Goals for Our 2017 Year

Homeschool Goals:

President John F. Kennedy said, "The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth." Personally, I can't think of a better overall goal for our homeschool journey. I homeschool my son, who has diagnoses of Aspergers or high-functioning Autism and ADHD, because I want him to learn all of the skills and knowledge he will need to thrive in this world. I also want him to learn the truths about his nation, the world he lives in, his Christian faith, and a Christian worldview.

Our Homeschool Goals for 2017:
1. Self Motivation
2. Independent Study
3. Positive Attitude
4. Career Exploration

Although my son is 15 and currently studying most material at a 9th grade level, his diagnoses of Aspergers and ADHD provide for some unique challenges in our homeschool journey. If he could have his way, he would forgo lessons all together and play video games all day. To his dismay, that isn't reality nor is it permissible in our household. I know, mean mom, right? (Said tongue in cheek.) Therefore, being motivated to start his lessons, and some days any task, without constant prompting can be a struggle. Knowing that I can't be there to hold his hand forever, I am determined to help him learn how to become self-motivated.

The second goal, independent study, goes hand-in-hand with self-motivation. While getting started is part of the struggle, staying on task is the other. With a diagnosis of ADHD, there was a time when we couldn't even have two pencils on the desk because they would have a conversation with one another and be a distraction.

The third goal, a positive attitude, is always a struggle when your child doesn't see the need for education. Unfortunately, most people with a diagnosis of Aspergers have a high IQ. Because of this, my son feels he knows everything already. I keep reminding him that we continue to learn throughout our entire lifetimes and even his great grandmother, who is in her nineties is still learning. I'll admit that the sometimes daily struggle to get him to have a positive attitude about learning can become weary.

Now that we have entered the high school years, I feel that it is essential to start exposing him to career exploration. One way we will be doing this is through a class on SchoolhouseTeachers that looks at talents, personality traits, and suggests interviewing and shadowing those in various careers of interest.

Life Skill Goals:

Those individuals, no matter where they range in level of function, who have a diagnosis of Autism struggle with life skills. Most children will learn these skills by interacting with those around them and by imitating the adults in their lives. Children on the Autism Spectrum become hyper-focused on things that they live: Star Wars, baseball team statistics, Pokémon characters, etc. They can tell you everything and anything about their favorite topic. When it comes to "living life," they need help learning how to do those things.

Our Life Skill Goals for 2017:
1. Personal Hygiene
2. Coping Skills
3. Self-Regulating Behavior
4. Finances
5. Time Management
6. Meal Preparation

Our first goal is personal hygiene. Teenage boys can struggle with this task. Compound that with a diagnosis of Autism and you can be facing a battle. Children with a diagnosis of Autism often don't see the need for personal hygiene. They don't perceive their appearance the way society would nor do they see any importance of taking time away from preferred activities to engage in personal hygiene practices.

Goals two and three go hand-in-hand. Children on the Autism Spectrum can experience "meltdowns" when they become frustrated or overstimulated by the sensory triggers in their environment (loud sounds, noxious smells, bright lights, etc.). To avoid meltdowns, children are taught coping mechanisms: deep breathing, time-outs, engaging in calming activities, talking to a trusted adult, listening to music that will in turn help them regulate their behavior. The goal is for them to self-regulate their behavior and stay calm rather than to act out.

Finances are a difficult challenge. We have worked on counting money for years. Now that my son is in high school, we are working on helping him learn how to budget money. He needs to learn that while we may want to buy new  games we need to make certain we have enough money for food first. Children with a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum tend to perseverate on what they want. That tunneled focus can make it difficult to take all other factors into account.

Time management is another challenge area for children with Autism. Again, that perseveration on things they desire or things that are important will take their focus off of everything else. I have lost count of how many times my son has said, "Just one more minute, Mom, while I save my game." Meanwhile, he is still engrossed in the game twenty minutes later because just saving it turned into completing the next challenge and it snowballs from there.

Our final goal is meal preparation. Learning how to prepare simple meals and cooking safety are essential life skills. My prayer is that one day my son will be independent. For this to become a reality, I have to help him build up a toolbox filled with the essential skills he needs to be successful, competent, and confident.

What to Do When Life and Your Goals Don't Cooperate:

Let's be realistic. Life doesn't always go according to plan. In actuality, life often throws us numerous curves, twists, and turns. It is usually on these twists and turns that we learn and grow the most, which is why it is essential that we not give up but rather persevere.

