Special Needs Archives • iHomeschool Network https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/special-needs/ connecting homeschoolers through social media Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:03:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://assets.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/21141449/iHomeschoolNetwork-Logo-Fav-icon.jpg Special Needs Archives • iHomeschool Network https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/special-needs/ 32 32 Ways to Help Students with Dysgraphia: A Guide for Homeschooling Parents https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschooling-dysgraphia/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschooling-dysgraphia/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:01:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/?p=36684 Dysgraphia affects a student's ability to write and express themselves through handwriting, but with the right strategies, it is possible to help them thrive.

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Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects a student’s ability to write and express themselves through handwriting. It can be challenging for homeschooling parents to support their children with dysgraphia, but with the right strategies and tools, it is possible to help them thrive.

Ways to Help Students with Dysgraphia

This article will explore effective ways to assist students with dysgraphia in their homeschooling journey.

Understand Dysgraphia

The first step in supporting a student with dysgraphia is to understand the condition. Dysgraphia is not simply messy handwriting; it is a neurological disorder that affects the ability to coordinate fine motor skills required for writing. Educate yourself about dysgraphia, its symptoms, and how it may impact your child’s learning experience. When my oldest was diagnosed with dysgraphia (after a diagnosis with dyslexia and dyscalculia!) I had no idea what it was or how to help him.

Seek Professional Evaluation

If you suspect that your child has dysgraphia, it is crucial to seek a professional evaluation. A qualified occupational therapist or educational psychologist can assess your child’s writing abilities and provide valuable insights. A proper diagnosis will help you understand your child’s specific challenges and guide your approach to support.

Often, homeschooling families don’t want to involve outside evaluators or therapists, but when your child is struggling, getting them the help they need is important.

Adapt the Learning Environment

Creating an optimal learning environment is essential for students with dysgraphia. Thankfully, homeschooling allows you to make any adjustments your child needs. Here are some things that might help (not remediate, just help):

Provide a Comfortable Workspace

Ensure that the desk and chair are ergonomically appropriate for your child’s size and needs. A well-fitted chair with proper back support can improve posture and reduce fatigue.

Minimize Distractions

Create a quiet and organized space that minimizes distractions. Cluttered surroundings can overwhelm a student with dysgraphia and affect their focus.

Use Appropriate Lighting

Good lighting is crucial for visibility. Natural light or a well-lit room can help your child see their work clearly.

Utilize Assistive Technology

Assistive technology can be a game-changer for students with dysgraphia. It provides alternative means of written expression and reduces the physical demands of handwriting. 

Here are some useful tools that we have used that might help your child as well.

Word Processors

Encourage your child to use word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. These platforms offer features like spell check, grammar correction, and word prediction, which can support writing skills.

Speech-to-Text Software

Consider using speech recognition software like Dragon Naturally Speaking or Google Docs Voice Typing. This technology allows your child to dictate their thoughts, which can be particularly helpful for long writing assignments.

Graphic Organizers

Visual aids such as mind maps, flowcharts, or graphic organizers can help students with dysgraphia organize their thoughts before writing. They provide a structured framework that can improve writing coherence. I used this one a lot with my son when he was learning to write longer paragraphs.

Provide Writing Tools and Adaptations

Choosing the right writing tools can make a significant difference for students with dysgraphia. Here are some that might help.

Pencil Grips

Experiment with different types of pencil grips to find one that provides optimal comfort and control for your child.

Raised-line Paper

Raised-line paper has tactile lines that can help students write more neatly and stay within the lines.

Slant Boards

Slant boards can improve posture and wrist positioning while writing. They provide a slanted surface that reduces strain on the hand and arm.

Break Tasks into Manageable Chunks

Writing assignments can be overwhelming for students with dysgraphia. Break down tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to alleviate anxiety and ensure success. Set realistic goals and celebrate achievements along the way.

In all honesty, this is something that you should be doing for all of your children, whether they have dysgraphia or another learning disability or not! It can help them immensely!

Encourage Keyboarding Skills

Developing keyboarding skills can be beneficial for students with dysgraphia. Typing allows them to focus on generating ideas rather than struggling with handwriting mechanics. Consider incorporating typing lessons or online typing programs into your homeschooling curriculum.

Remember, handwriting practice sheets are not going to “cure” dysgraphia! Your student needs other ways to get their ideas across in a printed way.

Foster Self-Advocacy

Empower your child to advocate for themselves and communicate their needs effectively. Teach them about dysgraphia and encourage them to speak up if they require accommodations or assistance. Don’t be afraid to tell them they have dysgraphia!

A lot of people who have an undiagnosed, unexpected learning disability think that there’s something inherently wrong with them or that they’re not intelligent. That’s not the case with dysgraphia (or dyslexia or dyscalculia!)! The brain processes things differently for them, but their intelligence is not diminished.

Self-advocacy skills will serve them well throughout their academic careers.

Include Multisensory Activities

Engaging in multisensory activities can enhance learning for students with dysgraphia. Incorporate hands-on experiences, visual aids, auditory cues, and kinesthetic learning techniques into your lessons. This approach stimulates multiple senses and reinforces learning.

Celebrate Effort and Progress

Recognize and celebrate your child’s efforts and progress in overcoming dysgraphia-related challenges. Encouragement and positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivation to continue striving for improvement.

Supporting students with dysgraphia requires patience, understanding, and tailored strategies. By creating an accommodating learning environment, utilizing assistive technology, providing adaptive tools, breaking tasks into manageable chunks, fostering self-advocacy, and celebrating progress, homeschooling parents can help their children with dysgraphia thrive academically and personally.

Remember that every student is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Stay attuned to your child’s needs, communicate openly with them, and adjust your approach as necessary. With your support and commitment, your child can overcome the challenges of dysgraphia and achieve their full potential in the homeschooling setting.

