Teaching the Challenging Child

(This article first appeared in The Canadian Homeschool Minute July 5, 2017)  

Have you ever had to deal with that kid who no matter what you do seems to just balk at everything? Have you both ended up in tears because you just can’t seem to connect? You talk and everything you say seems to go in one ear and out the other? When you are trying the tenth curriculum this year trying to find the one thing to spark this kids interest in learning? Well I sure have! In fact I seem to be faced with this problem every couple of years. Just when I think I have found just the right curriculum mix so I can sit back and coast, my little angel will show signs of boredom or start struggling with the material.

I always find the answer eventually. The pathway to the answer is always the same. I have to give it up. Not give up on my child and not give up on homeschooling. Give up my struggling heart to my Father in Heaven. Search the Scriptures and humble my self in prayer. When I lay it in His hands the answer we need will come. Many times the problem turned out to be something entirely different than I had expected. The only consistent thing has been how startlingly different the answer has been each time! And different for each child. For one child the problem was sensory issues with her clothes. She simply couldn’t focus on anything because the seams in her pants and the terry in her socks drove her to distraction. Another time the problem for my son was his energy levels made it necessary for him to move while he composed any essays or creative writing assignments. The answer was to have someone act as scribe for him as he walked around the room. My second daughter needed more time at home. She was overwhelmed with “extracurricular” activities. As I have gone through this process many times now I spend less time struggling on my own and more time praying for guidance for my children and asking God what His will is for each of them and our family.

Day 2 at Homeschool Family Camp

KOC This is truly a great place to visit!! They are so good with special needs kids. There are so many options it’s hard at the end of the day to choose a favorite.  I asked K what his favorite activity today was. He said “mom, I don’t even remember everything we did today!”  Let’s look at the pictures together.  Let me know which would be your favorite.

Breakfast served at 8:00

Then painting flower pots and rocks.


My flower pot.

Morning paddle boat ride.

K in the paddle boat

Found some turtles.

Lunch time!

The staff here are so great! The let me set up a spot in the Dining room to set up a little display for The Canadian Homeschool minute!!

Here is the flyer that goes with it.  Just click on the links to sign up and receive your free gifts!

CanadiaTHM_flyer

K chose to go on the pontoon boat ride.

K and a bunch of the kids played in the sand for quite a while but the camera battery died 😳

Afternoon paddle boat ride.


Dinner!


K played in the “Eagles Nest” until it was time for the camp fire and play ground.
Then bed. We are so tired. 😴

Homeschool Track and Field day

Monday this week K competed in his very first track and field Meet!

Hosted and organized by OCHEC, there were homeschooled kids from all over Ontario.

I had pretty much never been to an event like this before and really had no idea what he was doing.   Not surprising seeing as he only attended under duress.  He didn’t want to because new things are hard for him.   So I basically bribed him.  I admit it.

Playmobil is his currency right now…. so a couple months ago when registration for the track meet was offered K and I picked up some second hand playmobil sets and put them in the shed.  We agreed he could have them if he attended and participated in the events at the meet.

                                 
Not only did he participate… he earned a couple ribbons!!

I’m so proud of him!