#merld

Me las imaginé como en la playita u3u 👉👈

As our school year is beginning to wind down -- we’re on the home stretch, and everyone knows it! -- the teacher in me begins planning for next year. 

I really LOVE this part!

I take a look back at what worked and what didn’t, and I tweak things here and there, striving toward perfection -- something that truly ceases to exist. I know this, yet I strive for it anyway because I want the very best edu for my child. 

Something that really worked this year, something we will be coming back to next year because it really was a homerun with my Big... Classical Conversations Foundations. I knew as soon as I came across this curriculum last summer that it would be a hit! My big loves the memory work and the activities I plan to go along with each subject and topic for the week. (Not to mention, the in-awe expressions and attention he gets from people and peers when he dazzles them with all of the things he is learning each week. It is truly amazing what this kid absorbs...he’s my sponge, after all.) I use a lot of visual aids and hands-on activities to make things more concrete, and we use the audio CD a little each day to help us with our memory work -- if you have a MERLD kiddo or a visual or auditory learner, I can not recommend this curriculum enough. It is awesome! (*I am not a spokesperson for CC, just a pleased parent and homeschool mom.*)

We supplemented the math portion of CC with a sustained math curriculum (Abeka), and it has worked just fine. Though, I’m still on-the-fence if we will continue it or switch to another curriculum for next year. No concerns about it really, just depends on Big’s likes/dislikes. My teacher heart can’t help but to come up with and implement cross curriculum supplemental activities, all geared toward top goals and standards. And it seemed he got more out of the activities than the workbook lessons. Again, nothing negative, just going with the kiddo’s vibe.

For English/Grammar, we used Shurley English. Again, it worked just fine. Though, I’m not sure we’ll be continuing this next year either. Still weighing options, and picking Big’s brain. He really liked the jingles, but I could tell that the monotonous delivery of each week’s activities (sentences, vocab, etc) began to bore him. Though, he still gets excited every time we break out the English journal (almost daily now) to journal creatively and for writing assignments. That brings me to what I plan to hone in on more next year -- writing. He is extremely good at all things English (grammar, vocab, structure, etc.), but he really loves creative writing. 

Literature, we’re still exploring...always exploring. I have an extreme love for literature. Always have a book in my hand (or at least within reach). And I have tried to impress that upon my kiddos as well. Though we read all year long -- winter, spring, summer, fall -- I like to choose a few that we read aloud together during the “school year” to discuss more thoroughly for teaching/education purposes. I really like classics, but I also try to include a variety and more popular reads as well. We take our time with these, and really utilize them. This year we have explored Tuck Everlasting and Tom Sawyer (two of my personal childhood favorites), Wonder, Treasure Island, and we will be winding down the year with Bridge to Terabithia and Indian in the Cupboard (two more of my personal childhood favorites). During the year, we have also explored poetry, and plan to next year as well. 

History has been easy peasy this year. We have used Story of the World. It is fabulous. Especially great for auditory learners, as they have an audio CD as well. They also have an activity book that provides discussion questions, ideas and hands-on activities to further concrete each story in the history timeline it follows.

Science is super easy for us because I am definitely a science girl. We supplement the science portion of CC with visuals, videos, hands-on activities and nature study. 

For Fine Arts, we take Art and Music lessons. Big’s choice of music has been piano -- he’s my easy-listening, classical dude. He plays very well by ear, and is working hard to master all things chords (major and minor). He is doing fantastic, and really loves it! He spends a lot of his free time rearranging songs and composing from memory. And as for art, we plan to dive more in depth next year, as he really enjoys this creative outlet -- he’s always been my creative kiddo!

We are looking to find a physical activity or sport to get involved in. We haven’t decided on that as of yet, so next year’s activity schedule is still a little up in the air. Though, we have talked about trying out some options this summer as sort of a trial run. So, we shall see...

Something I have yet to touch on is the preschool stuff we’ve been doing with my (now) Middle. My two year old is a little sponge just like his older brother. I am very much a ‘let kids be kids’ momma! I let my kiddos explore and learn. We are in a constant state of play, learn, and grow. We color, we play, we build, we dance, we sing, we learn. Sometimes for visual fun, we pop in a Preschool Prep DVD (Colors, Shapes, Letters, etc), or break out the super fun and colorful flash cards and play games. This method seems to be working, because my Middle knows/recognizes all of his letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. Family and friends are quite amazed by this little guy as well (as they should be!). We plan to continue our play, learn, grow fun next year as well. 

Good.

