We began homeschooling my youngest son when he was in kindergarten. He loved animals, getting messy and telling terrible jokes. (Five years later, he still does!) Having him home was fun, for both of us, almost all the time. The only exception was when it was time to practice phonics. We tried every single program…
This is what it’s like when your middle school child is still struggling to read. It began when my son was about ten. Suddenly, he realized that all of his friends were able to read. More importantly, he realized that he wasn’t. He knew about his dyslexia diagnosis. He knew that we were still working…
A teen with learning disabilities necessarily requires a different approach to academics in school. But what about when it’s time to learn to drive? This parent’s guide to learning to drive with learning differences provides practical resources and support as you get started. My son told me he wanted to get his drivers license almost…
It’s a question I have been asking for years, trying to help my own child. How do I help an older struggling reader? My youngest son began his reading instruction the way most kids do. He was in preschool and practiced the letters and sounds for more than a year. But by the time he…
Homeschooling a child with dysgraphia can be complicated, especially because so few resources exist to support a dysgraphic child. This behind the scenes look illustrates the reality of homeschooling a child with dysgraphia and includes resources to help. In all my years of public school, the only bad grade I ever received on a report…
Last week, I shared what I wanted you to know most about what helped my dyslexic son finally learn to read. Today, I am sharing all the details of what worked. My youngest son is dyslexic and has struggled to read for as long as he has been trying. Eight full years of flashcards and…
I know it shouldn’t matter so much, but the truth is, my child isn’t at grade level and it’s really difficult sometimes. “He is reading at a first-grade level now,” I said to the doctor, holding my breath. “What?” she said with a mix of surprise and concern. “At his age?” I paused for a…
I am only now, nine years into this homeschooling thing, really beginning to understand my child’s learning differences. It has been worth taking the time to really learn what he needs and why. My youngest son was in preschool for two and half years. He loved it. Except when they colored letters, wrote their names,…
Helping my dyslexic child learn to read was one of the most challenging and rewarding things in my life. I wrote this post almost five years ago, when we were making the transition to hands-on, out of the box learning. Maybe you are in the same place I was back then, trying to figure it…
Even math practice can be a struggle when your child is not writing fluently. Let’s talk about math for the child who struggles with writing. When my oldest son was in elementary school, he was required to complete a math fluency worksheet every single day. It had 100 math problems to a page, all addition,…
It’s a question I’ve been afraid to answer for a long time. What if my child never learns to read? Last week, we resumed my son’s daily reading lessons and practice. He is profoundly dyslexic, and all the research shows that in order for him to become a proficient reader he needs daily, consistent learning. Because…
Not being able to read at ten years old is a big deal for my child. It’s a big deal for the world. My son loves science. He constantly asks questions about the world, how things work, about animals, and chemical reactions. He subscribes to YouTube channels that show science experiments, for fun. He can…
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