The Apostle Paul encourages us through his example in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

Famous scientist, Louis Pasteur, said it this way, "Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity."

Former tennis pro, Mary Pierce, stated, "Sometimes, things aren't clear right away. That's where you need to be patient and persevere and see where things lead."

James 1:2-4 reminds us to, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV)

Final Words of Wisdom:

Author C. S. Lewis said it best, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." As we continue on life's journey, we grow, we re-evaluate, and sometimes, we have to change our directions. No matter our age, status, or education level we are always learning, maturing, and transforming. To do that, we need to be brave and embrace the opportunities God provides us. We need to be bold and step out of our comfort zones. We need to be beautiful because our light will shine truth and scatter the darkness. We need to be ourselves because God created us for just such a time as this. He gave us the talents, skills, and abilities we need to handle the tasks He brings before us.

This post is part of the Homeschool Review Crew link-up. You can read about more goals for 2017 on their site.

Words of Hope

One of my goals in writing blog posts is to offer encouragement to others. Recently, I cam up with the idea to create a monthly series entitled, Words of Hope. It is my aspiration to share words that will bring joy, that will remind you that you aren't alone, that will uplift you, that will help you to persevere during the difficult days, and that will bring you comfort and peace on the toughest of days. Who among us couldn't use a little encouragement?

Because of my desire to help you strengthen your faith, I'll be linking up with other homeschool families and fellow Christians in the anticipation that their words will also bring you hope. Be blessed, dear ones.

If you would like to share a post, you are more than welcome to add your link below. I only have a few simple requests.

Blog Hop Rules:

1. Family friendly posts that are uplifting and offer encouragement. I reserve the right to remove your link if it does not comply with the rules.

2. If you have questions regarding this blog hop, please feel free to contact me via one of the contact options.

3. Please share the blog hop code and/or link back to the post using the blog button code below.

4. When sharing your post on social media, please consider utilizing the hash tag #wordsofhope as this will make it easier for us to find you. Then, we can help share your posts as well.

5. Please consider visiting several of the other blogs linked to the blog hop. This is a good way to be encouraged yourself, offer encouragement to others, and hopefully will allow us to bless one another in numerous ways, including increased readership of our blog posts.

6. Be encouraged and encourage others!

The blog hop will run monthly from the third  Wednesday of the month and last two weeks. The first official post will begin on January 18, 2017 and run until February 1, 2017. 

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Please feel free to add your Words of Hope landing page to the blog hop link below. We look forward to reading your #wordsofhope

Blogging Through the Alphabet

My dear homeschooling friends at A Net in Time and Hopkins Homeschool have graciously offered to host Blogging Through the Alphabet: a weekly link-up of homeschool families writing on a variety of topics covering a certain letter of the alphabet.

I will be joining in the blogging fun and hope you will not only follow along with my posts but also take a look to see what my homeschooling friends have to offer each week as well. In keeping with my theme of offering you "Words of Hope," I have chosen to focus on a word each week that will hopefully encourage you and give you strength for the week ahead.

You can find out what other interesting topics homeschool families are covering by following the blog hop at the link-up host sites: A Net in Time and Hopkins Homeschool.

Please also consider joining us for our monthly posts on Words of Hope. I will be hosting a link-up with other homeschool families and fellow Christians in the anticipation that their words will also bring you hope.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review for TOS Review Crew

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase this product utilizing one of these links, I might receive credit/compensation for the referral. According to FTC guidelines, I am disclosing this information.

Today, we are pleased to share with you our honest, unbiased review of the Yearly Membership offered by SchoolhouseTeachers.com, which we received a free membership to for review purposes. My son and I look forward to telling you about our favorite parts of this all-in-one, online curriculum source. Furthermore, we will also be showing you a behind the scenes peek at this homeschool tool in action. In addition, we will provide a link at the bottom of this review that will lead you to a discount of this product but please hurry if you are interested in purchasing a Yearly Membership from SchoolhouseTeachers.com because this deal runs out on January 15th and the price will be increasing.

About SchoolhouseTeachers.com

SchoolhouseTeachers.com was recently restructured to offer improved classes and tools that make it an even more amazing resource for homeschooling families! Not only is it well organized by grade level as well as subject, it provides lesson plans and materials at the click of your computer keyboard. While some classes utilize videos included right in the curriculum, others provide worksheets, and still others utilize links to outside resources and books. The over 250 classes offered with the Yearly Membership range in intensity and length and can be easily adjusted to meet your child's needs. Applecore, which comes with your Yearly Membership, is a great planning tool that allows you to create a schedule for each student as well as maintain records on classes and grades.

