A New Life With Books

It's difficult to explain to others how the picture above thrills me.  Jasmine, before this year, only read when she absolutely HAD to.  It was usually for school, with the threat of failing a class as the motivation.  This year has brought out a wonderful new adventure for this 15 year old.

Jasmine is reading Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson.  I picked up this book from the library to go with our Christmas Unit Study written by Amanda Bennett.  I found a few Christmas books to accent our study.  I even purchased One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham for all the girls to read (I am reading this to Megan).

Jasmine's reading has taken off.  I used Karen Kingsbury to lure her into reading a series where I knew the characters would hook her.  Reading the Redemption Series, a chapter or two at a time, has been awesome.  Jasmine has made it to Return, and I can see her wanting to read ahead at times, just to know what will happen next.

I realize that these books aren't challenging.  I realize that they aren't considered a classic.  However, I needed something to grab Jasmine's interest.  From here, we can move onto other books and other adventures.  I have found that I can introduce lots of other books now... and she doesn't complain as she would have just a few months ago.  She is reading the Melody Carlson book enthusiastically.  She hasn't even complained about The Swiss Family Robinson she is reading for school. 

At this point, Jasmine has completed five books this school year.  She hasn't read five books in the last two years in public school!  The change in her attitude alone to reading has been amazing.  I am now on the lookout for Christian literature that I know will get her attention.  I'm considering The Narnia Series because Jasmine loves adventures. 

Whenever I hear someone complain that homeschooling doesn't work, or that it is too difficult for children that struggle, I want to cry.  So many children are short-changed a quality education because they learn differently or at a slower pace.  They have grown to detest things, such as reading, that can be pure joy.  Watching my 15 year old come to life after years of feeling she doesn't measure up has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences.  School isn't always easy for her, even at home.  And yet, she is doing amazingly well.  She works hard.  She gets tired and frustrated at times.  But the truth is that she is succeeding in ways the specialists and teachers all said she could never do.  When I total her grades for the subjects that I take grades for, she is getting straight A's.