Teaching Children

Tuesday Topic: Homeschool, Private School, Public School?

By Lisa Qualls Tuesday June 14, 2011

Here is a question that is quite personal to me as we navigate our children’s unique needs. Lisa E. asked,

What are the pros and cons of homeschooling vs. attending school outside the home in children with attachment challenges and severe trauma? We are currently trying to make this decision for the fall and I am guessing many of your readers have this question as well.

Every family is different, every child is unique, and many of us have tried a variety of approaches to educating our children from “hard places.” This is a relevant and timely question for many families.

What are your thoughts and experiences? Take a moment to let us know – we want to hear from you. You can keep it short, or write a long comment, whatever you can squeeze into your day.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Encourage one another,

Lisa

Butterflies

By Lisa Qualls Thursday June 2, 2011

Eby got some very neat gifts for his birthday including this one that has provided days of learning and enjoyment, a Live Butterfly Garden. First there was the anticipation of waiting for the caterpillars to arrive – just getting mail is exciting when you are six, but mail with wriggling caterpillars is even better. The slightly gross factor was another benefit for Eby, and the girls didn’t mind it either.

The caterpillars ate the food in the container they arrived in and eventually climbed to the lid, hung upside down, and formed chrysalides (yes, that is the plural of “chrysalis” – I even googled it to be sure). Once they had all formed, we opened the container, removed the liner of the lid and pinned it to the inside of the mesh Butterfly Garden.

For the Joy of it!

By Lisa Qualls Thursday February 3, 2011

I love this picture of Jonah about to be swallowed by a very big fish, surrounded by all of that water. Which reminds me, we have water again at our house! I am very thankful to report that the problem with our well was relatively minor and was repaired in one day. That certainly made my life easier.

I’ve been thinking about our Tuesday Topic, How We Help our Children Feel Safe, and I have some thoughts, a few of which have actually been typed into a draft. Hopefully I’ll have enough quiet to get it done soon. I have several writing projects in the works for Empowered to Connect that I need to get working on too.

My favorite time in our homeschool day is when we sit down to read the Bible, followed by a science/nature book, and other stories. I end our time with reading lessons for Eby and Little Man in my super-simple, tried-and-true, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I know I just wrote that I had decided to continue using the One Year Bible for Children, which I love, but then I ordered just one more children’s Bible from Amazon and fell in love.

Snowflake Crafting with Kids

By Lisa Qualls Wednesday January 5, 2011

My guest today is Pajama Mama – one of those crafty mothers I admire so much.

Hi there! Kristen here, fellow AAI (Adoption Advocates International) and homeschool mama. I blog over at Pajama Mama about crafting, and doing life with my kiddos in my pajamas.

My kids, like most, love crafting with me. (and without me.) And these early days of the year, before the rush of activities start back up again, are perfect opportunities to pull out stuff we already have and make something new together.

Today we did just that.

Riding the Semester’s Wave

By Lisa Qualls Wednesday December 15, 2010

Eby "studying" with my nephew

For nearly thirty years, my life has been lived on an academic schedule of semesters beginning, grinding through the middle, and ending with the fatigue and relief of finals. Russ and I were undergrads together and we had a favorite table in the library where we studied each morning. It was our spot. Even after our wedding the summer before our senior year, we still walked to the library each morning to work.

We graduated before some of you were born, in the summer of 1985, but Russ went on to earn several more degrees, finally finishing at the age of thirty,with a wife and four children to round out his accomplishments. He became a professor and still the rhythm of semesters shaped our years.

Now we ride this wave with our children, one in medical school, three at the University, and one taking a few classes at the local high school.

My Learning Curve: Giving Choices

By Lisa Qualls Monday December 13, 2010

Me: “You can have your snack at the counter or at the table; those are your two good choices.”

Little Man: “But I want to have bad choices.”

That Little Man is a funny boy.

This incident reminded me how consistently I still use the technique of offering two choices and using my hands to physically demonstrate them to my child. I wrote about this 18 months ago, and want to share it again because it has been so effective for us, not only in reducing stress over decisions, but also in giving our children a measure of control in their lives.

Twenty Real-Life Tools for Gifts

By Lisa Qualls Saturday December 11, 2010

As I was writing the post of our Top Twenty Toys, I realized there is another category of favorite gifts worth mentioning. Many times rather than buying our children toys, we give them useful tools. These aren’t necessarily tools in the sense of hammers and screwdrivers, although we’ve given those too, but something that can be used to accomplish a task or purpose.

Here are some of our favorites.

My Learning Curve: Short Term Challenges

By Lisa Qualls Friday December 10, 2010

At our last appointment, Deborah encouraged us to set some short term challenges with the girls to overcome specific behaviors. Children growing up in orphanages don’t have parents to instruct them, “no whining,” “eat with good manners,” “We don’t stomp our feet when we’re angry,” “no hitting your sister,” etc. During the toddler years we say these phrases time and time again. In an orphanage the nannies have their hands full feeding the kids, keeping them clothed, and dealing with medical problems.

The result is children who are elementary age, and even pre-teens, who still have these immature behaviors.

Top Twenty Toys

By Lisa Qualls Monday December 6, 2010

Need ideas for Christmas gifts? In my nearly 24 years of mothering, I’ve seen many toys come and go. As Christmas approaches, I hope I can offer some helpful suggestions. Some toys with longevity are expensive, while others cost nearly nothing or can easily be found at thrift stores and yard sales. You might want to put these on your “watch list.”

Here we go!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

By Lisa Qualls Sunday November 28, 2010

[This is a repost from last year that I wanted to share again. I would encourage you to celebrate Advent with your family, even if it is very, very simple. I would also love to hear your Advent tradition, hopes, and plans.]

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. Sweet Pea was home for Thanksgiving, so she lit the Advent candle while we sang the first verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Our singing was followed by a short scripture reading.

Lisa Qualls
I'm the mother of twelve by birth and adoption. Twenty-seven years ago I married my true love. Once lost and now found, I've been brought to my knees by grace. I am passionately devoted to healing my children who came to me with broken hearts. Join me on the journey.

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