Jenn's Introduction

******UPDATED:  OOPS!  I didn't let you know what curriculum I am using!  Right now, we are using all "regular" curriculums, not a specific curriculum for children with learning disabilities. We use A Beka (History, Language, Science, Health), Saxon (Math), Worldly Wise (Vocabulary/Spelling), Sonlight (Reading/Language), and Total Language Plus (Reading) and for History we are also reading "The Story of the World" by Susan Wise Bauer. Wow...what a hodgepodge of stuff! And I may very well add something during the school year if something is not working.  That is what is so great about homeschooling!  If something doesn't work, there is always something else you can try!

If you are looking for resources to use for different learning disabilities, check out LinguiSystems and Super Duper .  Garrison really, REALLY struggled with learning to read and the Edmark Reading Program (computer software) was a lifesaver for us.   *******

Hello!  My name is Jenn, and we live in the great state of Texas. :o)  The picture up above is all of us together, minus our little one waiting for us in China: Me and my awesome husband Karl, Katie (21), Lexie (15), Gannon (13), Garrison (11), and Karleigh Mei (not pictured) will be 3 on November 2.  We were "matched" with her on July 10th and are waiting for approval from China to adopt her.  We are praying we can have her home in time for the holidays!  You can read more about our journey to her at Love Like Crazy.

I was so excited when I saw Rebecca's post for this site! I think it is an awesome idea for all of us to learn from each other and to get/give encouragement. I especially would like to encourage those who homeschool or are thinking of homeschooling a child with "learning differences" or a "learning disability". Homeschooling a child who learns differently (anybody have a better word for this??) can be rewarding and discouraging..all in the same 15 minutes! Ha!  I'm hoping to find others out there who share the same struggles that I do...so we can lift each other up!  

Okay...this is my homeschooling past: My oldest is Katie (21).  She is a Sr. in college this year.  I homeschooled her for half of her 4th grade year.  Lexie (15) is in the 10th grade.  Gannon (13) is in the 7th grade.  I homeschooled Lexie during her 5th grade year and Gannon was homeschooled for his 1st and 2nd grade years. Garrison (11) is in the 5th grade. He has been homeschooled for 5 yrs....the last 3 being consecutive. Garrison is the only one I am homeschooling right now.  Gannon and Lexie are in a private school.  We have also had our children in public school before. We've done it all!  :o)

Garrison has been diagnosed with Developmental Aphasia. His main "challenge" is expressive language and memory. My first two years of homeschooling him was not at all what I had planned for it to be like!! We struggled through each and every day.  Lots of tears (mainly from ME) and lots of questioning if I had heard the Lord correctly on homeschooling. I have learned to take one year at a time and trust that the Lord will guide us correctly.  He hasn't ever failed us!

Looking forward to getting to know all of you and learning from you!