This word is weighing heavy on me this morning. Is it really that hard to be a good person, to do good things, to be kind, to go the extra mile? Is it really that hard to thrpw out a kind word, flash a friendly smile, or go out of your way to make someone feel even the tiniest bit special, or at the very least, included.

It doesn't take a lot...I promise. And you don't have to be an extrovert to do good deeds. Some of the best examples aren't projected out in the open, they just happen.

Good people. Good deeds. Good things.

Maybe just start by offering a hand, holding a door, smiling as you pass neighbors....

My BIG is the friendliest kiddo you'll ever meet. He says Hi to everyone, sometimes asking how their day has been. He often walks up to neighbors in the market and asks to shake their hands with a friendly smile. My MIL jokes that he's a politician in the making (shaking hands, and yes, sometimes kissing babies!). And this is my MERLD-er, keep in mind!

People don't always respond at first...and I don't know if it's because they're shy, or they're unsure of the reasoning or outcome, or just because they're not as friendly as he is...but either way, I notice the awkwardness in their response.

I am proud that my BIG has the biggest heart I know. I am proud that he sees the need to be kind, to be friendly, to be good. The best part...I don't have to coach him to do these things, he just knows in his heart it's good to be good.

By example, by early teaching, my kiddos will know what it means to be good to people, to do good things.

With all of the horrific chaos that happened in Charlottesville, VA, I feel led to say something...I was horrified by what took place. It made me sick, it made me sad, it made me literally heartbroken for my children, who will have to learn about this awful display of hatred and violence.

Racism exists...but it’s not what we (as Christians, as human beings) are about. This country seems more divided than ever, and it’s so heartbreaking... 

I am a mom of two very precious little boys who look to me for guidance. My two boys don’t understand hate...what it is or why people feel it or why people show it. How am I supposed to explain the reasons behind senseless acts of violence and hatred like this when I turn to my Heavenly Father for guidance and ask Him the same questions? 

As some of you have already read in previous posts, my BIG (who has MERLD) is very LITERAL. (It comes with MERLD territory.) If you ask him who his best friend is he will answer you with ‘Mom’, then ‘Dad’, and then ‘Brother’. But ask him who his best friend among his school age friends is, and he’ll give you two answers...but the first is always his friend HR. They have been best friends since the first day of kindergarten (both are in fourth grade now). 

HR does not have the same skin tone or ethnic background as my BIG, but he’s never seen that. Instead, his literalisms kick into high gear, and yes, he sees color (my sweet boy, always sees things in such vivid colors)...but he sees tones instead of race, people instead of ethnicity. 

----- This was a real, in-time conversation I heard my sweet literal child have with his best friend of a different race, a different color one day at school... -----

My BIG asked his friend HR, ‘what color are you?’.

(This q&a session came about due to a conversation he’d overheard about race and skin color from some other students on the playground - which he didn’t quite understand, and so he asked me at home that afternoon after he’d overheard it. I gave a brief explanation of what was meant by the word ‘race’ or the reference to ‘skin color’, but he was pretty set on his response....If ‘race’ or ‘skin color’ was based on colors people see, then people were seeing the wrong colors.) 

HR laughed at his question (knowing him for a few years, knowing his literal way of thinking) and answered, ‘I’m black, silly’. My BIG stared at her in confusion just before saying, ‘No, you’re not, you’re brown.’ She laughed again and asked, ‘Well, then, if I’m brown, then what are you?’ He answered without hesitation, ‘Apricot’. She found this way of thinking funny, so she began asking about others in their class. Without hesitation each time, he would answer appropriately, ‘apricot, tan, peach, brown, light brown, etc.’ 

Later that night, we had the same conversation at home. He went around the room at dinner highlighting the differences between our skin tones - ‘What color are you? Apricot. What color is Dad? Apricot. What color is Mom? Light Tan.’ - then, he went through a mental list of people highlighting their skin tones as well. 

And this warms my heart, ya’ll... 

Because, you see, my sweet literal child sees the color of someone’s skin for what is it, not for what society has taught us to see. He sees tones, he sees people, he sees good, he sees things the way everyone should - without prejudice, without bias, without hatred. 

Does racism exist? Sure it does...we’ve all seen the horrid acts of violence and hate. But it only exists because it’s allowed to exist. 

This country, this world needs to stop the hate, stop the violence, stop seeing color or race or what society taught us to see, stop listening to all the hate speak. 

We (as Christians, as human beings) must take a stand against this atrocious, senseless behavior, and we must love our neighbors now more than ever. Pray for your family, for your friends, for your neighbors, for this country, for our world. God sees the violence, He sees the hate, He sees all of us and our hearts. We can make a difference. We can show our neighbors how to love, how to react to differences without the need for senseless violence, how to see people, how to see true colors. 

