The Thinking Tree's Therapeutic Coloring Book and Dyslexia Games

We have been busy trying to find a rhythm for our homeschool.  This being my first year it has been a roller coaster!  We have been trying to find really great matches for our son's  learning needs.

When we adopted Marvin we knew he was born meth addicted and had Shaken Baby Syndrome.  The social worker calmly said "Love him and he will be fine."  Well, love has done amazing things but the abuse he suffered pre removal impacted his ability to lean.  Add to that the trauma of abuse and two school who let him fall through the cracks because they could not teach the way he learns you have a mess.

We did have him tested and with support from other special needs moms he's started the home school journey with me.  He has lots of learning blocks some of which are forms of dyslexia and ADHD.  I have spent hours and hours (because sleep is overrated) looking for materials that will capture his unique learning needs and are "cool" for boys.

So one day a mom with a large group of adopted kids mentioned the Thinking Tree.  I was intrigued. So I started looking at there stuff.  Holy Cow!!!  Books for a kid like mine?  Well the first one that caught my eye was this one:

Because who doesn't love coloring.  Sooo I placed it out with some new colored pencils and started school work with Marvin.  I started with math since I know it stresses him out.  Sure enough he started to amp a bit.  So I took the opportunity to introduce the coloring book.  I simply said, how about you color in this while I go over the lesson.  Well, it worked.  Marvin was immediately drawn in (sorry bad pun).  He enjoyed the book because he loves art.  

The best part about this is that there is a whole series of books from homeschool handbooks to Dyslexia Games.  If I had an unlimited budget I would have one of everything just because these are amazing resources.  The next book I hope to get is Multiplication Games because it looks like so much fun (imagine me saying that for math).  

Check out these great books!  Happy Teaching! 

Naomi's Gift: An Amish Christmas Story

So I'm starting to notice a theme around here and it's I read Christmas stories year round:).  But in my defense the weather is cooler, my trees are turning colors and fall is starting to creep into Virginia.

I have been running around to lots of extra appointments with the kids as well.  I normally tote around my Kindle Fire but I just keep forgetting to charge the thing.  I'm just not technology forward so on my way to wait at yet another Dr's appointment for Cary Lynn I needed to grab a more portable book that I could take in my purse.

So I grabbed a copy of Amy Clipston's book, Naomi's Gift.  It was small and fit into my purse.

From the back: Naomi has begun to believe that she isn’t meant to find love, but she might receive more than she has ever hoped for this Christmas.

Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches, Naomi is certain that her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family’s quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.

Caleb, a widower, heads back home for the holidays.  He meets Naomi at the farmer's market and they form a connection.  

It was great to see how Naomi has grown and matured through the stories that Amy has told.  I really felt like she had learned her lessons from past hurts and was trying to do it right this time.  The story was full of twists and turns like I have come to expect from Amy's work and I was unhappy to have to stop reading.  I even told one of the Dr's that I had to just finish one more page.  That didn't sit well with him:).  

Caleb and Naomi are meant for each other but it seemed like the harder they tried the more forces tried to pull them apart.  Naomi's mother has doubts, Caleb's sister wants him to find a "proper wife", and Caleb's grief over the loss of his wife.  

So what happens?  Well you'll have to pick up a copy and read it for yourself!  So if you're ready for a nice holiday read (like me) and can't wait for signs of winter pick up your copy today! Happy Reading!