heartofdakota.com

I find myself coming back to this message board, even though we are not currently using an HOD guide. As much as I would love to just pick up with Preparing, I really, really need to spend extra time and focus on math and reading this coming year, as my dd has struggled so much with both. It was affecting every part of our homeschooling. We both need some time to regroup. I keep looking at the package in Preparing (the guide we will be using in 2014). The year that just ended was a very difficult one for me, but having received some direction in regards to my dd's struggles, I do so look forward to Preparing next year. I don't want to rush time, but I am looking forward to settling back into HOD, so I'm finding myself pondering next year's book choices. After my compulsion earlier this year to 'jump ship' because of my frustrations, I have finally begun to think rationally again. My motivation toward resuming HOD next year has already caused me to eliminate some things from my bookshelf that I thought looked good at my point of despair. All I need are things I will use to get through this coming year. So, I am gradually making room for Preparing. A year seems like a long time.

Wow! The very thing I need to teach my dd is the very thing I struggle with. Patience....or lack of it. God so graciously led me to the help I needed in dealing with my dd's struggles. But, my impulsiveness to just stop everything we were doing (Bigger), caused me even more frustrations. I did try to keep the history flow going through library books, but it wasn't the same. We missed some things in Bigger that I wish we hadn't. But, the Lord is working things for good. The overwhelming feeling of not knowing how to help my daughter understand math, and the concern of her not moving forward in her reading was too much for me. But, as always, God poured out His grace and has gotten me back on a steady path. He's given me peace once again.

I lead a Patch the Pirate Club at our church. Just yesterday in church the kids recited the verse Isaiah 40:31. "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". Then they sang a song called "Stay With the Ship".

Chorus:
Stay with the ship when the sailing gets tough,
Stay with the ship when the ocean gets rough,
Keep your eyes on the captain, don't jump overboard,
Stay with the ship, and trust in the Lord.

I'm thankful that I can get 'back on the ship'.
I believe the Lord led me to HOD more than 3 years ago, and I believe He is the one bringing me back.
Sweet peace.
Thank you, Carrie, for this curriculum. There is truly nothing else like it.

I just want to send hugs to you this morning . Thank you for the inspirational scripture. I needed to hear it today.

Have you tried Math U See with your daughter? It is mastery and really helped my son figure out how and why we do math. It has short DVD lessons to accompany the practice problems, as well as manipulatives. He is no longer ready to throw in the towel, and my gray hairs have ceased to pop in like wildflowers . I recommend the placement test as well.

Good luck to you, my dear .

Rika - Actually, Math-U-See is the only published curriculum that my educational consultant recommended for my daughter. But, that was after giving me a non-published math program that is being used to help create number sense. It did help, and now we are beginning Math-U-See. But, I need to teach it in steps even more detailed than the video. So, it is going to be a lot of repetition. She needs to be able to teach it back to me before we move to the next step. So, it will be slow-going. We are to work on math and a special reading program one hour a day each. It's tough getting that time in when we are working in other subjects, so I need to keep our other subjects light until we make significant progress in these areas. This consultant specializes in math and dyslexia, so I trust her recommendations.

Although I have homeschooled our 3 oldest dc, I have never had to deal with anything this complex. Angie's difficulties are not only educational. We are working through some of the other hurdles, so hopefully after this year of intense reading and math instruction and some physical things dealt with, we will be able to do Preparing full force next year. In the meantime, we will find some good living books to read and enjoy throughout the year.

We miss you around here and your words of wisdom. It sounds like the Lord has given you a challenge to work through with your precious girl. I am saying a prayer right now for you and her and the "slow and steady" progress you are (or will be) making this year with her math and reading. May God inspire you both through His word and the living books you are able to fit in. May He open up her mind to grasp the concepts she is missing and learn the skills she needs to have.

Bless you, Momma, for putting in the extra work for your daughter's sake.

Thanks, Melissa, for your kind words.
This really IS a challenge, especially the math. I need to work a little through the summer just to keep it flowing, and because Angie needs so much remediation. Honestly, in June we did very little because of 2 out-of-state trips to see our married children and also VBS. Yesterday, we did a very short exercise. She became frustrated and said, "I just want to be grown up." I said, "Well, grown-ups know how to do math". Some of it is an attitude of 'I just don't want to try'. In some ways, I think she has given up. That is when it becomes difficult for me. If anyone has any words of wisdom for me in this area, I would appreciate it.

