Learning Styles and Differences: Homeschooling Me - Learning to be Flexible (part 5 in a series)
Originally published in 2014
When our third son was just learning to walk, I looked up from the couch one day and saw him doing that toddler teeter-totter move at the top of the stairs. Knowing that he was going to tumble down those stairs at any moment, I leaped up from the couch, jumped over the toys all over the floor, and was at the top of the stairs before you could say lickety-split. I didn’t stop to think about the book I had to lay aside, the toys that served as obstacles in my path or the number of stairs I had to climb to get to him in time. My focus was on what I needed to do, and what needed to be accomplished. It was so crystal clear that I didn’t notice the obstacles in my path.
As John and I tried to move toward our goals in homeschooling our boys, we encountered some molehill-sized obstacles, and we encountered some mountain sized obstacles. I can guarantee you that you are going to experience obstacles in your path when moving toward your goals as well. Our journey and our obstacles may not be the same as the ones you will experience, but over the past nineteen years, we have certainly had a variety. I hope that by sharing some of them with you, that you will be encouraged to stay focused on your goals.Early on in our homeschooling journey, we were aware that we had some learning differences in our children. Over the years, we have had three struggle with dyslexia, one struggle with audio integration, another struggle with small motor skills, another was diagnosed with ADD, others were given the label of “gifted” and more. Yes, these things definitely threw us for a time. Did we want to have our children tested? Did we want to use medication? Did we need to learn various therapies and coping strategies? It was all very overwhelming. Coming out on the other side of those questions, I can tell you what we learned along the way.
Study your child! Find out what his strengths and his weaknesses are. Discover out whatmakes him excited and what grabs his interest. Learn what he fears. Recognize what gives himconfidence.
Read about the areas of which you are concerned.If you suspect dyslexia, ADD, and/or oth-er challenges, read up on them.However, be careful what you read and who you read.A Bibli-cal approach to these challenges is very important.God created your child as a unique individu-al for a unique and specific purpose.So, as you read and as you seek counsel, remember tolook for someone with a firm Biblical foundation, a Biblical view of children, and someone that willembrace the uniqueness of your child and not try to make them fit into a particular mold.
If appropriate, seek out testing so that you can identify an issue and choose appropriate strate-gies to address that issue.However, remember that their recommendations regarding educationneed to line up with what you have studied, learned and decided are your God-given prioritiesand that will lead you to your desired end result.
Remember that God gave that child to YOU because He knew, that with His help, strength andgrace, you could parent that child to be all that God had created them to be.Embrace it
