most kids today are over scheduled, spending many hours with peers and very little with the members of their own home. More than ever before, kids need more time with family, not necessarily with friends.

As a homeschooler, you may have to forge your own way by searching out co-ops. You may have to make the effort to host activities at your home or plan groups with friends. But as long as your kids have a few really good friendships, you should not be concerned about them not being with a group of peers all day, every day.

Church groups, homeschool co-ops, Scout packs, neighborhood friends, club sports, and extracurricular classes are all great places to make long-lasting friendships and become part of a group.

Minimizing or Ignoring Problem Areas in Effort to “Get school work Done”

What do you feel is the challenge in your homeschool? The housework? The distractions of a baby or toddler? Behavior issues or attitude? Are you taking two steps forward only to move one step back? Problem solve the areas that are an obstacle to your school day.

Remember that you are in a home, not a school so the challenges will be different. If the challenges you are facing in your homeschool day are causing you to consider throwing in the towel, stop the school work and focus on fixing the problem.

The school work will always be there, but your day will run more efficiently if you set the school work work aside temporarily and give attention to the needs that are pressing. Then you can move forward.

Worrying About their Kids Keeping Up with Kids in School

Here is why you should not worry about your child keeping up with his or her grade level or what other kids are doing in school.

Your child is an individual.

The reason why HOMESCHOOLING CONTINUES TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL is the very reason why you should not try to fit your child into that mold! The individualized, interest-led, one-on-one style of learning works very well! Kids thrive on it! Don’t squash their curiosity by trying to teach them everything that their school friends are learning.

I made this mistake with my first child. Having a background in education and teaching experience, I printed off all the state standards for his Kindergarten year. My child was going to keep up!

What I quickly found, however, was that the state objectives really were not a competent measurement for us. He was progressing so quickly in some areas and in others, he was behind and needed to linger and grasp the concept. Also, he wanted to learn about things that were not in the “rules” for what he was supposed to be learning for that year.

Individualized learning just can’t compare with group learning.

Trying to Do Too Much

Are you trying to do too much? This is another common mistake new homeschoolers make. You do not have to do every subject every day. Make sure they are reading, writing, and doing math daily. Read to them every day as well. As for other subjects like art, music, civics, geography, health…you can loop these as it serves you best.

Combine grade levels for subjects like science and history, and other content areas. Although this is not the practice in traditional school, many homeschoolers combine content subjects because this works well in a family.

Don’t think you have to do everything. Encourage your kids to be self-learners. Kids learn better when they are motivated themselves. As soon as they are reading and writing independently, push them toward more and more independence in their work. Use your one-on-one time to review and correct.

Giving Up Too Easily

“My child and I are always butting heads.”

“I would homeschool, but my child is distracted constantly.”

“I can’t keep up with both the housework and school. Maybe this isn’t working.”

Let’s face it. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. Being with kids all day is exhausting! I have heard all the above comments and I have said them myself at certain times.

BUT the rewards of homeschooling…. developing deep relationships with your kids, learning and growing together…these things are SO worth the work!

When you begin to see your son rattle on with excitement about a story he just read or your daughter’s eyes light up because she finally “gets it”. When they want to finish school work early so they can bake everyone cookies or play card games together or create projects … these are what make homeschooling worth the hard work!

Prioritizing Academics Ahead of Relationships

Remember why you decided to homeschool? It was because you thought it was the best option for your child. Don’t forget that you are teaching a person not a subject.

The older your child gets the more your relationship with him or her will matter to you more than anything else.

Spend time doing things you both enjoy. Play games with each other, learn a new skill together, go places that you both enjoy. These will be the things that make you and your child LOVE homeschooling!

How can you avoid the common mistakes new homeschoolers make?

1. Spend a lot of time reading to your kids.
2. Take initiative to make good friends, but don’t worry about socialization.
3. If needed, set school work aside temporarily to solve problem areas, and then move forward with the school work.
4. Make some progress in school work every day, but don’t worry about your child keeping up with kids in school.
5. Combine children for some subjects. Do less teaching and encourage your kids to be self-learners.
6. Remember that homeschooling is a long-term investment and don’t give up so easily.
7. Prioritize your relationship with your child above their school work.

