By Jan Bedell, Ph.D., Master NeuroDevelopmentalist,SPED Homeschool Board MemberCurriculum Partner,  Consultant Partner, and Therapy Partner 

 

Ah, progress. That entity that often fuels us as parents and homeschoolers but is often elusive or barely recognizable with our children that struggle. That slow progress can be very discouraging. I know the feeling all too well! I had to learn to adjust my expectations from typical progress to “personal bests” and celebrate each of those tiny steps even when they were not what I was hoping for, especially in the academic realms. 

My homeschool journey started in 1986. I know, I am REALLY dating myself, right! Little did I know that homeschool was barely legal at that time. All I knew was that God had led me to home educate both my girls, but specifically my daughter, who was developmentally delayed. 

I headed into the task with zeal, but after 5 years of using a traditional approach in teaching reading and math, my 15-year-old was at a standstill. I was discouraged. My daughter knew all 70 phonograms yet couldn’t hold over 3 pieces of CVC words together to read a word. And because of her needing several attempts to read a single word, she had zero comprehension. In other words, a kindergarten reading level and math wasn’t much better.

When you have a child with unique needs, God is asking you to do hard things. We don’t know the reasoning, but I believe it is for profound Kingdom purposes. When Jenee’ was 15, I was ready to give up, but God asked me to do another hard thing. He asked me to continue homeschooling, but this time with a different approach. It was the neurodevelopmental approach that I used and have been encouraging other parents to use for the past 30 years. It is the approach we use at Brain Sprints to help families make progress and be able to recognize that progress in all areas of the child’s life, and not just in academics. 

Academically with the neurodevelopmental approach, we could advance from 1st grade in math and reading to 3rd grade. Compared to typical progress, that would look minuscule, but if you compare it to what “they” said was a 40 IQ, it was amazing! I found out later that traditional educational settings like those in public school wouldn’t have even bothered to teach my daughter to read because of the IQ that they labeled her with. IQ is another whole topic, but there are developmental factors that influence an IQ score and academic performance that  can be changed with neurodevelopmental interventions.

I didn’t realize it, but it was an actual gift that I gave my daughter in teaching her to read, even at a low level. It became a hobby of hers and she filled hours a day with reading words and then writing them in her notebook. 

She really LOVED math, too! She advanced in the understanding of math concepts through a technique that I now call Visual Circle Math. I also integrated this approach into a full neurodevelopmental program (organizing and stimulating the brain for the foundation of better overall function) and math curriculum for preschool through 2nd grade levels called  Early Learning Foundations. One of the remarkable things that I discovered is that even in her 30s my daughter had kept math facts that we covered when she was 15-18 years old. She could do 32 addition facts in 1 minute from using the retention technique in the   Rapid Recall System which is also integrated into the Early Learning Foundation curriculum.

When I home schooled, my philosophy for my child with unique needs was to take her from where she was functioning to the next level in any area possible–self-care, articulation, conversation, social, behavioral, academic and to celebrate each tiny breakthrough. I encourage you to do the same. Celebrate all the progress no matter how small. It will lift your spirits, get you focused on the positive and your positive countenance will filter down to your whole family. 

It has been a privilege for me to provide comfort to others with the comfort that I received. If you would like to know more about The NeuroDevelopmental Approach from Brain Sprints, contact us for a  Free Consultation.

 

 

 


Did you enjoy this article?

Support the ongoing nonprofit work of SPED Homeschool

Donate Today

 

 

by the SPED Homeschool Team

 

Running out of creative ways to help your struggling student connect with learning material? Here are some great suggestions SPED Homeschool team members Dawn Spence, Amy Vickrey, and Peggy Ployhar have used in home educating their own struggling learners over the years.

 

Reading

Teach sight words.  Both my boys struggle with auditory processing, and as a result phonics is a struggle.  But, they do well with memorization, so we use sight words to teach reading, and then continue to work on phonics through spelling as well as through other subjects and activities.  This approach has allowed them to read sooner, and more quickly become independent learners.  My kids love books and reading, so this is a win-win! – Amy Vickrey

Include movement. Put words on notecards or purchase magnetic words and allow your student to create phrases, sentences, and responses by arranging and re-arranging the pre-written words. – Peggy Ployhar

 

Math

Find geometric objects.  When studying shapes and geometry concepts, have  your student(s) do a geometric treasure hunt. – Dawn Spence

Make a number line. Make a physical number line or use movement to help with moving numbers up and down a number line alongside addition and subtraction problems. – Dawn Spence.  

