Aspbergers and Autism

I found these guys about a year ago.  These young men, on the spectrum themselves, bring an insight that I desprately needed.  After their simple explainations I understood my son so much better.

Meet the Aspbergers Experts

 Ya know, the more I get to know people on the Autism Spectrum, the more I like them.  Of course I am biased with one of my own and a couple beloved brothers.  But...yeah.  They're Great!!

Enjoying My Humble Pie

It has been 15 years now since I first started investigating home education.  Consequentially, it has also been 15 years since I first heard of Charlotte Mason.  I was intrigued by many of her ideas and loved much of what I learned.  I read several books and websites about her and joined several forums (the facebook groups of the day).

But you see, I was both prideful and intimidated by her.  She represented to me an ideal that was a little too far out of reach.  I didn't like being stuck to schedules and I liked flexibility.  Translate that as: I was lazy and lacked self-discipline.  I wanted to do it my way.  I knew better.  I didn't need to spend the time to develop habits for my morning routines let alone school days.  I wanted to live, parent, teach by the seat of my pants.

This philosophy may have been just fine if I had stuck with having one or two children.  But as my family continued to grow and their interests and needs grew, my lack of structure became ever more visible.  My world became chaotic and I became stressed.  

Through these last 15 years, I have been lead and guided.  I have been blessed with finding the resources

I slowly realized that pre-made plans and curriculum are my friend.  That systems for home care are essential (still working on this one).  That routines help make my life easier.  I dejunked my house. ( The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.  This is the first book I have ever seen that addresses the emotional aspect of our attachment to things and provides and emotional solution.)  I started meal planning and automated the process.  I started making lists and ACTUALLY check them off.  I think I am starting to grow up (about time!).

My Humble Pie is not so yummy to eat,
but hopefully, in the end, it will be just as sweet.

Finally I come back around to Charlotte Mason: Habit Training.  That little bit that scared me ages ago now looks quite appealing.  Only now the pride is coming back - in a new way.  Now it is more like: I first learned about this ages ago.  I should be way further ahead by now.  What's with all these young mothers knowing more and being better at this than me.  All my children are now school aged and one nearing graduation, is there still time to make a difference?  Is it too late?  (you know, all that negative talk type stuff?)  Do I really want to admit to my mentor and friend of 10 years that I never really got what she tried to teach me all those years ago?  

Yes.  In many ways I need to start at the beginning.  I need it.  My children need it.  Habit and Self-discipline are essential to become self-propelled and if done right (The way Charlotte Mason really intended) we can do just that.

The Self-Propelled Advantage

I love teaching.  I love sharing in the learning of my children.  It brings me joy and I feel fulfilled.  I love planning our school days and spending them with my children.  I could even do a decent job of it when I had just a couple young children.  But then my family grew and they started growing up.  I became way too busy.  I even found myself spending up to 8 hours a day teaching only three of my children.  Something was a miss, and I was quickly becoming overwhelmed, the one thing I preach against being.

Even when my children were young, I saw the wisdom of working myself out of a job.  I wanted my children to become self-motivated, self-learners.  This has always been my desire, however it didn't seem to be happening.  For some reason, my methods were not giving the desired outcome.  But I wasn't sure where the problem was. 

So, I do what I usually do when I find I am in over my head: I PRAY.  

And what do I find? Underwhelmed Mom, Joanne Calderwood from URtheMom.com.  She teaches the why and how of teaching self-learning.  I browsed her website and learned some very valuable things.  The first one struck me as a DUH!!  That "duh", was simply this: Give them the planners.  I had a beautiful school planner wherein I kept track of everything.  I had check lists for the kids but I kept the control.  I realized that if they were going to really own their own education, they needed more power.  I quickly made some planners for them.  That simple thing did WONDERS.  They could see what they needed to do, how long it would take, and then have the joy of crossing it off when done. 

 I decided to order her new book (the Kindle version is less than $8.00).  I am glad I did.  I had many of the tools already, but in this format, I was able to put the pieces to create a better whole.