The post Common Mistakes New Homeschoolers Make appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Are you a mom who is homeschooling and pregnant this year? Maybe you have many doubts and questions about how this will work or even if it’s possible. Are you afraid like I was that your other children will miss out because you can’t do as much when you are pregnant? Listen in as this mom of nine shares how to homeschool while pregnant.

Video: Mom of Nine shares how to Homeschool While Pregnant

I am excited to share about this topic because this is a season I have just been through. It is also one I have been through many times. Of our nine children, I have homeschooled through six of my pregnancies so this topic is very familiar to me. In fact, for our very first year of homeschooling, I was pregnant.

At some point in each of my pregnancies, I doubted myself and our decision to homeschool because on many days, I could barely keep up! But you know what? I really shouldn’t have. And neither should you.

It is not easy to homeschool while pregnant, BUT let me encourage you that it is possible and not only that, this can be a wonderful growing time for you and your kids. Here are my suggestions for how to homeschool while pregnant.

Don’t worry about what you are not getting done.

You will have stretches of time in your years of homeschooling where life events happen and you are only able to do the bare minimum for school. Then you will have other stretches of time that are very rich and productive.

This balance is normal for homeschooling and I have found that these two seasons even out in the end. If you foster a continued love of learning, your kids will be FINE.

You may be just getting by with school work this year, BUT this same time next year, you may be stuck inside for a wintry month or more getting twice as much done!

Maybe you are falling behind in your housework or keeping up with laundry. Just getting meals to the table all day can seem monumental, but it’s ok to let things go a little during this time.

It can be hard to see the long term perspective when you are in the moment, especially when you are pregnant. BUT what I have learned from homeschooling through six pregnancies is that, in the whole scheme of things, pregnancy is really very short in comparison with the rest of the time you are with your kids.

So it’s ok for a period of time to cut yourself some slack with the school and house work. You will have plenty. of non-pregnant time with them to accomplish all you dream of doing.

Pin it! Mom of Nine shares how to Homeschool While Pregnant

Be Flexible

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can make it fit around your schedule and your family’s needs. Use the flexibility of homeschooling to your advantage. Do school around the your energy level or wait until Dad gets home and he can carry on what you are unable to do.

Are you struggling to get by in the early months of nausea/fatigue and the last few months of waiting for baby? This is a time to lower your expectations.

Accept the lack of progress on the slow days, knowing that they will be followed by a few days where you will probably have a little more energy. When those higher energy moments come, try to get a few things done while you have the stamina…and before the next wave of nausea and fatigue starts!

Some days you will do more, some less. Make it your primary goal for your kids to ENJOY learning and that itself will be fuel for their fire on days when you don’t have even a spark.

Take care of yourself.

Why do we as moms give, give, give without fueling our souls, feeding our minds, taking care of our bodies? Consider that by TAKING CARE OF YOURELF, you will be more productive, more fun, more productive, and have more perseverance.

• Eat well. Take time to eat and eat healthy foods. Take your vitamins! Choose one change that you will make to eat/drink to your health this pregnancy. I did this for my first pregnancy. I cut out all sugar drinks. This was initially a challenge for me, but became easier over time and I could feel the difference in my mood and energy!

• Take regular walks. The great thing about walking is that everybody can do it! Additionally, the fresh air and sunshine is not only good for your body, but your mood and mind as well! If you spend too many consecutive days at home without going out, you may find as I do, that you can get depressed! Start walking not only for exercise, but for my mental health! You may have to really push yourself to get out the door on the cold, blustery days, but walking is so good for rejuvenating the body and sparking ideas.

• Rest. Your body needs more rest periods when you are pregnant and with energetic bambinos all day! Work a little, rest a little. If you have littles, make them have an afternoon quiet time. If your kids are older, they can work, read, or play quietly so that mom can lay down for a few minutes. Rest will fuel you!