Fold paper to prove theorems. For helping an older student understand geometry concepts, use paper folding technique to help translate theoretical concepts into relational concepts. Here is a resource that shows you how. – Peggy Ployhar

Electronically graph equations. For students who benefit from learning math visually, use an Excel spreadsheet to graph algebraic equations. Here is a resource that walks you through how to use Excel this way. – Peggy Ployhar

 

Science

Make crafts meaningful. When studying about the layers of the earth, have them create the layers in playdoh or Rice Krispie treats. Or, when studying anything with the body – building the layers of skin, the cell, or the lungs makes it more real and easier to relate to when your student can manipulate and create replicas of what they are learning. – Dawn Spence

Embrace experiments. Experiments can be messy and time consuming, but they provide students with experiences they are less likely to forget than if they had just read about a science concept in a book or even watched a video with an experiment. – Peggy Ployhar

 

History

Act it out. When studying history, have your children act out a scene or historical event. To make it even more theatrical, have them put together a costume from materials they can find around the house. Then while you read about the event from a history book, textbook, or historical fiction book, have your children act out the parts for the person they are portraying. – Peggy Ployhar

Listen to audiobooks. For history, we have been listening to fiction and nonfiction historical books in the car.  Story of the World and various historical fiction have filled our time as we drive to appointments around town. This has done two things – increased my children’s love of history, and increased their listening skills.  It also has gotten my oldest to pick up and read these books later that previously he hadn’t shown any interest in.  Because he heard them first, he enjoyed going back and reading through them to get more details.  This method can also be helpful for students who enjoy listening to the books while following along. – Amy Vickrey  

Spark interests with videos and documentaries. There are many great shows on science, history, and innovation/manufacturing. These videos spark interest by exposing students to new topics. For instance, after watching a video about automobiles, I found my son pouring through books on automotive fundamentals to help him better understand what he learned from the videos.  There are plans to make a rocket-propelled bike or car…I’m not sure how, but I am excited that he is trying to figure out how. – Amy Vickrey

 

Writing

Cultivate storytelling. A way we helped our children develop writing skills was to take turns telling stories while on family hikes. Each family member would get a turn and the other family members contributed a person, place or thing that had to be included in the story. It was always fun to hear what my kids would come up with and since there was no handwriting involved and the storytelling made the hike go faster there was no complaining either. – Peggy Ployhar

Take advantage of technology. Since handwriting is still a challenge, we have used voice to text on Google Docs and Pages (iPad).  Both programs have worked well, and are free. Speaking in short phrases is best when using this technology. Moreover, the usage of this technology helped my son with his enunciation of certain words.  – Amy Vickrey

 

Still looking for more creative ideas for how to home educate your struggling learner? Check out these additional resources from our website.

 

 

 


Support the ongoing work of

SPED Homeschool

Donate Today

 

 

by Cynthia Heren from  Inside Our Normal, SPED Homeschool Blogging Partner

 

When we uncovered  our child’s disability, it was because we realized they weren’t meeting the suggested age-based milestones. In our case, we were still spoon feeding them yogurt and applesauce. We kept telling ourselves as parents “It’s ok, they are only 2…” but that excuse wore thin as they were getting ready to turn 3 in a couple of months, so after consulting with our pediatrician we began Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy for our child.  

 

For our  outside the box kids, learning doesn’t always happen at the same pace as their peers.  But with strong support, they can make the same progress in their own time. The child I mentioned above entered Pre-K with an IEP that focused on support in fine motor skills and sensory needs.  When we had them reevaluated in 3rd grade after moving across the country and a few years of homeschool, their new IEP reflected struggles focusing and social skills. 

 

Fast forward a few years and that same child is now a preteen. Their strengths and challenges have changed with time. Progress has been made in some areas, and new challenges have arisen. In our homeschool we can fully accommodate their needs and provide support for the best ways to help them grow.  Fine Motor skills are still a struggle but we meet the need by having primary-ruled paper always available for written assignments and the computer available to type on, instead of being overwhelmed by small lines on a worksheet. This accommodation is easy because we homeschool and don’t have to think about 30 students. We only have to consider what is best for one. Our child had grown and changed in their own time! Take heart. Working at your child’s pace is always the right choice.     

 

3 reminders for working at your child’s pace

#1 – Ignore grade levels and meet them where they are at

Many times, our special kids excel in specific areas of learning but struggle in other areas. It is important to look for  homeschool materials that can meet your child where they are at instead of where they “should be” based on their age. Trusting the placement tests of any program you are considering is valuable and will help you find the right fit for your child’s needs in that skill area.  I am homeschooling three children and only one of them is on the same grade level for all subjects. The other two students fall across at least two grade levels in their materials.  

 

#2 – Celebrate their progress

No matter what level your student is working at when they finish a project or workbook, take time to celebrate! It can be as simple as a dance party using songs from the radio or a special trip for ice cream. Celebrate all progress, however that looks at your child’s pace. They may never catch up with their age level peers but since they are in a classroom of one, they are never behind. 