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Strategies for Homeschooling a Child with ADHD https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/strategies-homeschooling-child-adhd/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/strategies-homeschooling-child-adhd/#comments Tue, 26 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=21732 Homeschooling a child with ADHD has its own challenges. Here are 3 strategies that can help you create a working homeschool, one that supports you, and more importantly, your child.

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When a child has learning challenges like ADHD, they may find it hard to fit into the regular public school system. Parents may get frustrated that their child is not progressing as they would have hoped, and the child may feel like they are failing at everything that they try. Although, in some cases, there are supports and opportunities for these kids to thrive in the system, there are also cases where this is far from the truth. Homeschooling a child with ADHD has its challenges.

Strategies for Homeschooling a Child with ADHD

A Diagnosis of ADHD

When my first son received his diagnosis of ADHD from his psychoeducational assessment, both the doctor and psychologist told us the same thing. Either we change the child to fit the environment, or we change the environment to fit the child.

Little did they know that I would take this as literally as I did as we pulled our son out of the public school system and started homeschooling at the beginning of grade one.

Homeschooling a Child with ADHD is Not Like Homeschooling a Child Without

Homeschooling a child with ADHD is not like homeschooling a neurotypical child. There are some real differences, and many things need to be taken into account before the decision to homeschool is taken on.

One of the first things to consider is that ADHD kids tend to be more intense and need much more attention themselves; you will be helping them right into Jr. High and High School. There is no leaving a workbook on the table and having them finish it without you present.

Knowing this before you take homeschooling on is a very important point to consider.

So, let’s just assume that you have decided to homeschool a child with ADHD. I have 3 strategies that can help you create a working homeschool, one that supports you and, more importantly, your child.

Routine Routine Routine

ADHD brains need routine. This doesn’t mean a strict schedule with every minute mapped out (although that is what one psychologist told me to do) that doesn’t work in homeschooling. Having to micro-manage every moment will burn you out faster than anything else.

A routine would include meals, study times, free time, and perhaps some chores. For us, our routine is getting up in the morning, looking at the morning basket, having breakfast, school work time, lunch, and then pretty much free time in the afternoon, we do some more school work after dinner.

ADHD kids really can’t handle a lot of information all at once, so giving them big brain breaks will make them more likely to stay focused and retain what they have learned.

Use That Hyper-Focus

People with ADHD have a tendency to hyperfocus on concepts that they really enjoy. This means that they cannot turn the learning off and feel a need to learn absolutely everything about that subject until they feel they have mastered it or until something else grasps their attention. Use this.

Even something as simple as Pokemon can be used to teach other concepts. Play the game to learn math, write stories to cover English, do science experiments, or research the different elemental types that are present. Intrinsic learning is what most homeschoolers have as a goal in their child, nurture it.

Let Go Of Your Expectations for that Perfect Homeschool

One of the hardest lessons that I learned, personally, about my own homeschool and ADHD is that my kids don’t fit in that round hole. There are many different curriculums and classes that are very popular with the vast majority of homeschoolers. However, some kids (especially those with exceptionalities) just don’t do well with them.

Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses and plan your homeschool accordingly. As much as you want to use a certain curriculum or teaching method because it makes sense to YOU doesn’t mean that it’s going to make sense to your child. Stop looking at other homeschoolers for comparison. If their children are neurotypical, there is none.

Lastly, find others who are in the same boat as you are. Join special needs forums; ADHD is an exceptionality, and finding the proper support for yourself will help your child. Homeschooling a child with ADHD can be hard for your mental health, so make sure that you are taking care of yourself. And as always, if you feel like you can’t cope or it isn’t working, please reach out to professionals and change it up.

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Yes, You Can Homeschool A Child With Special Needs https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschool-with-special-needs/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschool-with-special-needs/#comments Mon, 25 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=24404 Please, let me assure you - yes! You can homeschool a child with special needs. Homeschooling has been one of the best decisions we've made for our kids.

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When my son was first diagnosed with special needs (autism), we had already made the decision to homeschool.

Yes You Can Homeschool Your Special Needs Child

From my perspective, knowing his diagnosis affirmed our decision to educate my son at home. It explained his constant meltdowns in the morning. It gave me a sense of how difficult navigating the public school environment must have been for him.

But in the haze of appointments and therapies, I remember being asked the same type of question over and over again – “Can you homeschool a child with special needs?” or “Will you have to put him back in school now that he had a diagnosis?” 

No matter how confident I felt about our decision, the reality is that many well-meaning professionals have no idea what it means to homeschool a child. Most are not aware of state laws and accommodations. The majority of families they see are in traditional school environments.

Thus, the near-constant questioning. It was overwhelming and, honestly, pretty terrifying.

Can You Really Homeschool A Child With Special Needs?

Nine years later, I can say with 100% certainty the answer is yes.

Although I had no way of knowing it at the time, our decision to homeschool has been one of the best we’ve made for my children with special needs.

I want to share the greatest benefits we have experienced, but before I do, want to address some of the common misconceptions of homeschooling kids with special needs.

Common Misconceptions Of Homeschooling A Child With Special Needs

1. It’s illegal.

Although state laws vary in terms of requirements, it is legal to homeschool children with special needs in all 50 states.

2. Children with special needs need the “experts.”

I went to school to be a special education teacher. Please, let me assure you I did not learn anything more than the very basics, and I had to learn those basics for a large number of diagnoses and needs. Most of my education centered around classroom and group behavior management – something that is not a concern at home.

The truth is, you can and will fast become the expert on your child’s diagnosis, learning style, and needs.