Not just for Home Schoolers:
The Message is for All Students

She also has several hours worth of audio over at Blog Talk Radio that is fascinating to listen to.

The thing I like most about Joanne message is that it is Not just for Home Schooled Kids.  Her message is for all students and all parents. 

My days are already easier.  I am less stressed and have the time and energy to do more fun things with them.  In other words, the quality of our time is better.  My vision for them has expanded.  

The kids are less stressed and they have more time to enjoy.  I still have a lot of heart training to do (mine as well as theirs. After all, it was mostly my attitude that needed tweaking.)  But I am so much closer to my goal of having self-motivated learners.  

I challenge you to give your children the Self-Propelled Advantage.

Ken Robinson: How to Escape Education's Death Valley

I really like Sir Ken Robinson

Beware of Being Behind

I recently read this article by Steve Demme, author of the very successful Math-U-See math series. He said beautifully what I often tell parents: It's O. K.

This was in the Math-U-See newsletter volume 25: April 19, 2011.



Beware of Being BehindThe most common myth that I am regularly addressing at fairs, on the phone, and in emails, is that someone’s student is behind.

I often diffuse this by asking what the scripture reference is that determines what age a student must be to take Algebra 1 or Geometry or begin studying fractions. Is it in 1st Hezekiah or 2nd Assumptions? There is often a pause, then a light begins to dawn, and the look of consternation from wrongly surmising their child is behind, is replaced with a look of relief when they realize he is right where he needs to be.
Now if you have an 18 year old that is still counting on his fingers I recommend you consult a learning specialist to determine if there is a problem. But in 20 years will it make a difference whether your student is studying fractions when he is 10 or 12? The primary indicator is a child’s readiness and math background, not his age, or God forbid, his grade level. Perhaps the root problem is not the student, but an insecure parent? While I am at it, most studies do not support putting children in school at 5 years old. Neither is it in the law given at Sinai, that children must leave home at 18 and enter college.

All three of our college graduates were 20 when they entered college, and they did fine. In fact I think they did better with a few more years of maturity than they would have done as an 18 year old.

This is not to say children can’t being formal schooling at 5 or enter college at 17, but please trust your instincts and teach and train your children according to what you know about their abilities and readiness.

Math-U-See does not have grade levels because so many older students have to go back and redo these levels. Most of these older students were moved through successive math classes based on their age and not their achievement. There’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.

Please let your children move at their own pace and not some man made standard from one of the worst math nations on the planet, the good old USA.Protect your children, those precious individuals that God has placed in your care, from state imposed guidelines and raise them and train them in the way they should go.

Changing Education Paradigms

Some of the reasons I have chosen to home school:

The Call To Brilliance

I wanted to share about a book I love. “The Call To Brilliance” by Resa Steindel Brown. This is a true story about a small water plumbing company that sponsored a small private school for the children of its employees. These children were able to work on their studies in the mornings and spend the afternoons playing in the neighboring 20 acres of fruit orchard, building zip-lines across the ravine, turning a barn into a theater and so much more.

The author’s oldest son did not read fluently until he was 10. He entered college when he was 13. Her youngest son did not read until he was 11 and entered college at the age of 12. This became typical of all the students attending this school, yet none were ever considered exceptional. They simply allowed the children to explore, find their interests, and soar. They trusted that their children would learn. If trust is not involved teachers have to try to create interest, teach to all the levels of ability and learning styles. They then have to test to see if it worked. None of this artificial prodding was needed in this atmosphere. They trusted the children, and the children responded.

This is probably the most inspiring book on education I have read in a LONG Time. I will be adding it to my list of influential educational books. I received so many epiphanies while reading this book: epiphanies on educational theory, practical application, and vision. I am just blown away. My vision is clearer! My own confidence is greater! I do not think I have ever been so sure that this is what I want to do for me, for my children, and anyone else who wants this too. I see so much more potential than I have before! So siblings and any other interested persons please read this book. Would you like to join me? What do you think? I really want to know. I am looking at this as a practical thing not just theoretical; I want the pros and the cons.