Besides their wide array of classes for preschool through 12th grade, the site also provides articles and tools for homeschool parents as well. One such feature for busy moms is a daily menu previewing a new recipe each day. While you are diligently working through lessons with your child, the slow cooker can be cooking the new recipe for Shepherd's Pie (from January 13th) which is an easy meal to prepare and sounds delicious. I certainly can't wait to try it!

Guided Direction and Tools to Make Homeschooling Easy

Our Personal Experience with SchoolhouseTeachers.com

As part of our high school experience, we have chosen to study American History this year. SchoolhouseTeachers offers several interesting choices in this venue. We chose to utilize Drive Thru History: American History as we are familiar with this series and it best suits my son's learning style. Today, we learned about Boston and the start of the American Revolution for freedom. My son enjoys this series because it makes history come to life in a fun, visual way. He feels like he actually steps back into time with host Dave Stotts. It is almost like a virtual field trip that is jam packed with educational information.

We've also been utilizing the World Book eBook Library, which comes with the Yearly Membership to SchoolhouseTeachers, to supplement our American History lessons with a study on Native Americans. The various books available about Native Americans through the World Book Library provide a detailed look at each groups unique lifestyle, religious beliefs, housing, food sources, artifacts, interaction with settlers, and other items pertinent to their culture as each group was different.

For Language Arts, we have been using the Daily Grammar and Schoolhouse Spelling courses to reinforce and build upon language and writing skills. Daily Grammar provides printable worksheets that ask students to provide proper punctuation, find parts of speech, and identify parts of the sentence. Since my son has nicknamed me the "Grammar Queen," you can deduce that I'm pleased to have access to extra grammar practice. Schoolhouse Spelling not only provides a list of words for each week but also printable activities: word scrambles, crossword puzzles, and word finds that help reinforce the spelling and comprehension of the word meanings. We are looking forward to trying the course on American Folklore to help build reading comprehension and literary skills.

Special Needs Students:

SchoolhouseTeachers has an entire section dedicated to special needs students. One of the tools in this section is an article series detailing the various types of learning styles and how to identify your child's learning style. The articles then focus upon the learning styles, your child's strengths and how to optimize on those strengths to help your child succeed as well as various techniques and tips on how to help them overcome their weaknesses. There are other series of articles that discuss dyslexia, language delays, and other learning disabilities which I appreciate as the mother of a child with diagnoses of dyscalculia, a math learning disability, and dysgraphia, a writing learning disability. Understanding is the first step in helping your child succeed. Furthermore, there is an article series entitled Homeschooling through the Rough Spots, written by the mother of a child with diagnoses of Autism and Tourette's. As the mother of a child with a diagnosis of Aspergers or high-functioning Autism, I have experienced a few "rough spots" as well. This series of articles helps remind me as a homeschool parent that I'm not alone in this journey, which brings comfort during those rough spots.

Our High School Dashboard - Learning at the Click of Our Fingertips

High School Students:

SchoolhouseTeachers has an entire section of High School tools including transcript and GPA forms to make record keeping much easier. In addition, each course on the SchoolhouseTeachers site suggests an academic "weight" for the transcript. Please note that each state varies in the required academic standards. SchoolhouseTeachers also provides a series of college prep articles to help students and parents be prepared for the transition to college. Transitioning to High School can be overwhelming for the student and parent. Documentation is essential. Having these tools and forms accessible as well as a guideline for the weight each course should have, relieves some of the pressure of homeschooling and allows parents to focus on the learning rather than the paperwork. To further help students prepare for college, a career-exploration class is offered as an elective. This class looks at the decision making process, an inventory of talents and interests, personality tests, career possibilities, collecting facts and data, and interviewing and job shadowing. This is beneficial for students who are undecided about their future or who have unrealistic goals for their future as it allows them to see where their strengths are and to see exactly what their "dream" job truly entails.

My Son's Favorites:

For a boy who at times appears to be "allergic" to school, my son enjoys the various video series the most. He not only enjoys the zaniness of Drive Thru History host Dave Stotts but also the retelling of his America's history and the stories of the people who made her into the nation she has become. As part of our biology lessons, we watched a video today on Lions. He enjoyed watching these powerful beasts move and comparing it to the way our kittens interact. He is also very excited about the Drama electives. He has learned that acting is one way he can express himself.

