About four months ago, I started tutoring a young man in 3rd grade. We have been working on his reading skills.
When his Mom first asked if I would tutor him I questioned whether or not I could do this.
Yes, I know I've been teaching my own children for the past 19 years. And, while I had high expectations for my children, I questioned whether they were good enough for the public school system. My motives for teaching were and are from a different perspective than the public school system. I teach my children to read so that Gods word can be read and passed on. I teach math so that they won't get cheated or cheat someone. I teach science to show the wonder of Gods marvelous creation. etc...
I listened to this young man read on his first day at my home and my heart went out to him, and I became determined to help this young man. I love to read and I wanted him to be able to love it as much as I did.
Oh, He could read the words well enough, but while reading he stumbled over words and skipped some words all together. It sort of sounded like a spoken train wreck at first. The first thing that I noticed when he read was that he stabbed each word with his finger as he read it. I encouraged him to keep his finger on the page and glide from word to word. This helped some, and the first two weeks went by rather quickly. I started researching more on reading and talking to people that had taught for many more years than I have. I checked books out at the library about teaching reading, reading problems, and dyslexia. I've learned much in the last several weeks.
The more that I read the more that I started to think that this young man might be mildly dyslexic. So I introduced Scrabble cubes that I bought at the local thrift store from a game that had some pieces missing. I think that I'm going to go back and see if I can't find more. With encouragement from a dear friend and former teacher of mine, we used the game pieces to work on his word attack skills. I started showing him how to break down words phonetically and sound them out.
After three months I started seeing some improvement, but was still concerned because I had really wanted to see more. Soon I started integrating index cards and flashy games that I made up to help him along. His Mom told me that he had been moved up to the more advanced reading group at school. Yea! Big boost for my little student and it eased my concerns also.
Fast forward. It's been four months now and I am seeing more improvement. He's reading with much more fluidity and also sounding out tougher words. Yesterday, when his Mom came to pick him up, she told me that his teacher was impressed because he had sounded out two very large words without her help in the reading group. My heart jumped and I praised God for his guidance and grace in using me to teach this young man.
Oh yeah, I keep a verse sitting on the table in front of us the whole time as a reminder that with Christ, we can do everything! I can do everything with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need. Phil. 4:13 When we begin to doubt ourselves, start getting tired, or waiver just a little we read this verse and remind ourselves that He gives us the strength that we need to move on.
I'm very proud of my little student, I'm proud of my children. But mostly I'm praising God! Without Him I wouldn't be able to teach. I pray each day that I will be emptied out and that God's spirit will fill me and that He will teach the lessons that need to be taught.
Blessings and Merry Christmas to all, Sheryl ~ The Quilted YaYa
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Meeting Friends
Yesterday was exciting!
About a year ago my daughter started writing to a young woman that was in the US Army stationed in Afghanistan. Monica is a sweet Christian young woman. Jessica befriended her on Facebook and they continued to learn about each other and share scripture and insights as time went on. A few weeks ago Monica finished her overseas tour and came back home to the US. We were very excited for her. This week, she and her fiancée were traveling to her hometown and passed through Birmingham. We took the opportunity to get them together for a couple of hours. What a great time we had.
Sitting down and talking to them was like sitting with old friends. The conversation never lacked. We shared stories and most of all felt blessed to be able to meet them.
I was impressed that as they sat to eat they shared a prayer before beginning the meal. My family has gotten into the bad habit of eating on the run and so we usually end up saying individual prayers before a meal. When we do sit together we sometimes forget to ask the blessing as a family.
I'd like to insert a "Thank You" to Monica & Nick here for reminding us of how important it is that we still combine our prayers at meals and other times. I'd also like to thank them for serving and protecting our freedoms. God Bless you both!
I hope that they will pass through again soon and that we will have the pleasure of sitting and sharing as we did before.
Blessings to all, ~ S
About a year ago my daughter started writing to a young woman that was in the US Army stationed in Afghanistan. Monica is a sweet Christian young woman. Jessica befriended her on Facebook and they continued to learn about each other and share scripture and insights as time went on. A few weeks ago Monica finished her overseas tour and came back home to the US. We were very excited for her. This week, she and her fiancée were traveling to her hometown and passed through Birmingham. We took the opportunity to get them together for a couple of hours. What a great time we had.
Sitting down and talking to them was like sitting with old friends. The conversation never lacked. We shared stories and most of all felt blessed to be able to meet them.
I was impressed that as they sat to eat they shared a prayer before beginning the meal. My family has gotten into the bad habit of eating on the run and so we usually end up saying individual prayers before a meal. When we do sit together we sometimes forget to ask the blessing as a family.
I'd like to insert a "Thank You" to Monica & Nick here for reminding us of how important it is that we still combine our prayers at meals and other times. I'd also like to thank them for serving and protecting our freedoms. God Bless you both!
I hope that they will pass through again soon and that we will have the pleasure of sitting and sharing as we did before.
Blessings to all, ~ S
Jessica & Monica
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Waiting
Waiting is one of the hardest things we do sometimes. I really don't want to wait for Christmas to get here to get my gifts. I want them NOW! I don't want to wait to be grown up. I want to do grown up things NOW!
Sounds childish and selfish, right? Well it is. In God's eyes we are his children and all too often we sound like this to Him. These aren't the only things that we whine and fuss about though. We want that other job, that bigger house, that newer car...etc. God has wonderful things planned for us and He asks us to wait. So like the little children that we are, we stomp our foot and we demand it now. We just go after it and go in debt, or step on someone else to get the job, or what ever.