3. You need special qualifications and diplomas.

Again, every state has different qualifications and requirements for homeschool teacher education. Beyond any formal education requirements, I want to assure you that there are a vast number of resources available to help parents learn strategies for successfully homeschooling a child with special needs.

Benefits Of Homeschooling A Child With Special Needs

What has surprised me most since we first began our homeschooling journey is just how appropriate learning at home is for my children with special needs. Here are just a few of the benefits we have experienced.

Self-Confidence

The greatest impact we have seen is in how much my sons have been able to maintain a positive self-image and confidence in their own ability to learn. Because they are not constantly compared to their peers, they are able to progress at their own pace. I find this to be invaluable as my boys mature into men.

Homeschooling also allows us to focus on our children’s strengths rather than having them feel a constant focus on the areas that are most difficult for them.

Individualized Attention

When I was student teaching, I left the school every day overwhelmed and, honestly, sad. There were 11 children in my classroom, all with varying needs and diagnoses. I remember thinking, “If I could just spend some time with each of them one-on-one, I think I could really help them make progress.” Unfortunately, a special education classroom provides limited opportunities for one-on-one attention and learning.

Exactly the opposite is true at home. I can tailor learning as needed based on my individual son’s needs. For example, my youngest son is profoundly dyslexic and learns best in hands-on, tactile ways. I take his reading practice outside, and we jump from sight word to sight word in a hopscotch square for practice. This allows him to retain more than the standard approach a traditional classroom is forced to take.

Decreased Stress (for child and parent!)

My son fought me every single morning for two school years. Seriously, every single morning. Add homework demands and the constant emails and paperwork from the school, and what we had was a very stressed-out family dynamic.

Homeschooling has decreased the stress substantially in our home. Although I do feel the increased pressure of being solely responsible for my sons’ learning, the truth is life is much more enjoyable and relaxed than it ever was when we were in school.

Homeschooling A Child With Special Needs

If you are considering homeschooling your child with special needs, please let me assure you that homeschooling is a viable and beneficial educational option.

If you already are homeschooling a child with special needs, I want you to know your hard work matters. In my experience, the benefits far outweigh any other option we have considered.

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What Homeschooling Gifted Kids Entails https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschooling-gifted-kids-entails/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschooling-gifted-kids-entails/#respond Tue, 13 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=19332 Homeschooling gifted and twice-exceptional (gifted with special needs) learners is a wonderful way to allow your child to soar, but it is not all sunshine and roses, as some people believe. Being prepared for what you may encounter is the best way to begin homeschooling your gifted child.

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What is Giftedness? Giftedness is a neurological diagnosis. It is not a “better than”; it’s just a different and often divergent ability to view and experience the world differently due to non-typical neurological makeup.

What Homeschooling Gifted Kids Entails

The National Association for Gifted Children defines giftedness as such:

“Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports).”

Homeschooling gifted and twice-exceptional (gifted with special needs) learners is a wonderful way to allow your child to soar, but it is not all sunshine and roses, as some people believe. Being prepared for what you may encounter is the best way to begin homeschooling your gifted child.

Common Myths about Giftedness

Common Myths about Giftedness

The truth about giftedness:

  • Gifted children are often perfectionists and idealists and associate achievement with self-worth. This leads to fear of failure interfering with achievement.
  • Gifted children are asynchronous. This means that different abilities develop at different times, often with significant differences in mental capability and emotional maturity.
  • All children are a gift, but giftedness is a neurological diagnosis that indicates an ability to think and process differently from neuro-typical people.
  • Some gifted children also have special needs: medical, physical, and learning. The education-speak term is twice-exceptional.
  • There is nothing easier about raising a gifted child.

Obstacles to Homeschooling a Gifted Child

Obstacles to Homeschooling a Gifted Child

Adjusting for Asynchrony

Asynchrony is one of the hallmarks of giftedness. These tips will help you adjust your expectations when dealing with asynchrony.

  • Boxed Curriculum rarely fits
  • Each subject may be at a different level
  • Your child’s cognition may be far ahead of their writing capability
  • Twice-exceptional students and profoundly gifted students are more likely to have wide ranges of asynchrony
  • It is common for gifted children to lack executive function skills to varying degrees
  • Hands-on learning is a good way to help asynchronous learners succeed
Who was Dabrowski and What are Overexcitabilities?

Dabrowski and Overexcitabilities

Kazimierz Dabrowski was a Polish psychiatrist and psychologist who wrote prolifically about his ideas from 1929 until his death in 1980. Gifted children usually have multiple overexcitabilities, though one is generally more prominent than the others, and these overexcitabilies can cause gifted children to appear highly sensitive. The five overexcitabilites are:

Psychomotor

These are your movers. Kids with extraordinary amounts of energy but who can hyper-focus when intellectually stimulated enough. They can be fast talkers, have nervous tics, and often have trouble calming their mind to go to sleep.

Sensual

These are your texture/sound/light-sensitive kids. They love deep pressure, hate walking barefoot on grass, and may have intense reactions to certain tastes or smells. These are also the children who are deeply moved, sometimes to tears, by art, writing, or music.

Imaginational

Visual thinkers, poets, and your absent-minded professor-type children. They may have imaginary friends, and their imaginative play is always remarkable and complex. Vivid dreamers and often worriers.

Intellectual

These are your “stereotypical” gifted kids. Great at logic, reasoning, puzzles, etc. They are generally avid readers, love learning, and soak up knowledge of many varieties. They are independent thinkers and will often question to the point of seeming like they are challenging their instructor, but it is their deep desire for knowledge pushing them to ask more questions.

Emotional

These children are extremely emotionally sensitive. They have large swings of emotions and have physical symptoms of their feelings like head or stomach aches, anxiety, and a very black-and-white sense of justice and right and wrong.

