New, Excited, Terrified, Resolved :) a bit long sorry

Late one night about a month ago I was searching the internet for help. My five year old had lost the spark in her eyes.

IT had been a rollercoaster ride for her up to this point. We started with a Montissori (crazy expensive).  She came home with mannerisms that were undesirable. on top of that bruises started to appear. that the teachers explainned as “scuffels” on the playground. so private investigation (yes I snooped) revealed she was being bullied. So after less than a semester we were otta there! 

 Next we tried a co-op.  She started to blossem once again.  Mamma and twin sisters (two at the time) were ran ragged trying to fullfill the point system and committments required to be part of the co-op. but that would have all been worth it.  The academic demands on Kinder students were insane!!  We were scrambling to compleat homework assignments, special projects and exams. Althogh she loved the friends she was making, she dreaded the “schoolwork”.  spark slowly faded.  one semester we were outta there!  

I gave her a few weeks off, and regrouped.  We found Math U See and it was a hit!  next I ordered ABEKA LA program. (mistake) and mama proceeded to do “school” at home.   the novelty worked for a few months. After endless worksheets, dull flashcard drills, and boring readers.  the spark officially went out.  The only “school” related activity I could get a happily compliant student would be Math and Read alouds.   We finished all of the Phonics rules for Kinder as well as all the specal sounds and blends however it was NOT an enjoyable experience. Her reading baffels me. even though she can speed through all of the phonics she has had drilled through, when she reads a word often the rules go right out the window. and she proceeds to sound out every single letter. stopping if the word doesn’t make sense. going back to fix if its a special rule and then sounding out again. once she is happy with the sounding out she will repeat the word fluidly.  needless to say it is hard to read an entire sentence and comprehend what you just read if you must sound out every letter. stop. edit. and resound out and then fluidly read the word.  am I making sense? prob not lol

I did not have the heart to make the child do any more worksheets. or drills or boring reading. so we have taken a break.  this brings us to my late night search.  I discovered SCM and AO and be still my heart my prayers have been heard!  I am ready for our “transition” and will propably bonbard you all with question after question. I feel like I know many of you already as I have silently read your question comments and support of each other this past month.

told you this was long 🙂

thank you SCM for all you do and thank you members for your support.

Rachel Evans