Understanding Our Children's Learning Style

I am horrible on the telephone.  I cannot stay focused unless I begin drawing flowers, faces and graphs on paper during a long conversation. But if I'm working on a project or on the computer, I will not hear you at all if you talk to me.  And if I try to do mathmatics in my head, I usually come up with the wrong number.

I am a visual learner first and foremost.  I focus on what I see in front of me.  I am single-focused which makes me wonderful at accomplishing tasks and offensive if you're trying to talk to me while I'm doing it.  If I can do the math on paper, I can get it right.  I learn best by seeing. 

My second strength in learning is tactile - if I can touch it, put my hands on it, I will remember how to do it.  I have to actually drive the directions to remember them.  The worst way for me to learn is auditory - I can get distracted too easily by what I see unless I'm taking notes (which I can see!).

We often label children with disabilities when their real issues is difference - they have a learning style that is different than the parents or teachers trying to teach them; different than most of the children in their family or class.  This doesn't mean they are less intelligent or gifted.  They simply have a different way of learning.  A wise parent or teacher will learn their child's style and teach them in a way they understand and grasp the lesson. 

I encourage you to follow this link and first take this test for yourself.  What kind of learner are YOU?  Then let the children take it.  If you are frustrated because a child seems to fight learning or seems unable to learn when you are explaining or lecturing, perhaps you need to add some visuals or hands-on projects to your lesson.  Every child CAN learn.  Your task is to learn how.

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=vak-quiz-visual-auditory-kinesthetic&id=121633

Carla Ives
HCI Founder

An Encouraging Blog for Those Raising or Working with Wounded Children...

http://thehomanites.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/the-power-of-prayer/

Nicole Homan is the daughter of HCI Founder, Carla Ives.  She is the worship director at The Potter's House Family Worship Center in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, a gifted writer and psalmist.  She is also a wife and the mother of 10 children!  Her first son was adopted from Liberia, followed by four children who were born here in the USA.  She and her husband, Pastor Matthew Homan, have five new foster children living with them who will soon be adopted as well.  No one understands the special challenges of being the mother of wounded childen like a foster parent. 

As teachers and pastors, we too must learn how to relate to and train the broken children in our churches, cities and nations.  We must have God's perspective and His heart to bring His salvation to them.  This blog is linked to our own.  Don't miss these flowing articles of encouragement and hope!

Christmas Thoughts for the Home by Nicole Homan*.

Be sure to follow this link to read an inspiring message from Nicole Homan, daughter of HCI Founder, Carla Ives.  Nicole and her husband Matthew are former staff of HCI who now serve at The Potter's House Family Worship Center in Mt. Pleasant, MI.  They have 10 children - six adopted and four through natural birth.  What a story to tell!!!

http://thehomanites.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/tis-the-season-of-receiving/#like-1881

The Impact of One Changed Life

In this driven world and the push for success, we sometimes focus on the crowds we want to reach rather than the one child standing in front of us.  In our effort to build big ministries that will look successful in the eyes of our peers, we pass the one waiting for our attention to reach the hundreds who we've never met.  We can easily believe that the more we reach, the greater our impact for eternity.

But we have forgotten the impact of one simple life.

Jesus came as one ordinary baby lying in a humble manger and changed all of our lives foreve.  He alone died on the cross.  And He poured Himself into a select few who committed to staying close and learning from Him - twelve men who came from varied backgrounds and experience.  Though the crowds called and pressed Him for attention, Jesus often withdrew with these few men to a quiet place.  He knew each one's name, history, and destiny.  He loved them individually.  Jesus understood the impact of one single life.

When we read the Epistles, we see the impact these men had on a lost world.  Their paths were different and their ministries took them to places they'd never been before.  But these 12 men (Judas replaced later by the apostles with Matthew, by God seemingly with Paul) turned the whole world upside down!  The impact of one life.

Don't miss the child living next door or in your own home.  Don't pass the child who is already reaching for you.  Look for the hearts that are committed to staying and learning from you.  Pour into each one. 

Don't forget the impact of one simple life.

Carla Ives
HCI Founder

Making a Difference...

