Don’t Turn Away: Trouble in the Homeschool Movement

Mar 10, 2014MelissaEncouragement, Informative, News, Parenting

Written by Heidi St. John

Posted on March 9, 2014

Oops. It happened again.

Another “pillar” of the homeschool movement has resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior.

“In allegations going back decades, Gothard, 79, and unmarried, is said to have specifically targeted young women and teen girls to perform administrative duties for him at IBLP’s headquarters, where he eventually would make unwanted and inappropriate physical contact while also manipulating them emotionally.” (Christian Post.com)

This comes just months after a scandal at Vision Forum forced the resignation of Doug Phillips. Of course, I’m troubled by this. But what’s more troubling to me is the lack of concern that the homeschool community seems to have for the victims of Gothard’s and Phillips teachings. There seems to be more concern for protecting these men and their “ministries” because it may have a negative impact on homeschooling than for the lives of the people who have been hurt and abused.

What in the world are we thinking? (more…)

The Biology of Auditory Processing and Short-Term Memory Issues

Mar 6, 2014MelissaInformative, Special Needs

By Dianne Craft, MA, CNHP (Certified Natural Health Professional)

• “My son has an auditory processing problem. He had a lot of ear infections and bronchitis when he was younger. Is there a connection?”

• “My daughter has been diagnosed with a short-term memory problem. What can I do about this at home?”

The Most Common Processing Problem

As I cross the country, speaking at homeschool conventions, many moms come to my booth asking these questions. Of all the Four Learning Gates that can be blocked, making learning more difficult for a child or teenager, a blocked Auditory Gate presents the most challenges. It affects not only learning but also life in general.

The last Struggling Homeschooler column was titled “What Can I Do About Auditory Processing Problems?” In that article, we explored the symptoms of an auditory processing problem and the two methods that I have used in my teaching career and in my consultation practice to aid children and teenagers with this blocked learning gate: (1) bypassing the blocked learning gate, and (2) correcting the blocked learning gate. In this article we will discuss nutritional approaches that aid kids, teenagers, and adults who have auditory processing problems.

Common Physical Conditions in Auditory Processing Problems

When searching for “corrections” for an auditory processing and memory issue, I have found targeted nutritional interventions to be extremely helpful. (more…)

Spring Cleaning: Is This a Real Phenomenon?

Mar 5, 2014MelissaInformative, Organization

By Heather W. Allen

My task in writing this column, if I understand it correctly, is to pick one of the themes in each month’s issue and provide statistics, or the facts if you will, underlying that theme. How cool is that? Here I get this great list of themes and I have the freedom to pick and choose and then dive in and start researching. My instructions were very clear and fairly easy to follow.

I have to admit up front that I am a little compulsive when it comes to cleaning. I desire a clean home, a decluttered home, a home that sparkles and has lots of “empty”: empty spots on shelves, empty spots in closets, empty spots in rooms. Am I there yet? Not by a long shot. Thus, while I kept looking at the various themes included in this issue, I kept going back to the theme of spring cleaning.

Spring cleaning is very important because a home reflects, in part, the state of the family. If a home is cluttered, disorganized, and dirty, life is often one of chaos rather than order. Everything is more difficult when order is not maintained. Items needed can’t be found, or when located they are often not in condition to be used. It’s hard to put items in their proper place when you’re finished using them because either they don’t have a proper place or there are so many other things competing for the space that it’s hard to easily put those items away. If my home is cluttered, disorganized, or dirty, I feel tired and hopeless. I guess I feel like that because my life is out of control and I’ve become a servant to stuff. Wow, that’s a sobering thought: a stuff-centered home. (more…)