The reading is going okay, but we have a lot to cover. Angie does have good reading comprehension when I read to her. She will be 11 before we come back to HOD, and I would like to see her reading at LEAST somewhat independently. She is having surgery on her eyes August 15th. My consultant is the one who recommended the switch from an optometrist to a pediatric ophthalmologist. The optometrist had her in prism glasses. The ophthalmologist says they are not taking care of the problem. Although the doctor said her eye turning does not affect the vision, I am hoping and praying that straightening her eyes will help in some way. I believe with this condition, a person predominantly uses one eye to look at things. So, it HAS to have some affect on reading. I know it affects depth perception. I know that using the Barton System will be beneficial, but I am praying that after the surgery we will notice some change for the good. They consider this an elective surgery, which is hard for me to understand. If she is often using just one eye to look at things, why would it not be corrected if possible? Maybe it is considered elective because it is not a matter of life or death. But, if it helps even just a little in Angie's learning, it may help me keep my sanity.

It's just a step at a time. I told a friend yesterday that I am just so relieved to have a plan now. Back in February, I literally threw up my arms and cried, "Lord, what should I do? Please show me what to do!" By March, He gave us some help and direction. I really believe it was from Him. To be able to meet face-to-face with an out-of-state consultant, because my oldest daughter just 'happened' to be having her baby the same week I was to talk to the consultant by phone. The interstate to my daughter's just 'happened' to be running through the exact city that my consultant lives next to. Meeting face-to-face made all the difference. I feel a huge burden lifted, but we will still have some challenges along the way.

Please pray for Angie's surgery and that she does really begin to grasp all that she needs to, so we can get back into 'normal' schooling again. I'm just taking one day at a time.

Have you considered pursuing Vision Therapy for your daughter? I have seen great improvements in my daughter's schoolwork, outlook, attitudes, and abilities since she went through vision therapy. She still needs a prism in her glasses, but she is so much farther along than before we started the therapy. We also have friends whose children are going to the same office that we went to that are having tremendous improvements as well. Both of our friends' children struggled (battled?) for years with their schoolwork. There may be things that a vision therapist could recommend that would really help your daughter.

I'm praying that the Lord continues to direct you each step of the way.

The optometrist had a vision therapy program on the computer, but she said Angie wasn't ready for it. There were certain things she was just not seeing yet. Angie's one eye was turned in badly at birth. She had surgery when she was 2 to straighten the eye. Other than prism glasses, nothing else was done in 8 years. The ophthalmologist said that since the surgery her eye is now over-compensating, so it is turning out. He wants to bring it back in where it should be. One eye is turning out and down and the other turns out and up. So, the doctor said there are some things he wants to look at during the surgery, and decide then what all needs to be done. I'm waiting to see how the surgery turns out. I don't know if she will need prisms again. But, I will ask him if she will need any type of vision therapy.

Angie was also born with CP, so there are some neurological affects due to that. Also, we are not sure if there was any substance abuse during her birth mom's pregnancy, which could be affecting her learning. The math is definitely a processing issue. I can only work with what I have right now and see how things progress. But, Preparing is on my agenda for 2014, no matter where she falls at the end of this coming year. I interrupted the flow in the middle of Bigger, but she needs consistency. This is the best way I know to get her back in the flow. Being away has made me realize even more how wonderful it is to have everything already planned out. Trying to do it myself was a flop. Also, I want her to have the Bible and character building in HOD that is unmatched to any curriculum I have ever used before.

Your Angie has some extra special challenges, doesn't she. It's wonderful to hear how you are persevering alongside of her. I'll be praying that her surgery does go well and that it helps her eyes work together as a team.

It sounds like you've gotten some good help and direction for Angie. I thought I might share that there is one other resource you might possibly be interested in if you aren't familiar with it already, which is Diane Craft dot org. HSLDA has had articles in the past by her (she's their Special Needs Coordinator), as has The Old Schoolhouse magazine. She specializes in helping children with brain integration and overcoming processing challenges. Her articles and videos on her site might be of help to you and Angie, as well as the articles by Diane that are on HSLDA's site.

I'm praying that Angie blossoms in all of the wonderful areas that the Lord has prepared in advance for her. God bless you as you water and tend your precious girl.

I am familiar with Diane Craft's website. I did email her when I was seeking some help. I was connected to our consultant by another party and was in the process with her. I did get a non-personal email back from there eventually, but since I was already working with our consultant, I didn't pursue it any farther. I will keep it in mind. Thanks for the information.