My Favorites:

When you have a child with diagnoses of ADHD and Aspergers, you quickly learn that interruptions are a common part of the school day. He has to ask his questions when they come to mind so that he doesn't forget them. Using the online videos allows me to pause the lesson so that questions can be answered or main points can be addressed. Videos can also be reviewed if your child is having difficulty grasping a concept. I like the numerous planning and record keeping tools that help first year high school parents, like me, have a guideline for what my child's records should look like. The adaptability of the various classes and lesson plans is essential as well. Because of learning disabilities in some classes and acceleration in others, my child may need some additional practice on a topic. When teaching American Folklore, I can utilize the lessons from SchoolhouseTeachers but have my child create a project on a specific American Folklore from our lesson rather than have him write his own Folklore since writing is a challenge for him.

Discount:

If you are a homeschooling family or are contemplating homeschool in the future, I encourage you to take a look at what SchoolhouseTeachers.com has to offer. If you are interested in a Yearly Membership, make sure you place your purchase by January 15th to take advantage of the savings. To get the discount, type the code: CHRISTMAS in at checkout.


Reviewed for The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew

Word for 2017 - PEACE

PEACE

Each year, I pick a word to reflect upon during the new year. For 2017, the word I chose is Peace.

Why did I choose Peace as my word for 2017?

Who amongst us hasn't ever experienced a harried day? A day when everything goes crazy, the opposite, or oh-so-horribly wrong? Honestly, life can be undeniably messy. My life is no exception. Having diagnoses of  autoimmune diseases, including one that is rare and attacks my neuromuscular system, makes each day different. I never know what my body will be able to do nor how fast it will give out. Add into the dynamics a teenaged son who has diagnoses of ADHD and Aspergers or what is now referred to as high functioning on the Autism Spectrum. Sensory processing, lack of social skills, and frustration can all cause him to have trouble processing the world around him which in turn can cause him to withdraw or need time out so he can calm down. I often find myself praying peace over him throughout our day. Lastly, my father has Vascular Dementia, which is the most difficult form. Those with Vascular Dementia often become easily agitated. When chaos is unrestrained by any or all of these circumstances, life can feel overwhelming and peace can appear to be elusive at times.

What exactly does Peace mean?

According to the Meriam Webster Dictionary, Peace is a "state of tranquility or quiet, a state of security and order, freedom from civil disturbance." This type of peace is synonymous with serenity, stillness, tranquility, accord, unity, calm, and quietness. The other two definitions of peace, to me, intimate a connectivity because one promotes the other. Merriam Webster Dictionary also describes peace as "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions" as well as "harmony in personal relationships." When we feel peace within our souls, our relationships resonate with strength. These explanations of peace are synonymous with joy, love, sympathy, empathy, poise, happiness, gratification, comfort, patience, contentment, understanding, accord, renewal, reconciliation, restoration, friendship, goodwill, confidence, and hope.




What does God's Word have to say about Peace?

Now that I've defined what peace means, the next logical step is to see what the Bible has to say about peace. My hope is that in knowing how God views peace, I will gain insight into how peace is established.

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." - Psalm 29:11 (NIV) Strength and peace are gifts from God.

"The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:17 (NIV) Interestingly, John Wesley notes that this confidence isn't based on our accomplishments but rather on God's grace, mercy, and the fulfillment of his promises. (Wesley's Explanatory Notes Bible Commentary)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 (NIV) What the world offers us is fleeting, uncertain, disheartening, and abhorrent. On the other hand, what God gives us is everlasting, unfailing, unshakeable, comforting, encouraging, and hopeful.  May we persevere through life's storms trusting in the peace that Christ's blood purchased for us. (Paraphrased Wesley's Explanatory Notes Bible Commentary).

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV) When we are filled with joy and pain, there is no room for doubt and fear to grow. God through the hope and gift of eternal life and the restoring power of the Holy Spirit works in us to grant us this hope, joy, and peace. (Paraphrased Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible - Concise).

"And, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV) The soothing comfort which reaches deep into our souls and that only God can bestow is unfathomable and incomprehensible. The Holy Spirit will protect our emotions, our devotion, our thoughts, and our perceptions because we dare to hope in God. (Paraphrased Wesley's Explanatory Notes Bible Commentary).

What am I hoping to gain as I'm focusing on the word Peace during the 2017 year?