Stop the hate. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Mark 12:31

Live every moment, Laugh every day, Love with all your hearts...

Wow! Okay...so, teaching homeschool is not the hard part, finding opportunities to teach your kiddo during homeschool is not the hard part, finding the right curriculum that works for your kiddo, now that's the hard part.

When we first started homeschooling Tee a few months ago, I struggled with what to do about curriculum. I'd read blogs and sites and articles about which curriculum was best. But in truth, it all came down to this...the curriculum has to fit for your kiddo, and for your family.

Example: If your kiddo is not responding to a textbook approach, then maybe they are more of a hands-on learner.

Since we started at the beginning of November, I began with a hodge podge of curriculum that I thought would work with Tee and at least get us to Christmas Break, if not through the remainder of the year. And Tee has done very well and seems to be progressing right along.

But I've noticed a few glitches that I want to address now. If I fix them in the beginning, there will be less to fix or tweak later.

Tee responds very well to music, technology and visuals...this is something I've always known, but until you are using a particular currcuilum every day, you don't really know how your kiddo is going to respond.

For instance, I had gathered a lesson on Arctic Animals for Science and Social Science/Geography cross-curriculum learning. The lesson entailed some reading (articles on particular animals), a little writing (answering questions, close-note format), and even art (based on the particular animal).

Tee is a reader - takes after me 😉 - and has been from a very early age. But I can tell when he's DONE. The last part of the lesson before the holidays was on the Arctic Snow Owl...and the reading was slightly lengthier than the previous ones. Tee was not impressed! If he mentioned it once, he mentioned it at least 50 times, 'Mom, the Owl book was too long, with too many words...I don't have to do the Owl book in January, do I Mom?'...'No, Buddy, there's no more owl book' 😔 ...and the supplemental site for 'more' and 'fun' information is probably going to be a dud in the upcoming year as well...NG for kids... great site, fun stuff, but Tee forgets NOTHING! He will remember that the 'Owl book had too many words' and that the two things (site and reading assignment) were related somehow until the end of time, I assure you.

So, lengthy reading assignments are not a fun task for Tee (saw this the first literature reading assignment of Shakespeare Stories, suggested by Charlotte Mason and Ambleside - Tee was NOT a fan!). Shorter reading samples and audio (to follow along with) seems to work well with Tee. He is a strong reader, but the audio reinforces with hearing what he is seeing. This also helps with his Receptive and his Comprehension skills.

Over the break, I dove into researchIng the perfect curriculum again...and was about to give up when I came across a silver lining. I've already looked and studied up on it, and I like what I see...I'm just not so sure about Tee. We're going to give it a go for a few weeks to see how he responds. The curriculum is laid out so awesome, so simple to follow, and it even provides extra help if needed...fun and easy to follow directions, suggestions for hands-on activities and such.

It looks like a winner...

I always have our hodge podge to fall back on...so, we'll see how this plays out from Tee's perspective in the upcoming days.

We'll be in full swing by next week, so I'll be posting some feedback.

Until next time, Continue to Live, laugh, and love...

My son, Tee, has the biggest heart ♡ There are moments when my heart just can't take the vastness his big-little heart.

In a previous post (or two), I've mentioned my son's best friend and the move at the beginning of the school year that devastated his precious soul.

The two have been best friends since day one of kindergarten. And by day one, I literally mean the first day of school, on the first day of kindergarten...like, Tee walked into the classroom on the first day - I was all snapping pictures, gushing because my baby (only had one at that time) was starting his first day of school and such (yes, I'm that mom!), and Tee sat down at his desk right next to a sweet child who looked at him and said, 'Hi...I'm 'so-and-so', what's your name?'. Tee told her his name, then looked at me with a little apprehension on his face...'Mom?' He said. 'Is it okay?' (He was referring to the whole classroom, school scenario.) I smiled and said, 'Of course it is, you're going to have a great day.' And before I knew it, this sweet little child sitting next to my baby (who would swiftly become my sweet baby's best friend) patted his shoulder and hand, then said, 'Yeah, Tee...we're going to have fun!'

Right then, I saw it...these two would be something. And they are to this day the very best of friends. That's why the move was so devastating, and a severe blow to Tee's entire world.

We, as humans, all like the thought of comfort. Sure, getting pushed out of our comfort zone every now and again makes for a great growth experience. But, as a rule, comfort is where it's at.

That was this sweet friend to Tee, his comfort zone. Whenever he felt anxious at school, usually during an assembly or something of the sort, all she had to do was reach over and pat his leg or grab ahold of his hand, and all was right in the world...or at least in the moment.