Helpful Ways to Deal with Intensities

  • Celebrate your child’s ability to empathize
  • Set aside a quiet time every day – intense children often have trouble falling or staying asleep and need downtime to regroup
  • Help your child find outlets for intense emotions like art, music, or writing
  • Find physical outlets for your child’s extreme energy

How to Handle Your Child’s Rapidly Changing Interests

How to Handle Your Child's Rapidly Changing Interests

A note on the rewards and consequences – often, even with young gifted children, reasoning works once the child is calm. Then you can allow the child to help determine an appropriate consequence for their infraction.

Challenging Gifted Children to Keep Them Engaged

Keeping your gifted child engaged at an appropriate level can often be exhausting. Figuring out the level at which to start them can be confounding. Here are some ideas to help:

  • Follow their lead on what is academically appropriate. Keep the lines of communication open to avoid behavioral meltdowns. Ask yourself if they are engaged. Would activities help to make this subject more interesting, or do they need a more in-depth study?
  • Utilize hands-on activities, and lots of them
  • Games are a great way to include learning that is fun and challenging. Game schooling is a terrific way to keep the learning going when everyone needs a break or to help calm down a day that has gotten off-track.
  • Explore different learning styles and teaching methods and find what works for your student. This could be different for different subjects.

How to Fund the Varying Interests and Hobbies of Gifted Kids

How to Fund the Varying Interests and Hobbies of Gifted Kids

Discerning Defiance from Cries for Help

Often, executive function skills that are underdeveloped can look like willful disobedience. Executive function and self-regulating skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.

  • Try and find out the root of the issue
  • Is this issue subject-specific? If so, perhaps the method or curricula you are using is not a good fit.
  • Is your child genuinely upset over the issue?
  • What systems have you put in place? Visual reminders, timers, and apps can all be useful tools. You child may also need a designated “calm down” area where they can go when they are upset to safely get out their frustrations and calm down. Having communication rules is very important when dealing with intense kids.
  • Does the behavior look like a “can’t” or a “won’t”?

Ultimately, our goal is to provide our children with the tools they need to succeed. And you can absolutely do this by homeschooling your gifted child!

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5 Tips For a Sensory-Friendly Independence Day https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/5-tips-sensory-friendly-independence-day/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/5-tips-sensory-friendly-independence-day/#respond Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=19314 Independence Day is synonymous with fireworks, back yard cookouts, pool parties and beach trips. Fun in the sun! However, for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or even a sensory sensitivity, this can be an overwhelming season. Noise, sun, sweat, or scratchy sand between the toes can cause sensory overload. The next thing you know your sweet child is melting down faster than a popsicle in the sunshine.

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Independence Day is synonymous with fireworks, backyard cookouts, pool parties, and beach trips. Fun in the sun! However, for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or even a sensory sensitivity, this can be an overwhelming season. Noise, sun, sweat, or scratchy sand between the toes can cause sensory overload.

The next thing you know, your sweet child is melting down faster than a popsicle in the sunshine.

5 Tips For a Sensory-Friendly Independence Day

The good news is there are lots of ways to make Independence Day a fun time for the whole family, even your sensory-sensitive child. All it takes is a little preparation and patience. Here are my best 5 tips for a sensory-friendly Independence Day. I’ve used all of these with success for my sensitive kids.

Prepare Your Child For The Activities

This sounds simple, but it’s easy to overlook, especially if you’re a spontaneous parent who likes to hop in the car for impromptu trips. My middle son needs to know the daily schedule to feel most comfortable. We talk about where we’ll be going, what we’ll be doing, and what he can expect.

Let your child know if they will see friends at your destination. Tell them if there will be bright lights or loud sounds. Even little details can help – like if they’ll be walking on sand or gravel.

However, be sure to share in a fun way. “We’ll get to stomp across the crunchy gravel parking lot to go watch the parade.” Sounds much more fun than, “Now, there’s going to be gravel in the parking lot, and I don’t want you to freak out!.”

Phrasing it in a happy way gives your child the opportunity to look forward to this sensory experience as a bonus or a game.

Arm Yourself with Toys and Tools

I’ve found it super helpful to pack a “preparedness bag.” Sometimes our kids just need to stay well-fed and hydrated to avoid a meltdown. Other times, they need tools to comfort their specific sensory needs or toys to distract them from overwhelming stimuli. Items I usually pack are:

  • Snacks! A sampling of everything from crunchy to chewy and sweet to salty.
  • Drinks. Kids can’t always recognize when they’re feeling dehydrated. Stay away from sugar and caffeine as much as possible.
  • Chew toys. Sometimes, even older children chew to relieve tension. Chic teething necklaces are a great way to disguise this need for older girls.
  • Coloring books, crayons, and/or chalk.
  • Fidget toys. These can be anything from silly putty to finger spinners to squeeze balls.
  • Noise-canceling headphones if I know there will be auditory chaos.

Party At Home

My daughter is extremely sensitive to noise. In the past, we’ve opted to stay home on Independence Day rather than attempt to take in the large community fireworks display. But again, we make it fun! It’s not about what we’re missing out on, we focus on what we’re gaining. 

We spend the day enjoying at-home summertime activities. That usually includes fun in the hose or pool. Confession – I’ve often bought a special backyard water toy just for Independence Day.

We also make special treats like a flag cake or homemade frozen fruit pops. Or engage in a fun Netflix binge of our favorite family-friendly shows – with lots of popcorn, of course.

Early Bed Time

We have a relatively early bedtime around here, and we keep it that way, even in the summer. This helps tremendously on Independence Day because it means I can get my kids in bed and settled before the noise of community fireworks (or crazy neighbor fireworks) can frighten them.

I also try to muffle the pops and bangs with a sound machine, audiobook, or classical music playing in the background as they sleep.

