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...from her dad, Stephen Curtis Chapman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN7_qbOpuWs

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This school year, we started books aloud each day – as part of our school day.  I later decided that the girls needed to practice independent reading more, so they wouldn’t depend on me to comprehend.  I don’t know if it has helped with their reading comprehension, but I sure miss having our story time.  I’m really looking forward to doing Learning Adventures again next year with Sarah.  I love the lit-based curricula!  With “A New World of Adventures”, we will be reading Call it Courage, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Misty of Chincoteague, Little Pilgrim's Progress, Amos Fortune: Free Man (again), Calico Captive, The Sign of the Beaver, Johnny Tremain, Toliver's Secret, and The Incredible Journey.   I’ve heard of many of these, but never got around to reading them.  I’m very excited.  I’m so amused at how excited I can be about “their” education.  Even my mother has commented about my enthusiasm when I talk about things we’ve studied together.  I can only hope some of it is rubbing off on the girls.

For the summer break, we’ll read books, and try to have fun.  I don’t do “fun” very well, so pray for me.  Rachel will continue with Math this summer to try to finish Algebra before next year.  Sarah will do math practice work a day or two each week.  Rachel is volunteering to work at our library’s summer reading program.  Sarah will be competing tennis for the first time.  *exciting* On top of that, we’ve got two family reunions and church camp in July. 

On another note, I haven’t heard from the Dean about teaching again this summer.  I’ve taught for the last several summer terms, but this summer, enrollment is looking surprisingly low.  I’m sure the economy has a lot to do with that.  Quite honestly, I’m hoping they won’t need me.  A break sounds SO good to me right now.  I’ll know after open registration next week.  I’m still contemplating quitting before the fall semester.  I don’t mind teaching.  I mean, the money’s nice to have, but it’s just not in line with my priorities right now.  It almost seems like a burden.

One more thing I want to share…  A few weeks ago, I posted a “wanted to buy” listing in vegsource for the audio CD that accompanies the Apologia Biology Rachel will be using next year.  After a week of no response, I decided not to re-post it, but to buy it since it wasn’t all too expensive.  Out of the blue, I got an email from a homeschool mom in NC offering to send it to me at no cost.  Her daughter has learning disabilities, and Apologia had given her the CD for free since she had a documented LD.  She said she won’t sell it, but will give it to me.  She wouldn’t even accept postage!  I received it today, and I’m still in awe of her generosity.  Most people would get whatever they could for the CD.  It was hardly used (it didn’t help her daughter), and in excellent condition.  This lady has inspired me to be just as generous to someone else.  I was given some curriculum last year from a lady who graduated her youngest child.  She didn’t want to go through the trouble of selling it and asked me to get it off her hands.  I’ve decided to use some of it, but I don’t have a need for other pieces.  If you know of a homeschooler who needs a complete set of Bob Jones Biology, let me know. 

I hope you ladies are having a great week.  *hug*

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Tonight at church, we had a special “5^th grade blessing”.  It was very nice.  We honored our 5^th graders who are advancing to the youth group…to the teen years…and to middle school.  Their teachers and youth ministers talked about the “graduating” class, and we (the parents) presented a “blessing” to them.  DH and I (well, mainly I) spent a fairly large part of the weekend writing Sarah’s blessing.  The blessing was supposed to mention her special qualities, our hopes and prayers for her and our advice for her.  There was so much I wanted to say, but I chose to keep it simple for a couple of reasons.  First of all, I didn’t want to embarrass Sarah too much.  I knew it was to be presented before a group of people.  Secondly, it was supposed to be from both parents.  I knew that if I opened up, it would have been obvious that I wrote it.  I wanted Sarah to know (and believe) that it came from us both. 

I wish I had written it as I felt it.  Turned out, the other parents’ blessings were very touching and really let everyone know more about the child.  It also let me know a lot about the parents.  I try not to be discontented, but it’s so hard not to when you see how involved other parents are in their children’s lives…how close they are… and how they pray for their children so fervently.  The letters that were written to the other kids revealed a deep spiritual connection between the kids and their parents – even before the children were born.  They spoke of specific examples that show their leadership, their caring heart, their patience, etc.  Some of them well exceeded the 2 minute time limit, but it didn’t seem like it.  It was obvious that the mothers wrote many of the letters, but as the dads read them, you could hear the sentiment in their voices.  There were lots of tears and lots of tissue used.  Our blessing to Sarah wasn’t as touching, and I somewhat regret it.  Sarah, on the other hand, was glad I didn’t get as mushy as the other parents, but I wish others could know just how unique and just how special Sarah really is.  I don’t feel we did her justice.