• Feed Your Soul. Don’t neglect time alone with the Lord in prayer and reading His word. Moms are busy. We have very little time to ourselves. When you get a little time alone, what’s the first thing you turn to? Facebook? Instagram? These things are empty and leave you feeling drained, not energized. Instead, spend those first few moments alone going to a source that will truly feed your soul. Find perspective and get your mind right. Time reading God’s Word and communicating with Him is time well-spent.

Simple Tips

• Stick to the basics. Keep biting off little chunks of work every day. This is not a time for projects or starting that new unit study you’ve been meaning to try. Make sure they do reading, writing, and math every day. Whatever else gets done after that is a bonus.

• Use this time to teach them to work independently. It is good for kids to take ownership of their work. Write a daily checklist. Print it and put it in a slipcover for them to refer to throughout the year. (They don’t have to necessarily put checkmarks on it. Keep the lists general and you can use the same sheet all year.) A checklist gives them something that they have to work towards every day.

• Work with them from the sofa. It is OK to rest on the sofa when you need to. They can work around you or bring their work to you when they need help.

• Read aloud to them. Read a lot as a family. Other than Math (which is a developmental skill and writing which is the overflow of reading), almost all the other subjects are acquired through reading. If you can’t do any thing else, READ TO THEM! Reading will fill in any of the gaps that you worry you aren’t getting done. See Teaching a Child To Read for more ideas! Read in regular small increments throughout the day. Just don’t read too long or you might fall asleep!

• Keep toddlers entertained. Make a list of quick ready-to-go educational toys that will keep toddlers occupied. Puzzles, bubbles, dominoes, memory, coloring, magna doodle…any kind of busy bin. Write it down and have it handy so that you don’t have to think in that moment when you are overwhelmed. You can just pull out your list and pick one.
• This is a great time to let your kids explore their interests. You may not have energy right now, but your kids are everlastingly curious. Use that to your advantage!

Your attitude is key so keep the right perspective!

If you can enjoy this special time in your life, it will be so helpful to you. Smile even when you don’t feel like it. Make an active decision to have a positive attitude. Stop and think of all the blessings God has given you. Your attitude has so much influence on the atmosphere of your home.

You have been given the gift of life. This child inside you and the relationships your kids will have with siblings….these will last a lifetime. This investment of pregnancy is so small in comparison with the reward that comes from it.

See your work with them through a broad lens. Pregnancy is temporary, so make the most of this time by accepting your limitations and taking things one day at a time.

While you are waiting for baby, embrace the season you are in knowing that many moms have successfully homeschooled while pregnant.

And you can too.

You May Also Enjoy Reading…

Our Homeschool Routine | Day in the Life Mom of 9

10 Tips for How to Homeschool a Large Family

Our Large Family Homeschool Curriculum

Best Tips for Homeschooling with Toddlers in the House

How to Homeschool with a Baby

The post Mom of Nine shares how to Homeschool While Pregnant appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

More than ever before I have seen a surge in parents homeschooling for the first time. Maybe this is you. Are you looking for support as you step into new territory? Are you having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider this!

According to this article from HSLDA, the number of parents choosing to educate their children entirely at home has doubled in the past year from 3.2 million to nearly 6 million nationwide.

I can’t speak for co-ops in other localities, but our co-op is bursting at the seams! We experienced a larger than average influx of students last year due to COVID, but this year we had to close our registration at the end of April because we had so many applicants. For two years in a row, our co-op has grown by more than a third of our size! Additionally, we have 10 families on our waiting list and this registry continues to expand.

It is SO hard to turn away families who are looking for support, HOWEVER, it can easily change the environment of a co-op to grow too quickly and this is what we want to avoid.

Start Your Own Group

This is what I have wanted to tell so many of the applicants on our waiting list.

Consider meeting up with other parents to start your own group. This is exactly how many homeschool co-ops have started.