The two were in the same class in Kindergarten, the same 'Pod' (a 4-class unit) in First, and the same class in Second. Mid-summer we found out they would once again be in the same class for Third (both were over the moon). Then, on the first day of school (when really the only thing Tee had been looking forward to about school was being in the class with this child) we got the news that his best friend was moving...not just moving schools, but cities...like six hours away.

Needless to say, Tee was devastated...more than devastated, really...he was blindsided and hurt and heartbroken. This friend was the one person (outside of our little circle) who got him, like really got him...his first real best friend, his buddy, his pal. He's had other friends, still does, but the sweet child has always been the ying to his yang, the Haley to his Lucas (OTH reference).

She never once has let on about any difference concerning his MERLD. She asks questions, carries on real conversations with him, and always seems to encourage him when needs it.

Today, he received a Christmas card from his friend. He was excited! He rushed to tear open the envelope, but something in his little precious heart changed as he read her words. 'Can I get rid of this, Mommy?' he said, while trying to hold back the upset in his shaky voice. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied, 'Come back. I want her to come back. I miss her.' He didn't want to read it anymore or look at the words on the card because it hurt him...knowing his friend was still gone.

💔 Heartbreaking 💔

Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched my little boy's heart ache for the return of his best friend.

If you ask Tee on any given day who his best friend in the whole wide world is...he'll say, 'Mom' every time. But if you break it down and ask 'who is your most favorite, best buddy in school', his answer is always the same, hands down.

I hugged him and told him that everything was okay. That we could send his friend a card too if he'd like (he did). He wrote her a few lines and drew her a cute little picture and handed it to me. As I read his words, my heart (once again) broke into pieces for my sweet baby. I could see his heartache, I could feel the hurt in his big-little heart.

Trying to round him up to get out to mail the letter, he said, 'can I just deliver the letter?' I said, 'well, no baby...the postman delivers the mail. In a few days it will be there.' Tee said, 'I'd rather just deliver it myself.'

💗 Precious 💗

Over the holidays, the plan is to get to together. I told our sweet little friend's mother that it was imperative that we make this happen.

I am thankful for the holidays. I am thankful for sweet friends. I am thankful for every blessing.

Meeting and making new friends is always a tough-y...especially for in a MERLD world.

I remember when I was growing up, I moved around a lot, and moving schools was never the most fun on my to-do list. I lucked up a few times and happened to know someone there...Or sometimes I might even know someone who knew someone or knew someone who was kin to someone else...and admittingly, that made for a slightly less difficult transition. It helped that I was a pretty outgoing kid...but it didn't always help that I was a smart kid that danced to the beat of her own creative drum (more often than not, literally).

When you're different, things are different. When you're not cut from the same cookie cutter mold as everyone else, things don't always pan as easy as some may hope. It's strange to me that adults can look at kids and deem them as too quiet or too smart or too talkative or too active or too anything for that matter. Why can't kids just be kids? But the same questions goes for peers...why does different have to be looked at as strange or weird??? Why do kids look at their peers with the same judgements as adults, with a cookie cutter in hand? As kids get older these judg-y, shifty eyes stare at differences and deem them as unacceptable. Why? Because being cut from the same mold is trendy, socially acceptable, the cool thing to do? Is it possible to just be who you are - whether that's creative or smart or athletic or techy or something else completely???

Tee is incredibly intelligent, genius level even. And that's not just the proud mom in me talking, that comes straight from the mouths and diagnoses of professionals (the real kind, not the ones who think they know but don't...*cough* 'professionals' mentioned in previous posts). And believe it or not, my MERLD kiddo is a social butterfly (he gets it honest!). I know this is not typical of some MERLD kiddos (this is due to communication skill barriers), but Tee followed in this girl's footsteps and marches to the beat of his own. He may sometimes have difficulty in carrying on a conversation, but guaranteed, he has no problem in starting one with anyone he meets.

But with that said, it is still sometimes difficult when meeting new people or making new friends. Because not everyone understands...

That's the thing about going to the same school with the same kids from Kindergarten up...everyone knows you. They've already seen the downfalls and the genius, they've already seen anxiety and the heart, they've already seen the drum that's different from everyone else's...and after a few years of being in the same institution with the same faces everyday, some are okay with it and some are not, some fall away and some stay close, some join the bandwagon of 'conformity' and some embrace the trail of 'different'.

With all of that said, this year had been something...homeschool has been a blessing in such perfect timing. And among other things, finding a co-op program so soon was one of those perfectly timed blessings to mention. But just like any other scenario, when coming into a new situation, oftentimes already established, when no one knows you, no one sees or understands, in fact, no one even asks...they just make their own assumptions.