If your children don’t have an early bedtime. Consider having a family movie night during the prime fireworks time.

Be Available

Lastly, be available. Again, that might sound simple, but it can be difficult if you’re hosting a party. Or if, let’s face it, it’s your first time chatting with other adults in over a week, and you just want to relax!

Now is not the time to expect our kids to “just play” or to have an uninterrupted evening with hubby. It can be frustrating to have to be “on” all the time. But remember, your child needs you. They aren’t being difficult on purpose. They are genuinely overwhelmed, scared, or upset.

I often have to remind myself how I feel when I’m upset and someone shrugs it off or minimizes my pain. I can tell you, it doesn’t help the situation. So, I try to be my child’s healthy support rather than being frustrated. Emphasis on try because I’m not perfect either.

With a little preparation, work, and patience, your whole family – yes, even your sensory child – can have a sensory-friendly Independence Day!

Do you have a sensory-sensitive child? How do you help them with their unique needs and issues?

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7 Simple Strategies to Homeschool Gifted Kids Well https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschool-gifted-kids/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschool-gifted-kids/#respond Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=25421 Yes, you can homeschool gifted kids and provide them with all the things they need to thrive academically and socially. These tips will help.

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Yes, you CAN homeschool gifted kids! In fact, you can do it quite well since homeschooling affords you the wonderful opportunity to meet unique needs perfectly.

7 Simple Strategies to Homeschool Gifted Kids Well

While each family’s situation certainly requires homeschooling to be tailored to specific needs, there are some very common trials that parents face in teaching gifted students that I’d like to tackle today. 

How To Homeschool Gifted Kids

The questions I hear most often from parents of gifted children are:

  • What do I do when my child devours every curriculum I provide?
  • How will I homeschool well when my child knows more than I do?
  • How is it possible that my child is gifted AND struggles in some areas academically?
  • How can I deal with the intense emotions of my gifted child?

While we could chat over a cup of tea on any one of these topics for quite some time, I’ll give you seven quick and relatively simple tips to help you move on from the fears and homeschool well.

1. Let the Curriculum be Devoured

If your child is happy to devour curriculum and you have the means to purchase more, by all means, do so. You can do this in a variety of ways. For example, you can simply buy the next level in whatever curriculum you’re currently using. Or, as another example, you can find a different curriculum that may teach similar concepts in a new way with different types of assignments. 

If you don’t care to spend more money or you have another reason for holding back on the next level (like the maturity of the material), you can always encourage books, documentaries, field trips, and other non-curriculum options to devour instead. You’ll be surprised at how much “additional” learning your gifted child can find for him/herself when given a little freedom (and sometimes a nudge) to do so.

2. Encourage Depth and Breadth

Another way to “feed” the child who devours curriculum is to expect more depth and breadth to the learning. (This can also be a nice tactic for children who get bored with “regular” assignments.)

Let’s say your child finished an entire chapter of the history book in an hour – and based on the teacher’s guide, that chapter should have taken a couple of weeks to get through. Now is your child’s chance to shine as you expect him/her to dig deeper, go further, and become an expert on the topic…then PROVE to you their expertise through some kind of project.

In our home, we call this project-based learning. The concept is simple. Your child can go to any variety of sources to learn more about something from the chapter that was intriguing. Once enough new information is gathered to be considered an “expert”, your child can complete any number of projects to showcase the knowledge. The projects can certainly be tailored to whatever strengths and interests your child has. For instance, if your child loves making movies, he/she can make a movie clip to present the information. Or, if your child is a prolific writer, he/she can write a newspaper article to share the information.

Not only does project-based learning help your child hang out a little while longer rather than just devouring curriculum, it provides a great opportunity to take ownership of learning and work in ways that spark joy and creativity.

3. Utilize Expert Teachers

Sometimes, gifted kids just keep devouring curriculum and get ahead of our understanding of a particular subject pretty quickly. In this case, I always seek out teachers who can take over. This can be as simple as taking a field trip so the resident expert can field my child’s questions without skipping a beat. Or, we might join a co-op/class/group/camp with teachers and others who have a knack for a certain subject.

Online or in-person, single mentors or groups, free or paid (sometimes dearly) – I am EVER-SO-THANKFUL for the people who have stepped into my children’s lives and taken them one (or twenty) steps further than I ever could have.

4. Be Okay With Incongruent Strengths

I’m not sure I’ve met a gifted kid (or adult) yet who doesn’t have some incongruent strengths and weaknesses. Some will be reading on a high school level and completing math on a 1st-grade level. Some will be masterful musicians but throw tantrums well into their teens. Not all incongruencies have to be quite so drastic, of course. In fact, gifted or not, everyone has strengths and weaknesses…and that’s ok. 

I’ve always tried to be frank with my children and let them know (kindly) where strengths and weaknesses are. It gives us a chance to celebrate the strengths and work together on strategies to build the weaknesses. When children take ownership of the weaknesses, it’s much easier to get them to be “all in” on whatever steps we take to overcome them.

5. Work On Weaknesses

One way I’ve found to overcome weaknesses – whether academic, functional, or emotional – is the practice of brain training. That’s a simple little phrase to encompass physical exercises and game-like activities that build neurons and strengthen executive functioning skills.

Executive functioning skills like attention, memory, comprehension, processing, and logical thinking all work together to help us learn better, think better, and act better. Brain training is one of my go-to methods for working on any weakness in gifted kids. Of course, if there was a problem with spelling, I would utilize phonics, hands-on lessons, and spelling rules to specifically work on the issue. But, I would be working through brain training activities at the same time to build the muscles in the brain so that the phonics, hands-on lessons, and spelling rules have a better job of “sticking.”