Most new homeschoolers understandably feel more comfortable finding a community that is already established. While there are many benefits to joining a co-op that is organized, it may be hard to find exactly what you are looking for in your area or, like our co-op, they might have a waiting list.

Starting a group with a couple of other parents can be just as good! In fact, you might like it better. One important benefit to starting a co-op with a few other parents is that it enables you to influence the direction of the group.

Our co-op started with five families eleven years ago. In the beginning, we were just a couple of moms stepping out of our comfort zones, not necessarily committing to anything long term. We loved the possibilities of homeschooling and wanted better options for our kids.

Because we were small, we were able to tailor our activities, field trips, and classes to the interests of our group.

We made personal connections. Often we were in each other’s homes. We spent our summers creek-stomping and picnicking. Consequently, we were a tight-knit family with our children’s future as our driving purpose.

And that community grew.

And grew.

It is still growing.

Watching Our Co-op Grow

I want to share with you a memory from our first day of co-op a few years ago.

When I walked into our new facility on the first day of co-op, I could feel the energy. This is an exciting place to be!

Seeing my kids meet up with their friends. Hearing the chatter of excited voices finding their new classes. Walking by the art room observing the creative hands at work. Seeing the action on the soccer field. Watching my three year old in his Kindermusik class. Connecting with moms during break. Walking into the youth room and joining with the middle and high school kids as they led the worship time. They were loud. It was vibrant!

It all warmed my heart.

Seeing all the classes that we, the parents chose, based on the desires of our group and the interests of our kids…Charcoal and Graphite Mixed Media Drawing, Church History, Card-making, Black American Literature, Science Experiments, Soccer, Cultures and Geography, Drama, Theatrical Design, Future Nurses, Science in the Garden…

This. is. good.

The freedom, the excitement, the community.

You know how this all started? It started with just a few parents who wanted something better for their kids. We were unsure. We were hesitant. It would have been so much easier not to step out…to choose the safer, default option.

But we took the risk. And I’m so glad we did.

Take the Next Step

Having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider meeting up with other parents to start your own group! Does this sound too daunting? Homeschooling in itself is a huge learning curve for any parent, but you may be surprised to find that the support you get from your small circle of purposeful parents outweighs your feelings of inadequacy. It might not be as hard as you think and it might just be a huge blessing to you and your family.

The post Having trouble finding a homeschool community that fits? Consider this! appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Homeschooling can be all-consuming. It can exhausting being with kids all day. Regularly carrying the weight of their education can be heavy. It’s important to take care of yourself, homeschool Mom. Here are some thoughts on personal wellness and homeschooling.

It’s easy to become obsessive about planning, looking into new, exciting curriculums and enjoying this new-found freedom.When I started homeschooling, my girlfriends and I would bounce ideas off each other, talk about our schedules, what was working/not working, the beauty of learning at home, giving our kids a wild and free childhood, and spending long hours with them outside.

In the beginning, I was so excited (and intimidated at the same time!) about our new lifestyle…homeschooling WAS my hobby.

This initial excitement is important and maybe necessary at the start. It helps plunge you into a whole new way of thinking and living. Over time, however, and as you progress, the excitement sometimes wanes and the demands of homeschooling can become overwhelming, exhausting, engulfing.

Do you feel yourself slipping into the dark hole of fatigue and monotony? The questions I’ve listed below are questions to ask to help keep yourself inspired, positive, and purposeful.

Questions to Ask Yourself

What’s your Source?

Don’t neglect time alone with God. E.M. Bounds said, “To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.” You can only pour out when you are full. What is the first thing you do when you get a free moment? That is a moment you can run to the Source!

How often do you spend time doing things you enjoy?

What hobbies do you have? Make the effort to stop everything a spend time doing something you love EVERY day. After all, what are we teaching our kids if we aren’t modeling our own personal growth?

Are you getting enough sleep?

If you are in the temporary season of having an infant or if you are pregnant, you are probably sleep deprived! If are up during the night with your little ones, make sleep a priority. Have the kids do an afternoon quiet time so that you can lay down for a few minutes.

