Special Connection Homeschool

Reading is certainly Gess' strong point. In fact we are at the point in our schooling where she is starting to learn about the literature itself instead of just focusing on did she remember what she read. While that is still very important to me, we are also trying to discover what we can learn from it. With Gess having Down syndrome that is sometimes a bit tricky, but products like Progeny Press make it easier for me. We had our first experience with  Progeny Press  last year when we reviewed their Hall of Door's Book and Study Guide . This year we reviewed  The Courage of Sarah Noble E-Guide . What I love about the  Progeny Press  study guides is that they help you look at what you read with a biblical perspective. Taking a look at literature, whether Christian or secular, they examine the values and lessons in accordance with biblical teachings. It helps your child not only learn to examine what they read to gain a better understanding of it, but tr...

My Gess loves science, but mostly she loves studying the weather.  Every time spring arrives she is fascinated with the storms that come with.  In April we had the opportunity to go to a storm spotter class. This information helps you be able to spot various types of storms, how to do so safely, and how to share that information with others.  It was a two hour class and Gess sat through it all.  Of course much of it was visual as there were tons of images and video clips used as examples.  Still, I was very proud of how well she did. This last week we had a chance to spot one of those storms.  Thankfully, we haven't had any huge super cells pass by, but we have had a few small storms which has given us some much needed rain.  We managed to get some pictures the other day.  Here is the storm that passed by as we were heading into the store. A few moments later, after we were safely inside, we were pounded with wind and hail.  But ins...

By now you have to know that I am a huge fan of Apologia Educational Ministries .  I have reviewed several of their products and this time I get to tell you about the the final book in the What We Believe series:  What on Earth Can I Do? This worldview training series helps parents to teach their children how to use Scripture as the lens with which to view the world and the problems all around them. We all have a worldview that we use to make decisions and as Christians it is important that we go through life with a biblical perspective. I have been quite pleased with the rest of the series so I was anxious to use this last one with my daughter who happens to have special needs.  In spite of having Down syndrome, these books have impacted her spiritual growth and she always looks forward to doing them. You can see how we did with  Who Am I?  and  Who Is My Neighbor?  by reading these past reviews.  I purchased Who Is God? separately be...

We recently reviewed Maestro's Classics again and in our study on Handel we learned about pipe organs.  I mentioned how that after my son's graduation we would be able to see an actual pipe organ. Now that we have returned I wanted to share a bit of the tour with you.  Here are the images I shared of the organ in the  Maestro's Classics  post.  It really is an amazing instrument.  It is at the bottom and the pipes are up above on the wall. One of the neatest parts to me is the amount of air needed to play this organ.  Unlike our organ at church that is electric this works like a recorder in that air actually has to flow through the pipes. When they turned it on you could literally hear the air the moving in the other room. It was actually pretty loud.  Next Gess got to see, touch, and play the organ. Her brother is showing it how it is done. Here she is learning that the pedals can actually play music too. Then we got to actuall...

I have to take a moment to congratulate my son Timothy for graduation from Fort Hays State University!  I also have to add additional kudos for being accepted into grad school at Kansas State University to earn his masters degree in Drama Therapy.  I am so very proud of Tim having sacrificed and worked so hard to get there.  He is a first generation graduate.  I have an Associates of Art degree, but not a four year degree.  My parents didn't even have that.  It is wonderful to see each generation get just a bit further.  Here are some pictures from the graduation event. Way to go Tim!! We are so proud of you son! I love you more than words can say!!

We had another Special Olympic competition and Gess did much better this time around.  While the races were still full, except for the last one, and the girls pretty much evenly matched, Gess managed to medal in each event! Her first event was the 50 meter dash.  She was so excited to win the silver that she got up on the podium before anyone else! Next was the softball throw.  She got the silver for this event as well. She was anxious to get a gold and her dream came true as she came in first for the standing long jump. I thought getting the gold would make her relax but my Gess has a huge competitive streak.  Even so, she really shocked me during the 100 meter dash when she just laid down on the track and quit because she noticed she was coming in last!  For this event there were only 3 girls remaining.  It was late and the day and some of the entries had left for home.  I had my camera all ready to start taking pictures an...

Things are starting to slow down for our schooling now that May is here.  Because I am a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew we will be continuing some lessons over the summer, but we will not be on a full day lesson plan.  I will only be working on review material as well as math.  Gess really needs help with math.  Our participation in the summer reading program really seems to be enough to keep her reviewed in all of her reading and English skills. This weekend Gess' brother will be graduating from College.  We are so proud of him and we are all anxious to see him receive his Bachelor's degree.  The highest degree we have in our household is an Associates of Art so that is exciting.  He has two plans for continuing on with graduate school.  We should hear any day if he gets the one he most wants.  I am praying God will direct Him in all of that. Gess' piano recital will be the following week.  This will be her second year.  ...

History seems to be the hardest subject for Gess to understand.  Because she has Down syndrome she is very much a hands on learner and she just has trouble grasping things she hasn't seen or experienced.  While she is a great reader she only seems to enjoy books that talk about familiar things. In order to teach her history, I have to get really creative. Thankfully I was able to review a product that has done the creative work for me. Heroes & Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum from Golden Prairie Press was written by homeschool graduate Amy Puetz.  She absolutely loves history and has presented history in a way that requires the use of all of your senses helping students to not only read about history but experience it as they see, hear, touch, smell, and taste it. For the purpose of my review I received the Digital Heroes & Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum . The digital version included: Heroes & Heroines of...