I have already garnered valuable knowledge about peace from conducting the word study as well as the intense Bible search. Truthfully, I've always thought of peace as it relates to calm, quietness, and order. I had never thought of it in terms of understanding and patience. The more I ponder this new aspect of peace, I can see the benefits that this facet of peace has. For example, understanding my health conditions and how they effect me at certain times; my son's Autism and how overstimulation and frustration can cause him to "shut down"; and my father's dementia and how it must frustrate him to forget, to be unable to do tasks he used to do with ease, and to require assistance and guidance and how this frustration can cause him to become agitated will allow us to show more sympathy and empathy as well as be more patient. My goal is to apply what I've learned about peace to everyday life.

Furthermore, I want to make the time to be still, to sit in God's presence, and to soak in His wisdom and love. I want to be able to see through the chaos, jumble of emotions, chronic pain and illness, storms that life hurls our way and not only be confident in the hope that only God provides but also to see the blessings that God orchestrates from the restoration, the refining, the renewal that accompanies these trials. The way to be confident in His love, filled with His joy is to be wrapped in the comfort of His presence. Then, I am stronger even when I am weak because He is strong in me and is fighting my battles for me. Then, I am serene because His love flows in me and through me. Then, I can see the blessings and feel the peace that only comes from Him even as the storm rages in the world around me because He is the Light in the darkness and the absolute, inerrant Truth.

Find out what other words some of my homeschooling friends have chosen for the 2017 year by clicking on the picture below which will take you to The Homeschool Review Crew.

Reflecting on 2016

Happy New Year to each one of you!

The start of a new year seemingly implies a clean slate. Yet, how can we move forward without reviewing where we've been? History not only has a habit of repeating itself but also can teach us many valuable lessons. While I'm looking forward to the fresh start 2017 has to offer me, I also know the significance of the events of 2016.

Reflections on Life:

2016 was a year of answers. Finally, the doctors had given a name to all of my symptoms. My main diagnosis is Dermatomyositis: a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and inflammation all throughout my body and organs. I also have been diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency, which means my immune system is very weak and I can become ill very easily. The treatment for both of these diseases is the same. I receive an IV infusion once a month over three days for five hours each day of Immunoglobulin G (antibodies or a blood product). My life will never be normal but I'm okay with that because God continues to work in and through me in amazing ways. I am beautifully broken and He uses that for His glory.

Reflections on Homeschool for 2016:

We completed our first year of traditional homeschooling in 2016. Although I must confess, this was our second attempt at homeschooling. When my son was in second grade, we had attempted to homeschool him that year using the same curriculum he had used in a private Christian school the year before. This was before my son received diagnoses of Aspergers or high functioning Autism, ADHD, Dysgraphia: a writing learning disability, and Dyscalculia: a math learning disability. The curriculum was very rigid and, in retrospect, not a good fit for my child at all. I felt lost that first time we attempted to homeschool and it truly felt overwhelming. It took my child two hours to write three sentences. He could only have one pencil and a piece of paper in front of him or he would be off-task and have the pencils talking to one another. We changed tactics and for six years, we cyberschooled. Then, they wanted my son to take Algebra even though he was struggling to tell time and count money, which are essential life skills. Therefore, we made the decision to try traditional homeschooling again.

I'll admit that I felt much more confident the second time around. I spent time talking with a dear friend who has traditionally homeschooled her three children all of their lives. My son and I became members of three local co-ops and attended field trips and learning experiences whenever the opportunity arose. We have an eclectic style of learning from various resources. Over the years, I've learned what works best for my child and I've educated myself about his diagnoses. We had a successful first year. His California Achievement Test results surprised me as his math grades were much better than I had anticipated. In the time we spent working together, he had become more confident in his own abilities and was working diligently. The most significant outcome was when my son informed me that he had learned more with me in the 2015-2016 school year than he had during his entire school career to date. I'm looking forward to seeing how much he has grown by the end of this year.

Lessons Learned:

* God remains the same no matter what challenges we face or who is leading our nation.

* In our weakness, God is our strength, our hope, and our refuge. We only need to be still as He fights our battles for us.

* We can't be afraid to try new things.

* Educate yourself so you'll be prepared to face the challenges ahead.

* Surround yourself with likeminded people who can encourage you and offer insight and understanding.

* Believe in the abilities God has blessed you with and use them to glorify Him.

May your 2017 be filled with the blessings of His love, His hope, and His peace, dear ones!

Reflecting on 2016 Homeschool Review Crew

Homeschool Coffee Break - Homeschool Highlights - Reflecting on 2016