Are you taking care of your body?

Exercise! Exercise not only for your body, but also for your mind! This recent article Need to Spark Creativity? Go On a Walk inspired me to try to go for a walk every day.

Is your marriage a priority?

Don’t neglect your spouse. Make time for each other without the kids. As good as we all believe homeschooling is for our kids, a healthy marriage is much more important.

With what are you filling your mind?

Beware of the trap of mindless entertainment. Scrolling endlessly on social media is draining, not fueling. Instead, read a good book. Work on a project. Journal. Watch a good flick with your husband.

Is homeschooling consuming your family life?

Keep “academic” school hours during school hours. When you are finished for the day, BE DONE. Move on to living life with your family.

Do you spend time with encouraging friends?

Go out with your girlfriends. Sometimes it’s just easier to stay at home, but spending time with good friends is life-giving. Encouraging friendships keep you going on the hard days!

Do you and the kids need a break?

Take a day (or more!) off. There’s something to be said for just giving everybody the day off. Walk away for a little. Maybe everybody needs a reset.

What are some things that you do to stay positive and purposeful?

Pin It! Personal Wellness and Homeschooling

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Still on the fence about what you will be doing next year? Here are some thoughts to consider.

Reasons Homeschooling Might Not Be a Fit For You

-You are happy with your child’s progress and overall experience in his or her school.

-Your child is happy with his overall school experience.

-You feel more comfortable putting your child’s education into the hands of a trusted teacher than trying to forge your own way.

-You don’t want to homeschool, but you feel pressured by friends or family to homeschool. (Being pressured to homeschool is never a good reason to do it. Be bold enough to tell them that homeschooling is not a good fit for you or for your family.)

-School is the best option for the needs of your family.

Reasons Homeschooling Might Be a Good Fit For You

-You are concerned that your child does not love learning.

-You would like your child to have one on one help in areas of struggle at a pace that is right for them.

-You like the flexibility homeschooling would contribute to your family life.

-You like the idea of your child learning about things that interest them.

-Even though it might be more of a time commitment, you like the thought of learning WITH your child.

-You like the possibility of a shorter day with NO homework.

-Your child has asked to be homeschooled.

-You like the opportunity for your child to learn in many different environments rather than being confined to one building at certain times.

-You want more time together as a family.

NOT Reasons NOT to Homeschool

-You don’t feel qualified.

-You think someone else could do a better job.

-You don’t know if you can do it.

-You are afraid of making mistakes and failing your child.

You are the parent. There is no person alive who is more concerned about your child’s long term success than YOU. Although there are many homeschoolers who were former teachers or their spouse was a teacher, some of the most amazing homeschool parents I have met have had NO teaching experience!! They are just passionate about their child’s success! They love to learn. They will go to great lengths to find the resources to enhance their child’s experiences. Do not believe the myth that you aren’t good enough to teach your child!!

Reasons Homeschooling Might Be a Good Fit Long Term

-You are excited to watch the momentum of the fastest growing educational movement in the country. (And that was pre-COVID!)

-You have observed that colleges are actively seeking out homeschoolers because they are unique with highly varied experiences.

You have to be yourself. If you are a contented parent of a schooled child, continue to do what is best for your child and for your family!

If you, however, are drawn to homeschooling and would really like to try it, but are hesitant to step out, do not doubt yourself! You are one of a large and growing number of parents who are discovering the freedom and connectedness homeschooling affords for the whole family. This could just be the best decision you ever make!

How can I say that with certainty?

Because it was for me.

The post Should You Homeschool Next Year? appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.

Meet my friend Rebekah! Rebekah and Greg live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Greg is an optometrist. Rebekah stays home with their kids. She has also started the non-profit fair trade company Havyn International which supports artisans and farmers in developing countries who are socially and economically marginalized. They have five children and have been homeschooling for over ten years.

In this interview, Rebekah shares her story of adopting their five children internationally. She talks about finding resources for kids with special needs and how she provides nurturing environment for her children who backgrounds of trauma.