6. Work on Intensities

Brain training is a FOR SURE tactic I use when dealing with intense behaviors, perfectionist tendencies, and anxieties that often accompany giftedness. The exercises and games go a LONG way in ordering the brain so that logical thinking about behaviors and emotions wins in the end.

I’ve never been one to over-excuse the intensities of my children. Not that I’m insensitive at all! However, I’ve made it my mission as a mom to help my children understand that good character trumps acting out based on feelings. While it’s okay to have certain feelings, it’s not okay to do anything we want with those feelings. So, a good dose of discipline goes alongside a generous dose of understanding. Working on strategies for dealing with the intensities is a must, too.

7. Get Help When Necessary

There may come a time when academic struggles, learning disabilities, and/or emotional intensities require a little more intervention. Never be afraid to ask for professional help from a doctor or therapist. Catching and working on these issues earlier than later will provide your child with the best chance to completely overcome them in the future!

I sure hope these seven tips will help you homeschool gifted kids with more confidence. If you’d like to dig deeper into meeting the academic needs of your gifted student, I’d be overjoyed for you to read Homeschooling Gifted Kids: A Practical Guide to Educate and Motivate Your Advanced Learners (available on Amazon). In the book, I have shared all sorts of teaching strategies for gifted, creative, struggling, bored, and overzealous students. If you read it, I would LOVE to hear what you think! 

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Reasons Homeschool is Better Than Public School for My Gifted Child https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/gifted-homeschooling/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/gifted-homeschooling/#respond Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:01:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/?p=35534 Are you considering homeschooling your gifted child? Learn more about the pros and cons of gifted homeschooling from a mom who knows!

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Are you considering homeschooling your gifted child? Learn more about the pros and cons of gifted homeschooling from a mom who knows!

Reasons Why Homeschool is Better than Public School for My Gifted Child -

You could have never convinced me I would be homeschooling. I live in an excellent school district – so good, in fact, that it was the exact same school I attended as a child.

I personally knew members of the school staff, teachers, and the superintendent was one of my former high school instructors.

The stars had aligned, and my son’s public school experience was going to be perfect… until it wasn’t anymore.

I had a kid with a special need that could not be met, and it was up to Mama to step in and fix it.

Gifted From the Start

Let me set the stage for you.

A four-year-old boy enters preschool…

  • Reading on a third-grade level
  • Using mental math with all four basic operations as a magic trick for anyone who wanted to quiz him.
  • For fun, the kid memorizes the digits of Pi.
  • He speaks two languages and is trying to teach himself a third.
  • He’s musically talented and plays piano by ear.

But…

  • The sound of the school’s flushing toilet scares him, and he won’t go potty alone.
  • He insists on being the boss of his classroom.
  • Unicorns are a trigger. Why? We will probably never know.
  • He is the world’s pickiest eater, and school lunch is a disaster daily.
  • Drop off and pick up is an anxiety-filled, emotionally draining occasion for both of us.

Something had to give. My normally happy, well-adjusted, and gifted son hated school. They did everything they could to accommodate him, but we simply weren’t a good fit. 

Maybe it was too early for formal schooling; maybe he just wasn’t ready.

The school’s Gifted Specialist sent him home with worksheets full of mental puzzles and math riddles. Enough was enough.

If my story is resonating with you and somewhere in the back of your mind, you feel as if you’ve been here before, you may want to consider doing what I did. 

Taking the Step to Homeschool

We withdrew from the school system.

And we haven’t looked back.

That four-year-old boy is now eight and thriving at home as a third grader (we did a grade skip this year). As his mother and first and most important teacher (with the help and support of my husband), I have a happy kid that spends his days exploring knowledge.

I’ve spent tons of time learning everything that I could about homeschooling and gifted education, racking up more hours than the average classroom teacher in Professional Development.

For my gifted child, homeschooling was simply better. Here’s why.

Social-Emotional Learning

I can address his social-emotional learning directly.

By putting him into a public school setting and not addressing his individual needs, he was left to sink or swim.

Parents of gifted learners realize from an early age that these kids refuse to do either, and they question everything.

When my brand-new homeschooler avoided public restrooms, I created a unit study on the toilet and gave him a crash course on the physics involved and the public water works system. We haven’t had a problem with the restroom since.

Individualized Gifted Homeschooling

I can individualize his learning.

My son was all over the place. Back in Kindergarten, he could barely write but was reading everything. 

He was also competing in international Math Competitions a full grade ahead of his age. He loved mechanics and coding.

I took the things that he struggled with and slowed him down. 

For his age and stage of development, I wouldn’t expect his handwriting to be perfect, so I chose a curriculum that would help him with basic letter formation until he gained hand strength.

As unschoolers, child-led learning is a big focus, so if he wanted to advance in math and science, I let him, but I focused on reading aloud age-appropriate books and emphasized comprehension.

Competition and Leadership

I allow my son to lead and compete.

He will probably never get over his “bossiness,” but I can help him learn about compassion, empathy, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

The biggest misconception is that homeschoolers lack social skills. The same holds true for a lot of misunderstood, gifted children.

In the public school system, the stereotype is that the nerd gets bullied.

In my home, there obviously isn’t any bullying, and he’s encouraged to be himself so that when we are out having playdates, sports, or classes, self-confidence is not a problem.

If I see any bullying (even from him), I can also immediately address the issue and talk about it constructively – no disciplinary action is necessary.

Family Bonding

We can bond better as a family.

My picky eater makes a lot of his own meals now. Meal times remained a struggle for a while until I understood that this, too, was part of his bodily autonomy.

Our family forces less and explains more.  In turn, my son rewards us with trust. I get to sleep late and cuddle with my kid and talk about how propane tanks are manufactured (a real topic of discussion in my house).