My DH doesn’t know the girls nearly as well as I’d like him to.  He doesn’t put forth the time and effort that’s required to know them like I do.  There are so many things they are missing from him – things that they need.  I can’t change that.  Many times, I hold back because I don’t want to “show him up”.  I need to stop doing that.  In fact, I find that I’ve picked up some of his negative habits instead.  He loves them.  There’s no doubt of that.  He just doesn’t do a good job of showing love in the language they (and I) will hear it.  I guess I’ve been more concerned about his feelings than their needs. 

Okay, back to Sarah.  There are times I think maybe I’m being selfish home schooling her.  I think she’d be fine in PS and will excel in that learning environment.  She had no struggles before we began HSing, and she made friends very easily.  She had a natural tendency to lead – even though she wasn’t trying to.  Nowadays, kids need to see good kids at school – kids who are a positive example and who can help other kids see Jesus in their lives.  I wonder if God would use Sarah in that way if she were there.  Something tells me he would.  I wonder if she’d flourish in that environment.  Something tells me she would.  She’s far from perfect, but she really is a wonderful kid with unusual wisdom for her age. 

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Today, a very good friend of mine called me, quite distressed about her middle son. 

A little background:  Seth is a wonderful 11^th grader who has had a very difficult school year.  My friend is an assistant principal in SC, and she is quite an advocate for education.  He has worked harder than he’s ever had to work this year and struggled all year to maintain passing grades.  A couple of months ago, my friend told me herself that she felt he has worked very hard and has tried his best – so much so that she told him not to take his books to a Christian youth retreat in February because he needed a break from all the stress he’d been under.  I’ve joined her in prayer for Seth this year.  I offered to help in any way I could.  I felt so bad for Seth.

Today, she told me that Seth will be repeating the 11^th grade.  Why?  He’s repeating because “he’s not going to pass 11^th grade English, and it’s a requirement”.  I asked her “is this the school's decision or hers?” (because I’m very sure she told me once that a child cannot be held back unless the parents authorized it).  I asked her if he’s been told this yet.  Seth is an athlete and a very strong Christian influence among other kids in his school – planning to attend a Christian college and become a youth minister.  Seth has a younger brother who is one year younger than he, so they’d be in the same grade next year… at the same school.  How would this affect him psychologically?  Her answer to me was “This was his doing, so he has to deal with the consequences!”  I fully respect my friend and her husband and can almost understand her stance on this.  I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries so I asked her… ever so gently, “Do you think the benefits will really outweigh the injury this could cause?”  She thinks it will.  I think this could harm him in an irreparable way.

Turns out, he was advised by his guidance counselor to take an advanced English class this year and it has been his greatest source of stress.  I proposed that “maybe he was ill-advised”.  She explained to me that he was placed in the advanced class because of his English score in last year’s testing.  Apparently, children in their district have to take/pass exams each year.  I further suggested that obviously the placement process is flawed because of the difficult time he has had this year from the start - despite his "high" score last year.  Either the score range is off or the advanced class is too tough.  I asked her why he couldn’t re-take it this summer – therefore missing a mission trip and youth camp.  Wouldn’t that be “consequence” enough?  She said “I don’t want to pay for summer school”. 

My friend is not as close-minded and selfish as this may sound.  She is a fabulous mother and believes in what she’s saying.  I think it’s the homeschooler in me that cringes when I hear such harsh words about a child who has tried his hardest and is being made to feel that his best just wasn’t good enough and deserves “consequences”.  Too much credence is being placed on grades and test scores.  No one seems to be concerned about him.  This has infuriated me today, when only a few years ago (before I was enlightened by homeschoolers like you guys), I probably would have agreed with her.  It’s so sad how strong that "public school mentality" can be.  

I just pray they make the right decision regarding Seth.  I hope they put his needs above any other motivations they may have.  By the way, she supports and completely understands our choice to home school.  She just doesn’t see education the way I do anymore.  Boy, have I changed!

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