Video: Adoption and Finding Resources for the Special Needs of Your Child with Rebekah

Hi! I’m Rebekah! My husband and I have been married for 22 years. In our second year of marriage I almost lost my life to Meningococcemia and there was a very long healing process for me.

We decided to adopt internationally and brought twin, two year old boys home from Russia in 2007. They were globally delayed, as they had been born 3 months prematurely and spent their first two years of live in an orphanage.

Several years later, we adopted our daughter from Ethiopia when she was 10 months old.

Three years after that we brought home our 3 year old, visually impaired son home from China. Our son also has autism.

Then we went back to Ethiopia to adopt our daughter who was 15 months old at the time.

So, we have 3 sons and 2 daughters from Russia, Ethiopia and China. 

What attracted you to homeschooling? 

When our twins came home from Russia we knew that they needed family, not another institution. We started considering homeschooling pretty soon after we brought them home. You know, this was before social networking was popular, and I really didn’t know anyone who homeschooled. In fact, my experience with homeschooling was extremely limited. I grew up in South Jersey, and I knew a hand-full of homeschoolers and always felt sorry for them. So, I was pretty nervous about homeschooling, but I knew in my heart that this was exactly what God was asking me to do for our boys.

God is good and kind and He equips us when He asks us to do something. He brought some amazing families into our lives who also felt the call to homeschool. Because I had a support system right away, I feel like I was able to sort through and work through all that homeschooling entailed for our family…which, because of adoption and trauma and global delays, looked very different from the other families that we knew. But the support that we had and the budding friendships that our kids were able to enjoy kept us going even through the hard times.

What kind of resources did you find for the special needs of your children? 

Because all of our children came to us through international adoption, we have had some extra layers to work through.  Our kids deal with educational delays, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and trauma. So, we had to look for outside resources to help our children.

We also had to think outside of the box for homeschooling. This was often a frustration for me, and it has taken me years to not feel like I have failed my kids because my kids are not able to be at the same educational level as many of their peers. But if I could encourage parents of kids with special needs, especially the unseen special needs….YOU are exactly what your child needs. It has taken me a long time to accept that, and honestly, I still struggle with wondering if I should have used the school system more. But I know deep in my heart that having our kids at home has given them so much more.

Having said that, I do believe that parents have resources as homeschoolers that are available to them, and we should use them. Early Intervention and the IU 13 was wonderful. Our kids received speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision therapy, and play therapy through those services.

The therapists came to our home for years. It just became part of our schedule. However, once a child is school age, the IU will no longer provide services for homeschoolers.

One thing that parents should know is that if you have a child with special needs, even ADHD, anxiety, and those unseen needs, you can apply for Medical Assistance in PA. Medical Assistance will cover all of your child’s needed therapies. So, because of that our son with autism, who still needs therapies, is able to go to a private therapeutic center for speech therapy and behavioral therapy. 

There are also agencies out there that help with certain disabilities. My son with visual deficits is also very involved with Vision Corp. They offer activities and camps for the visually impaired, completely free of charge. 

Anyway, when you homeschool kids with extra needs, it really does fall on you to do your research and find the services for your kids. There is so much out there.

What would your experienced self tell your newbie self?

I would (and continue) to tell myself that what my family is doing doesn’t have to look like what everyone else is doing. That is the beauty of homeschooling.

Our family looks and functions so differently than every other family in our circle of homeschoolers. It is tough and many times I have felt like I am failing, but knew that I couldn’t physically or emotionally do more than what I was doing.

I remember asking a friend for their homeschool schedule. She emailed it to me and I bawled. I couldn’t attain to what she was doing. My kids couldn’t do it. We have had to be flexible in our days, because our kids have always needed more breaks. It takes us longer to get through math lessons, because some of my kids need more time to grasp concepts.

