Today is day 24 finding homeschool curriculum for unique learners. You’ll find the other tips for this new to homeschool boot camp on 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.
When I first started leading classes for new homeschoolers, I thought the most challenging parents I had to help were those with triplets.
Then, numerous parents who are homeschooling children with special needs or unique learners entered my workshops throughout the years.
My journey of understanding their needs began because I do not have a special needs child.
How would it be possible to help somebody if I didn’t have a child with special needs? I did have one child with speech delay so I could sympathize, but it is still not the same.
By helping families that have children with ADHD, dyslexia, processing disorders or autism, I learned that these parents have to be the best advocate for their children.
There is no way another person can fully appreciate what a parent goes through that has a unique learner.
These parents seem to find an inner strength that I admire.
They share with me how their special needs child slapped them in the face because the child didn’t know how to deal with feelings of frustration.
They find a way each day to look past those types of things and go on.
Parents with unique learners are the backbone of the homeschool community.
They know the traditional way of learning in a classroom will not meet the needs of their children, most of whom are very bright.
5 Sanity Savers For Parents of Unique Learners
My best advice to these parents who are determined to homeschool with a hardiness that a lot of us can learn from is this:
1.) There is nobody else, even professionals who knows your child better.
Make it your determination to know EVERYTHING there is to know about your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
2.) Without trying to make you feel defeated, I want you to know that there does not exist curriculum that is just for unique learners.
There is curriculum that is easier to tweak for your learner, but most of it does not fall into the boxed curriculum method..
3.) Do not try to follow the scope and sequence of ANY curriculum.
Children that learn differently develop skills, for example, like reading at a later time. Teach to their strengths.
They may be developmentally ready later for reading but excel at math. Focus on what they can do instead of what they cannot do.
4.) I have learned that visual aids help challenged children chart their progress.
Because a lot of unique learners may also be right brain learners they have to “see” math or “see” language arts.
They can be learners that learn whole to parts, which is opposite of the way that phonics is taught. This is opposite of the way a lot of public schools teach.
For example, phonics is taught through letter sounds put together to form words, then sentences and then paragraphs which is parts to whole words and sentences teaching.
Challenged learners sometimes learn better by seeing the whole picture first or globally, then focus on the parts.
5.) Resources that educate you are far more important in understanding curriculum than looking for years in frustration trying to find curriculum that your child can use.
They help you to turn any resource into something that a unique learner can use.
Homeschool Resources for Teaching Unique Learners
Look for curriculum that is more visual along with learning aids or hands-on that makes it easier to teach children that learn differently.
An example of some of the curriculum resources that parents have used for unique learners are: All About Spelling, Math U See, Living Math, Brave Writer, Handwriting Without Tears, Explode the Code, Games like Stack the States on the iPad, Eyewitness Book by Dorling Kindersley, Kidspiration Software and Life Of Fred.
Some take delight in making lapbooks. My blog has lots of free lapbooks.
Tapping out music to sounds they are learning or creating art to learn about history are other creative ways to learn.
Online resources about history and geography, drawing significant events in history and even playing Mine Craft are strengths of visual learners.
Please do not discount creative ways like playing games as not learning.
Children of any age can learn any subject by playing a learning game, but unique learners especially benefit.
More importantly than finding curriculum is understanding the fact that you are teaching a child and not curriculum.
Do not get on the band wagon of those who always use a left brain measuring stick for progress. If you do, instead of realizing the brilliant child you have, you may feel like you have a child that is always behind.
When we all accept that our children learn outside the box and equally praise a gifted artist right alongside a child that read early, then we have tapped into the real meaning of an excellent education.
Struggling with the challenges of a unique learner now produces a confident teacher later.
Resources for Educating Unique Learners
By helping families that have children with ADHD, dyslexia, processing disorders or autism, I learned that these parents have to be the best advocate for their children.
Carol Barnier knew that her son -- more likely to be sitting on the table (or the refrigerator) than in his chair -- was worthy of high expectations. She also knew that he could easily miss achieving them if she didn't find the right key to unlock his capacity to learn.
All children can learn. It is time to stop teaching subjects and start teaching children!
Learning In Spite Of Labels helps you to teach your child so that they can learn. We are all "labeled" in some area. Some of us can't sing, some aren't athletic, some can't express themselves well, some struggle with directions, and on and on!
It happens almost every day. I hear from a mom desperate for information on homeschooling her child with special needs and learning differences.
Does your imaginative, computer-proficient daughter tune out in the classroom? Does your spirited son become headstrong and aggressive when faced with the simplest decisions? Does your bold, energetic child have trouble focusing on basic tasks?
With the publication of The Highly Sensitive Person, pioneering psychotherapist Dr. Elaine Aron became the first person to identify the inborn trait of “high sensitivity” and to show how it affects the lives of those who possess it. In The Highly Sensitive Child, Dr. Aron shifts her focus to the 15 to 20 percent of children who are born highly sensitive—deeply reflective, sensitive to the subtle, and easily overwhelmed.
Innovative, practical and fun activities for children with autism and sensory disorders.
The first accessible guide to examine Sensory Processing Disorder, The Out-of-Sync Child touched the hearts and lives of thousands of families. Carol Stock Kranowitz continues her significant work with this companion volume, which presents more than one hundred playful activities specially designed for kids with SPD.
New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics
1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics
- 1 Learn The Lingo (& free glossary)
- 2: Homeschool Roots Matter
- 3 What is NOT Homeschooling
- 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers
- 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round
- 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations
- 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing?
8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners
- 8: Organize Your Home – Then School
- 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year
- 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry
- 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms
- 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool
- 13. Streamlined Record Keeping
- 14 Homeschool Supplies List
15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum
- 15: Discovering Learning Styles
- 16: Practical Tips for Learning Styles
- 17: How to Choose a Homeschool Curriculum
- 18 Teaching Young Children – Elementary Homeschool
- 19: Guiding Homeschool Teens
- 20: Homeschool Lesson Planning
- 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool
22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Unique Learners
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