We spend lots of time in nature. I’m teaching him to forage and identify plants, and we are both very happy.

Just thinking about how much I would be missing if he were at school for eight hours a day is unbelievable to me now. I enjoy watching him learn to play golf, or code a robot, or learn more digits of Pi. This life is pretty sweet, and my husband and I think that this kid is pretty cool.

Whatever your reasons for considering homeschooling for your gifted learner, just know nothing is easy. It will take work. But committing to working together with your kid to meet their needs is well worth all the effort.  

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The Truth about Special Needs Homeschooling https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/truth-about-special-needs-homeschooling/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/truth-about-special-needs-homeschooling/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:01:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=27070 Are you thinking of special needs homeschooling your kids? This post will give you an idea of what it entails and give you the confidence to go for it!

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Special needs homeschooling was the right decision for us. There were many reasons that made us decide to follow this path, and we are very happy to be able to offer this to our twin boys.

That being said, it is not without its challenges and disappointments. And it definitely requires oodles of patience, hope, and courage.

So if you are considering special needs homeschooling for your kids, then I hope this post will help you see what is involved in teaching your special needs kids at home.

The Truth About Special Needs Homeschooling

The Transition to Special Needs Homeschooling can be Difficult

If your child was or is in school, then the transition from school to homeschool can be a tough one.

We knew that school was not right for our boys because it was extremely traumatic. But it took them a long time to get their heads around being at home and learning at home.

I think a period of deschooling is vital for both you and your children. And don’t be alarmed if it takes a long time. Our deschooling process took a year and a half!

Special needs kids are generally not that flexible or happy with change, so they could need a lot more time to decompress and accept the new norm.

Plan to Be Flexible

I know this sounds like a contradiction in terms. But planning and flexibility are both important in ensuring a successful special needs homeschool routine.

Special needs kids have special needs. So what might work for someone else, might not work for them.

We’ve had to be flexible in a lot of ways, from curricula to the number of hours our kids ‘learn’ in a day, for example. And there could be therapies and appointments to fit in too.

The planning part comes in when you think about what is working and what isn’t. It’s a good idea to try and take stock every couple of months. And then plan (budget, time, etc.) for any changes that you might need to make.

Self-Care Is a Priority

Special needs homeschooling takes a lot of energy and patience.

You might need to go over the same work a few times. Or your child might be a reluctant learner.

My one child has difficulty sleeping due to anxiety. So sometimes, we take time off so that we can all recover and be less like zombies. And I think this is an important part of the process.

You need to prioritize self-care because it is easy to burn out.

And I would also suggest letting go of expectations and pressure, from within and from other people. This takes more energy than you will probably be able to give! And it really doesn’t bring anything positive.

You will Probably Need a Village

Your village could come in a number of different forms. But believe me; you are going to need help.

My tribe is online because I live in a town that doesn’t have a homeschooling community. It may seem strange, but the connections I’ve made through Instagram, have been amazing! They are a supportive, inspiring, and knowledgeable group of people who I can turn to when I’m stuck or feeling low.

So if you can enlist the help of family and friends, a physical homeschooling community, or one online, I suggest doing so. There are always going to be people who are in the same situation as you or who have conquered the problem you are grappling with. And they could give you a different point of view or just a hug.

Special Needs Homeschooling Is a Viable Option

So, in conclusion, I would say that you can successfully homeschool your special needs child. It may be difficult and exhausting, but you are bound to see some great improvements.

When you find the magic mix that suits your child, you will see them flourish and grow in confidence. And this makes all the tough parts of the job so worth it!

Are you thinking about homeschooling your special needs child? What are some things you are curious or worried about? I would love to hear and help if I can. So please drop them in the comments below.

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Do These Three Simple Exercises Before Math Lessons https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/exercises-before-math/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/exercises-before-math/#respond Mon, 26 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com//?p=25085 Do you have a child who is struggling with math? Try these simple midline exercises that activate both sides of the brain.

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Do you have a child who is struggling with math? Try these simple midline exercises before math that activate both sides of the brain.

Do These Three Simple Exercises Before Math Lessons

About ten years ago, I was struggling with teaching my son. He was language delayed and had several learning issues. At that time, he was undiagnosed, and I was researching everything I could get my hands on to find something that would help him. I found a couple of authors that really helped, and I’d like to share some of what I learned. There are exercises that can actually help your child learn math!

To be completely honest, I was a little worried that the research might be unfounded. After all, how can simple exercises really help? But then I really studied it, and everything made perfect sense.

Since that time, there has been a lot of research done on the right brain/left brain. Simply put, you want to do “midline” exercises to activate both sides of the brain. One of the interesting points that I learned was that if a baby doesn’t crawl much before progressing right into walking, they might struggle more. This is because crawling actually exercises the right and left brain, otherwise known as “crossover”. I will provide some great resources on learning, but if you need some simple movements that you can use right now, I’ll share a few with you.

Mindful Exercises

Crawl

Yes, I do mean actually getting on the floor and crawling. My son would never want to do this, so I ended up making an obstacle course or a tunnel for him to crawl through. Make sure that the right hand is extended when the left knee goes forward. Remember, the objective is getting both sides of the body moving in conjunction.

Hand to Knee

This is similar to an exercise many people do to whittle down the waist where they take the elbow and then raise the opposite knee to touch it, elbow to knee. This results in the waist twisting and should help trim it down. You can use the elbow, but I usually have the child to touch with the hand to the opposite raised knee. We usually do this a total of ten times, five on each side.

Calf Stretch, Arm Reach

Stand upright and place hands on hips. Slightly bend your right knee while extending your left foot back and toes on the ground. As you extend your left foot back, reach forward with your right hand, palm in front of you. Pretend you are pushing against a wall with your hand. If it helps, you can actually do this exercise against a wall. As you push your palm forward, stretch your opposite calf out by pushing your heel into the floor. Relax and then repeat three times. Now do the other side.

