We've all had those moments in homeschooling where we've wondered if it's working.
If homeschooling is the best choice.
Or maybe days of frustration where we contemplate the ease of life if we put the kids in traditional schools.
Or simply moments of reflection where we wonder if someone else could better get through to our child.

Or is it just me??!!

Anyway, my youngest (12) has never embraced reading or any type of language arts. Yet, I could tell she's an intelligent child. Not through any parental prejudice but simply because it's obvious if you're around her for any length of time. She's very articulate and quick witted, along with being a tremendous worker with an amazing memory.

So I assumed the problem was with me. And I would back up and formulate a new "plan". Her mind doesn't work the way mine does. She doesn't learn the way I do. And she doesn't "see" things the way I do. My goal simply became to back things up to where she did "get it" and go from there. Which is a good theory but  it didn't take the uniqueness of my child into account.

So did anything finally "work"?
Well, yes.
And thank you for asking!

What finally worked was to simply buy her a book she wanted, that her older siblings had read, and leave her alone.

Huh?

Yup.

She finished:
*drumroll, please*
And has now started on:

And since then?
All those other books she has been reading in between don't seem too overwhelming.

Barnes and Noble is having a reading program for 1st through 6th graders where they fill out a "journal" listing 8 books they read and they turn it in to get a free book. Her journal is filling up quickly!

But the best part? She wanted to do it!