I would tell my newbie self to cheer others on in their own unique homeschooling journey, AND to cheer myself on in our unique, homeschooling journey. Don’t compare. Live out what God has given to your family to the best of your ability.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I think the biggest challenge was being in the adoption process several times, bringing children home and helping them through trauma while homeschooling. Adoption is all consuming and helping children learn about family and work through trauma and then have special needs on top of all of that is very emotionally consuming.

And it is time consuming, because you are always trying to make sure that you have therapies and services that your child needs. But there was also so much beauty in it. I look back and know that being together has been a beautiful journey, even during the intense times.

Have you made mistakes and what did you learn from them? 

Well, no matter who you are, you will make mistakes. I think that as I said, one of my mistakes was comparing what we are able to do to what others are able to do. The comparison trap will kill your homeschooling journey.

One of the wonderful reasons to homeschool is to be able to meet your unique child’s needs. Some kids need academic challenge to thrive. Some kids need to take things slowly. In the beginning, I pushed my twins to read too early. I actually think that it hindered them in their reading.

I wish that I had just relaxed and not pushed kindergarten workbooks and things like that right when they turned 5. They weren’t ready and needed so many other things. 

 What does a typical day look like for you?

So our typical days have evolved over time. With each new child added to our family we have had to rework and sometimes fly by the seat of our pants. But now, I feel like we have a pretty good routine.

I am not a schedule person and I need to be pretty flexible and in tune to how my kids are doing on any given day. But typically, we begin our mornings at 9am with Bible and prayer together. I have found this to be very critical for our day. Each child prays for someone here or for our friends in other countries, we pray for their dad every morning and they pray for each other.

After that, I tell them what the day is going to look like and make sure they know what chores they are responsible for that day. Then we go into our book work – math, spelling, science, history, etc. and I work with kids individually during the morning.

Many times they will take breaks outside as needed. I have found that short breaks getting fresh air or working out for my 15 year olds, helps them to do better with their work. Once they get frustrated I have lost them for the day, so I often find myself gauging emotions and heading them off.

At lunch time we all sit together and I read a chapter book aloud. Then they take an outside break and we either finish school for some of the older kids or chores get done. I typically allow them to watch something on TV while I am making dinner if everything else has been accomplished.

So, that is an ideal day. But people should know that part of homeschooling is discipleship. I often find that I need to put a lesson aside to sit with one of the kids and work through some emotion that they are struggling with or to speak truth to them or share something from God’s word. I feel like being rigid and pushing schedules does not work for my family.

Havyn International

Rebekah’s Favorite Resources

Green Meadow Farm Green Meadow Farm offers free therapeutic horse therapy for children who have experienced trauma. There is also a “Pasture of Peace” for families to enjoy quiet time while their child is with the horse and trainer.

IU13 Therpeutic intervention for children who need extra services.

Schreiber Pediatric Private therapy agency, providing Speech, OT, PT, and Behavioral Therapy.  

Vision Corp Vision Corp helps individuals with vision loss to attain independence.  My son with vision loss has enjoyed their activites throughout the year and camp in the summer.

Math U See The math program that changed everything for my kids and taught this life-long “math struggler” how to finally understand math and how to teach it.  

The Struggling Reader A reading program that focuses on a kinestetic approach, offering multi-sensory activities to teach skills.  They also provide flash cards and testing materials.

My Father’s World We haven’t tried My Father’s world for the upper grades, but we have loved it for the elementary years.  It is a classical/Charlotte Mason mix.

Pathway Readers

Rebekah’s Favorite Books

Sally Clarkson- Different. I absolutely love this book, as it gave me a sense of “I am not doing this all wrong”.  She and her son, who had some challenges, wrote it together.

The Kids’ Favorite Books

Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. We have read through this together many times.  Even my teenagers enjoy these stories time and time again.

Have questions for Rebekah? You can contact her at gregandrebekah@hotmail.com. Remember, though, moms are busy! Response time may be delayed, but she will try to reply as soon as she can!

The post Adoption and Finding Resources for the Special Needs of Your Child with Rebekah appeared first on Our Life Homeschooling.