 

#3 – Your homeschool is uniquely yours!

The most important thing to remember when homeschooling Outside the Box kids is the flexibility it gives you to meet their needs. Stop looking at other homeschoolers you know and don’t compare your homeschool to theirs. Your homeschool will look unique to your family and the needs of your student, and that’s how it should be. Likewise, their homeschool will be unique to their family and learning needs. When you focus on finding the perfect fit for your students, your students will thrive!

 

When we parents remember to keep our eyes on helping our child succeed and set unique learning goals based on their current skill sets, we will see the best growth. It may not look like a typical child their age but Progress is Progress and we will celebrate with you every step of the way!  

 

 

 

 


Support the ongoing work of

SPED Homeschool

Donate Today

 

 

by Cheryl Swope, Simply Classical Curriculum and Cheryl Swope Consulting

 

David was small in stature. He had only five small stones. By any standard of measure, David stood no chance against Goliath; but the LORD was with David.

 

This is what I wish I would have understood when my twins were young. As an adoptive mother, I fretted. My son’s legs were twisted and his muscle tone floppy. He spoke with sounds that were difficult to understand. He seemed perplexed by reasonable rules. Unusually passive, he was willing to let his twin sister attempt to button his clothing, do his simple chores, and speak for him in public. She, by contrast, was eager to help, but lacked the skills to do so. With odd language and fine-motor skills so weak they fell into the 2nd%ile. Even at age four, her drawing and coloring appeared at a toddler age. What was I to do?

 

My mind vacillated by its own weakness. On hearty days, I vowed to “catch them up” with heroic amounts of attention, therapies, and hard work. Much of the time, this mindset served my children well. We truly worked hard. The therapeutic work structured our days, nurtured our bonds, and resulted in measurable, albeit small, gains. On weaker days, I despaired of ever being able to catch them up to their peers. Just when I thought we had made great strides, a same-age child would come over to play. I marveled at the organized mind of the child as she planned her play, folded a swim towel, or spoke with coherence. I felt myself tumbling into the chasm of difference between my children and the capable neighbor child.

 

Where was my mistake? I believe now that my mistake, on both the hearty days and the weaker days, was thinking that my role was to “catch up” my children, as if the differences were merely quantitative and resolvable. My little David–my twins Michael and Michelle–would never be the size of Goliath, the physically and mentally able “giants” among other children we knew. They would not run and play freely like the others, navigate friendships or draw and color like the others, speak or plan or achieve like the others. But the LORD was with them. 

 

I began to understand that the enemy was not the other children. They were not “Goliath;” rather my giant was the temptation to hold up other children as the measuring stick for my own. I had nothing in my satchel to slay this temptation. But the LORD was with me. I want to share this excerpt from I Samuel 17:

 

Then he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine….

Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts…. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.’

 

Slaying the temptation was my first, small step of progress, and one that would need to be taken. One of my children’s occupational therapists told me that the top factor for a child’s success was his sense of love, acceptance, and closeness from his mother. As if scales fell from my eyes, I compared less and, instead, saw my children as the unique, fully human, endearing children that they are. Scrapbooking helped. I jotted down the delightful things they said, the small steps of progress they made, and the ways in which they evidenced growth beyond what is measurable: thoughtfulness, gentleness, kindness, helpfulness, self-control. 

 

Our children are created imago Dei, in the image of God, redeemed by Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Him, my twins have an unmatched advocate, defender, and sustainer. With this comfort I am free to continue therapies, press on with academics, and teach the many things they need to know. We can work on exercises, speech articulation, social understanding, and manners. If we move forward in spelling, math, writing, and reading, we rejoice. Today as we watch other families make progress step by step through our Simply Classical Spelling: Step-by-Step Words and  Simply Classical Writing: Step-by-Step Sentences, we rejoice greatly. But most importantly, we have learned the hard way that even if we make no progress despite great effort or, due to degenerative conditions, experience regress, the LORD is still with us.

 

We can remember that young David who once carried only five small stones later prayed words we can say together with our children in great confidence: I will fear no evil, for You are with me. We can trust in His faithfulness toward us no matter where our children fall today on percentile rank, stanine, and other manmade measures. The LORD provides us with comfort and understanding as we love our children on hearty days and weaker days.

 

Resting in Him, we can rejoice in our children’s small steps. We can rejoice most of all in sharing the truth that closes David’s beloved psalm for ourselves and for our children: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Let us guard this comfort closely and teach this, above all else, to our children day by day.

 

 

 

 

 


Support the ongoing work of

SPED Homeschool

Donate Today