I wonder if people realize that we see the sideways glances???

When I offer information about MERLD on day one, but I just receive a nod and maybe a 'hmm, never heard of that before', then the sideways glances can be a little aggravating. Even more so, if I think it's effecting Tee. Tee sees the sideways glances just like I do - in group activities  and gatherings, when the already established have game rules that are silently understood or the activity that day has been carried over from a previous one or quickly explained because the established should already know. They don't realize how difficult it can be for a MERLD kiddo to come in and just pick up and understand already understood rules or how-to's. Tee does exceptionally well because of how perceptive and obsevant he is. Otherwise, he might not. In fact, a teacher and parent has said to me, 'Wow, I'm impressed with how well he joins in with any group' or 'he picked up on that lesson much faster than I thought he would...he finished before all of the others and they've been here all year'. Yes, that makes my heart swell in one fashion, but in another I want to ask why is it so 'impressive' that he tries to join in the play or activity group, or why is it so astonishing that he picked up on a lesson so quickly? Just because he doesn't use all of the same bricks and mortar as everyone else doesn't mean he can't build something...in fact, in the time it took you to question his capabilities, he's already designed and built a skyscraper, perhaps in four different landscapes.

Now, don't get me wrong - giving these sideways glances doesn't make you a bad person...just uninformed. Maybe instead of giving the sideways glances when a MERLD kiddo says something in a different way than you're used to or answers a question with question, then quickly corrects themselves to answer it appropriately...give chances in place of those glances. Stop judging books by their covers...some substantial relationships could come out of these meetings if you just let it. Be informed, be kind, be understanding.

And let me just add - at co-op, the kids are great, the parents are great, the families are great. I just wished that there was more of an interest in understanding Tee. I look around the room and see anxiety issues, speech deficits, (some undetected) learning disabilities...and yet, it's Tee who receives the sideways glances, from kids and adults alike. Why? Because he's the new kid on the block, because he's more different than they perceive themselves? Again, not knowing or understanding the MERLD diagnosis, even giving the sideways 'why or what' glances doesn't make you a bad person, it just shows me how uninformed you are, how uninformed society is, about MERLD.

Another thing, Tee is incredibly LITERAL (a lot of MERLD kiddos are). So, meeting new people and being introduced to new personalities is sometimes tricky. Sarcasm is something that is sometimes difficult...I know this well, I often use playful sarcasm in humor, and Tee (though, sometimes he still stops and asks me about my phrasing or wording) overtime has caught on to some things. But new personalities, especially younger ones, are often more difficult to decipher. Time will serve Tee (and the others) well as they get to know each other. But for now, the sideways glances are still there...we see them. They are not the first we've seen, and for certain, they won't be the last. But young or old, look...watch.... MERLD, LTs, and Literal kiddos could teach you something, like how to be more perceptive, more observant, more understanding, more compassionate.

Now, on to other things...This week was the Co-op Christmas party, ending the Fall Semester of Co-op. It was fun to fellowship (but sideways glances, present). Tee is looking forward to Spring semester, and I am as well...looking forward to seeing what learning and social opportunities may arise (hopefully, less a few sideways glances).

Beginning with this week, I have sprinkled Christmas over every single lesson...I'm not joking...every. single. lesson! We are decked out in Christmas Holiday fun! Advent, arts and crafts, music, Christmas themed Math, Literature, Science and Geography. Its the most wonderful time of the year, after all...right?!?! We're reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (a holiday favorite of mine from when I was his age). And we're working through a Bible study lesson on The Christmas Story, The Birth of a Saviour. Tee is so amped up about this string of themed lessons, he wakes up ready to go and asks for more if we finish a little early.  He is really enjoying our 'countdown to Christmas'!

Today, he said, 'I'm so glad we're having the best day, Mom!' This warms my heart, that he's so happy ♡

*On a side note: Tee has been expressing a lot of interest in science labs since he got to witness the dissections and hold the heart and brain a few weeks ago at Co-op. That series of events for him was like 'whoa'! He asks daily about the next science lab possibility and if he'll get to be a part of it...he's hoping for something cool, but he says he doesn't know how they can top the brain!*

**On another side note: Tee is missing his BFF. She always understood him, always accepted him, always encouraged others to accept him for who he is. We can't wait to meet up over Christmas break. This move and distance has been quite the upset this semester. Meeting up over the break will be good for both of them, I know. But Tee is beside himself with excitement...this Christmas is BIG! ♡*