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At the end of one of my seminars during a speaking engagement, a man told me that he was grateful for the information I shared, but he wondered who would be his teen’s “guidance counselor” in the coming days. I said, “I’m happy to be your teen’s guidance counselor!” Guidance counselors direct parents and teens to helpful information regarding future plans – college, career, or the military. As an HSLDA high school consultant, I can help you find the same type of information.
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Many College registrars look for good study skills in enrolling students, "We find that all students, not just the ones who have some learning struggles, are very deficient in study skills."
Twenty eight years ago when my daughter was born, friends hosted a baby shower for me. The ladies blessed me by giving me notes of wisdom on index cards. The advice given on one of those cards has stuck with me over these many years. It simply said “Enjoy each season of your child’s life without wishing it was the next season.” I took that advice to heart, but it was a struggle especially during my homeschooling years to not say, “I can’t wait until…” Have you had some of these same thoughts?
Christmas, is supposed to be a joyful and peaceful time of year, but for many people it may be anything but those. We look around the world and see war, famine, and natural disasters. This time of year may be a time of grieving, hunger, loss, and loneliness. In the wake of the tragic and senseless shootings that recently occurred in Connecticut, Christmas will be a sorrowful time for many. The consultants here at HSLDA, and I’m sure the entire nation mourns with the families of Newtown. This Christmas, let each of us lift them up in prayer.
Music is considered by many to be the universal language. This time of the year that is most evident. Familiar Christmas songs, secular and sacred, are playing everywhere you go. If you are like me, you are quickly drawn into a song, especially one that is meaningful or catchy. When I think of music, I think of heaven – angels saying (in song?), “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts” around God’s throne (Isaiah 6:3); and the angels who announced Christ’s birth with “glory to God in the highest…” (Luke 2:14). Won’t it be wonderful to some day be a part of that heavenly chorus?
Several months ago I had the privilege of meeting Cheri Moore, a former special education teacher, who has been trained in Dr. Guy Berard’s Auditory Integration Training. She was kind enough to introduce me to Dr. Berard’s book, Hearing Equals Behavior and Dancing in the Rain, by Annabel Stehli. Both books were fascinating reads. Since that time, I’ve told people that I know just enough about Auditory Integration Training or AIT, to be dangerous! With that said, I want to take this opportunity to tell you what I’ve learned, and how it may be helpful to your son or daughter. 
The approaching holidays may seem daunting with all the extra preparations and shopping hours to be added to your already full schedule of homeschooling and parenting. Do you feel behind the eight ball, trying to finish the school semester while planning for Christmas? Is your grace tank running on empty? Before falling into the holiday blues, I want to suggest some ways to reorient your vision and to take advantage of your resources..jpg)
I have recently spoken to many members who are new to homeschooling and have children with special learning challenges. I have also had the opportunity to talk with seasoned homeschooling families who are now sailing into “unchartered waters”, due to facing a recent diagnosis of Autism and Aspergers. To be sure, there are countless families who are in similar “boats” and feeling waves of fear, doubt, loneliness, and quite frankly just overwhelmed and reeling with uneasiness..jpg)
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