Resources for Brain Exercises

Anything you can find by Paul and Gail Dennison will be amazing! I have the orange Brain Gym book, which is great to read with your child. There are hand-drawn illustrations, and the book is written from a child’s point of view. I will say that a few of the exercises seem a little questionable (more humanistic implied than what we do), but there is a ton of useful movements.

Now the internet is a valuable resource. Brain World has an article that lists a few more exercises. The blog over at Brain Balance Centers also shares some movements along with some great articles. They refer to a book, Disconnected Kids, that looks like it would contain a lot of useful information for children with learning challenges.

While I was looking for more resources, I found some very helpful videos:

(I plan on including this as part of our morning routine.)

She refers to the works of Dr. Dennison!

Try some of these exercises out, and let me know if you notice any results. I teach a geometry class at our co-op and had the students do some exercises before taking a test. Overall, that test day produced some of the highest test scores!

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Why You Should Ignore Grade Levels to Help Your Homeschool Thrive https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/ignore-grade-levels-homeschool/ https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/ignore-grade-levels-homeschool/#respond Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:01:00 +0000 https://ihomeschoolnetwork.com/?p=34675 Children are curious beings! You can ignore grade levels and focus on teaching them a love of learning and the rest will take care of itself. 

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One of the questions my kids get asked often is, “What grade are you in?” It’s also the hardest for them to answer because we don’t follow grade levels, and at any given time they are likely in multiple levels depending on the subject! Here’s why you might want to ignore grade levels in your homeschool so your students will thrive.

Why You Should Ignore Grade Levels So Your Homeschool Will Thrive

A traditional school system prescribes grade levels as a way of grouping students so they can more easily teach a large number of students in a systematic method. It doesn’t mean that everyone is on the same academic level in that group.  

I was an advanced student myself, and I sought a summer learning opportunity that would have pushed me a grade level ahead of my peers. However, my school didn’t offer the next level so actually changing grade levels wasn’t an option. 

As a homeschool family, you have the flexibility that isn’t an option in the traditional setting because your teacher-to-student ratio is so low! Instead of only teaching what your students “should know” based on their age, you can guide them to learn as fast or slow as fits your family!

Learning to Walk and Read

Think of it this way: when a toddler learns to walk there is a range of acceptable ages for that to happen.  I have three students. One of them walked before their first birthday, but another one waited until they were over 18 months old. Both were considered typical.  

What if we replace walking with reading in a 2nd-grade classroom? Consider that their skills are as varied as walking. We would start to worry about the one who was slower to read, but research shows there is a healthy range at which students learn to read. Why are only the early and average readers celebrated?

I have a dyslexic reader. They didn’t learn to read at the same age as their siblings and their reading readiness signs were confusing to me. We took our time and they learned to read in time. All of my kids were reading similar books by age 10 regardless of when the reading clicked, and none of them felt negatively about themselves or about reading as a result, because there’s no reason that they should. 

Focus on a Love of Learning

Grade levels are an important tool for teaching large numbers of students, but in your homeschool, where your class size is much smaller, you don’t need to adhere closely to them. Children are curious beings and will learn whether we teach them or not. Instead of focusing on what they should know based on their age and grade, focus on teaching them a love of learning and the rest will take care of itself.  

Work on being a student of your student and figure out how to teach them the way they learn best. If you are new to homeschooling after some time in a traditional classroom, you may want to spend time finding out what exactly your student knows so you can decide what to teach them next. It’s OK to take a break from formal learning while you make the transition. Before you start learning at home observe what your students learn without you teaching them:

  • Which books do they seek out at the library?
  • What questions do they ask at the dinner table?
  • What do they want to look up on the internet?
  • What themes appear during unstructured playtime?

As you make notes about what your child loves, you can include it in your homeschool, showing your kids that learning doesn’t have to exclude the things they love.  

Encourage Their Passions

I have a child who loves turtles. You would be surprised how often he finds ways to include turtles in his other subjects. The writing program we used for middle school intentionally allows students to choose the topic of their writing assignments. We wrote about Angry Birds and Harry Potter for a whole year!  

I would have told you one of those middle schoolers was a reluctant writer but after writing about Angry Birds for an entire year, suddenly I saw his writing skills grow exponentially because his passion could shine. His encyclopedic knowledge of the topic was now an asset rather than an annoyance or a distraction. Some of the assignments were a challenge for him, but he found for himself that it was worth persevering because he enjoyed the topic of the assignment.

Confidence Beyond the Classroom

I have students with multiple learning disabilities. Grade levels are hard because each child could claim multiple grades depending on the knowledge needed. At our house, we focus less on the grade they should be in and more on learning the next thing needed. This approach has seen each student grow in confidence which stretches beyond the classroom.  

One student has dyscalculia and struggles with math greatly. Working with numbers just doesn’t come naturally to them. Last year, however, in their 4-H robotics club, they found themselves in a lead coder role on the team. The code they wrote had multiple variables and calculations they had to repeatedly adjust throughout the testing. Now as they head into high school they are exploring other Computer Science career options. Math is still hard but they have the confidence to conquer the world because their passion motivated them to persevere and push through.  

We Can’t Teach Them Everything

We can’t teach our kids everything about everything. I have gaps in my own education and I’m learning alongside my kids some days. The greatest thing we can teach our kids in our homeschool is to love learning and how to use the tools around them to gain the knowledge they need to learn what they want.  When we ignore grade levels and teach our kids the next thing they need to know, they also grow in confidence in their own abilities. Confident kids who know how to learn what they need to know are unstoppable. Our kids will change the world.  

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