God has laid on my heart recently, the concept of how we deal with waiting. My daughters have committed to not dating until God shows them the one that He has chosen for them. This is a commitment that is hard under the best of circumstances. But when most of your friends are dating or getting married, you feel the loneliness even more. I want them to understand that they are not alone. Jesus has given His spirit to be with them during this waiting time. Also that I pray for not only them but their future spouse.
Yesterday we searched the scripture for passages that spoke of waiting. Here is some of what we found. (NLT)
Blessings ~ S
Sounds childish and selfish, right? Well it is. In God's eyes we are his children and all too often we sound like this to Him. These aren't the only things that we whine and fuss about though. We want that other job, that bigger house, that newer car...etc. God has wonderful things planned for us and He asks us to wait. So like the little children that we are, we stomp our foot and we demand it now. We just go after it and go in debt, or step on someone else to get the job, or what ever.
God has laid on my heart recently, the concept of how we deal with waiting. My daughters have committed to not dating until God shows them the one that He has chosen for them. This is a commitment that is hard under the best of circumstances. But when most of your friends are dating or getting married, you feel the loneliness even more. I want them to understand that they are not alone. Jesus has given His spirit to be with them during this waiting time. Also that I pray for not only them but their future spouse.
Yesterday we searched the scripture for passages that spoke of waiting. Here is some of what we found. (NLT)
- We are to Pray and Wait. (Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Ps. 5:3)
- We are to be Brave and Courageous while we Wait Patiently. (Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes,wait patiently for the LORD. Ps. 27:14)
- We are to be still and Wait for Him to act. (Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Ps. 37:7)
- We Praise Him and Wait for His mercies. (I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people. Ps. 52:9)
- He is our Strength and place of Safety while we Wait. (You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety. Ps. 59:9)
- He is our Salvation and Hope while we Wait quietly. (For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him. I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. Ps. 62:1 & 5)
- We wait for His counsel. (Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn't wait for his counsel! Ps. 106:13)
- When we have been wronged we Wait for Him to handle the matter. (Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. Pro. 20:22)
- The Lord also Waits for us! We are blessed when we wait! (But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. Isa. 30:18)
- Our strength is renewed when we Wait. (But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isa. 40:31)
- We should Seek HIM while we Wait. (The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. Lam. 3:25)
- We Wait confidently. (As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Mic. 7:7)
- We Wait for God's promises with the attitude of Jesus Christ. (Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Romans 15:4-5)
- We are to wait eagerly. ( But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith. Gal. 5:5)
Blessings ~ S
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Focus
Sometimes when I have a project going. I have a hard time keeping focused on what I need to be doing. That's the way it has been this past week.
A couple of years ago I bought a cross stitch pattern.Search Amazon.com for geisha cross stitch
Kelly likes Japanese decor and I thought that she would like this. So I went out and got all the colors that I didn't have in my box, and the fabric. Then I got distracted by other things. (If you knew the crazy things that happen in this house it wouldn't surprise you.) Any way, It took me a while to get back to it. I think that I needed two years to mature, because this pattern has a lot of half stitches and is worked on a 28 count fabric. My eyes tell me I should have gotten to it sooner. Magnifying tools are never to be under rated in this house. It's been a long time since I have done any cross stitching and I have had to take a few stitches out along the way, so I am trying very hard not to mess up. The pattern is beautiful, and lately it's all I've wanted to do. I have had to make myself set it down and do the things that needed to be done this last week.
Of course I get great motivation to work from all the voices around our home that tell me they need clean clothes or that they are hungry. They are all grown up! I taught them to do laundry and cook, but for some reason they think that I still have to do it for them. I guess that's the price you pay for being Mom. And that's OK too. It's good to be needed and I sure do love all these wonderful people that fill my home with such joy!
The weather has turned cool down here, finally. I am very glad, I love soup weather! This week I made a gumbo that was delicious! My Sister shared her recipe with me and since she's a great cook I thought that I'd try it. She got the recipe from a Paula Deen cookbook. It was also on foodnetwork.com. I changed the recipe up just a little and added shrimp and celery to mine. I didn't have okra so that was left out. It was still yummy though. I think that the next time I may leave out the shrimp.
Hope that everyone has an awesome weekend!
Blessings and Love to all ~ S ~ The Quilted YaYa
A couple of years ago I bought a cross stitch pattern.Search Amazon.com for geisha cross stitch Kelly likes Japanese decor and I thought that she would like this. So I went out and got all the colors that I didn't have in my box, and the fabric. Then I got distracted by other things. (If you knew the crazy things that happen in this house it wouldn't surprise you.) Any way, It took me a while to get back to it. I think that I needed two years to mature, because this pattern has a lot of half stitches and is worked on a 28 count fabric. My eyes tell me I should have gotten to it sooner. Magnifying tools are never to be under rated in this house. It's been a long time since I have done any cross stitching and I have had to take a few stitches out along the way, so I am trying very hard not to mess up. The pattern is beautiful, and lately it's all I've wanted to do. I have had to make myself set it down and do the things that needed to be done this last week.
Of course I get great motivation to work from all the voices around our home that tell me they need clean clothes or that they are hungry. They are all grown up! I taught them to do laundry and cook, but for some reason they think that I still have to do it for them. I guess that's the price you pay for being Mom. And that's OK too. It's good to be needed and I sure do love all these wonderful people that fill my home with such joy!
The weather has turned cool down here, finally. I am very glad, I love soup weather! This week I made a gumbo that was delicious! My Sister shared her recipe with me and since she's a great cook I thought that I'd try it. She got the recipe from a Paula Deen cookbook. It was also on foodnetwork.com. I changed the recipe up just a little and added shrimp and celery to mine. I didn't have okra so that was left out. It was still yummy though. I think that the next time I may leave out the shrimp.
Hope that everyone has an awesome weekend!
Blessings and Love to all ~ S ~ The Quilted YaYa
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