I remember a little boy who couldn't sit still or be quiet in my class who is a pastor/teacher today...a moody, energetic, wounded little boy who is a part of Christian television project that will be shown internationally...a strong-willed pastor's daughter who is a worship leader and mother of ten today. On those days when you wonder if all of your time and effort taken to disciple the children is making a difference, be assured - it is. Carla Ives HCI Founder

The Power of Touch

Years ago I supervised a children's camp for my local church. There was one little girl at the camp who spent most of the time in trouble. She was grumpy, pouting and picking fights with the other children most of the time. She would randomly lose her temper and begin tossing chairs, hitting and trying to run away. When you spoke to her she would keep moving and making noise so she couldn't/wouldn't hear...until you touched her. One hand placed gently upon her shoulder would still the wild beast within. Suddenly she stopped and began to breath. As long as someone's hand was on her arm, head, shoulder, back or holding her hand she was calm and could listen. It was as if she were two different girls. The only difference was touch. Touch reconnected her with her surroundings. It met a silent cry for attention and affection. It told her she was seen, heard and valued.

 I now know the little girl was a RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) child. RAD children failed to bond with a significant adult (parent, older sibling, grandparent, guardian) as a baby and this actually alters the brain's healthy formation required for relating to others. There has been much research done and more happening even now that proves this. RAD often occurs among orphans, children of abusive, dysfunctional homes, children parented by mentally ill, addicted or unstable parents. In a world where many parents no longer know how to parent, it is a growing problem. It's too easy to put the baby in a crib with a bottle and walk away. What does a baby do when he or she wants to be picked up, changed, or fed? The baby cries and becomes more hysterical by the moment until someone finally responds. A RAD child never moves past this stage, even when words are developed. The child's emotions are stunted and they often continue to respond to life as an infant or toddler. Fits of rage, emotional outbursts, and physical violence or response. In the midst of their cry, it's amazing what a touch will do!

A baby needs touch. They need to feel skin-against-skin. They need to feel connection. This creates a bond between them and their parents and also develops a sense of safety and security. Children who are cuddled much know they are loved and wanted, even when words are absent. As pastors, parents, and teachers we bring God's touch to the next generation. We are "Jesus with skin on" to them. They experience His love through us. Many of the children we minister to are touch-deprived and struggling. They have assorted behavior issues that make parenting and teaching extremely difficult. The first step in bringing change is healthy touch. Put your hand on their shoulder and pat their little heads. Hold their hands and give their arm a tiny squeeze. Hug them. Hold them. Cherish them. Watch what love will do to change their behavior.

When children act out, our first response is often frustration and discipline. What if our first response was love??? Let's see what love can do...

Serving Jesus, Carla Ives HCI Founder

The Power of God's Word!

Today I was reminded once again why it is so important to teach children the Word of God. It truly transforms their lives, regardless of their age. God's Word has the power to renew a child's mind, awaken their soul and change their perspectives, values, and behaviors. There are former street boys in Kampala, Uganda proving this right now... HCI's Discipleship Director, Caleb Ives is currently with Pastor Nelson Kyasooka of Grace Fellowship Ministries in Kampala, Uganda. Today he spoke with the headmaster, Richard Lubega, at the school the former street boys currently attend. He shared that they are excellent students, trying very hard, changing in their performance and behaviors. They are becoming "really good children." What brought this change? God's Word! The Word of God shared with a practical demonstration of God's amazing love (education, food, shelter, clothes)combine to transform lives. It's so easy to make a difference! I remember the impact of God's Word on my own daughter, Nicole, who now writes most of the curriculum offered here. She had terrible fits of rage as a child, crying, kicking, shouting, screaming, "I can't stop!" It began when she was a young babe and continued until she was nearly 7 years old. We tried everything suggested in Christian books and teachings, as well as ideas shared by professionals. Nothing worked. One day I prayed, admitting my inability to help her and crying out to God for HIS plan for changing my daughter. She was so precious and loving most of the time, but these outbursts were increasing. God's answer? Buy her a Bible. I argued with God, thinking that this was rewarding Nicole's behavior. But eventually I determined to obey. I took her to the Christian bookstore and allowed her to pick an adult Bible like the one I read. I told her I believed that she really couldn't stop, though she wanted to and God's Word would make the difference. There was power in God's Word to wash all of the anger away and change her from the inside-out. She believed! She carried her Bible as if it was made of gold and showed it to her father saying, "Look daddy! Mama bought me a Bible and it's going to make me better!" From that time on, we read her Bible every single night. When she felt a fit of rage trying to come, she would run to her bedroom and open her Bible, reading aloud until peace came. She never had another outburst like that again. God's Word works! We must teach the children of this generation God's Word. He is their hope! God's Word can transform their thoughts, behaviors, values and heal their broken hearts. There IS power in God's Word. Rise up and teach!!!! Submitted by: Pastor Carla Ives; HCI Founder