Teaching Tips
How to Learn From a Textbook: The SQ3R Method
The SQ3R Method is an excellent way to help kids learn from a textbook. This post will show you what the SQ3R Method is and how to teach it to your kids. As a long-time, homeschooling parent of 7 kids with dyslexia, I don't usually recommend a traditional textbook...
When Life Gives You a Pandemic, Learn!
There's nothing like a pandemic to teach you what's really important in life. We're wrapping up our second week of quarantine. I was thinking today about the many challenges our family has homeschooled through over the past 20+ years. I've homeschooled through...
How to Teach Reading at Home
You don't need to be a trained dyslexia tutor to teach reading at home. Do you remember learning to read? I don't. I don't remember learning phonics, I don't remember learning spelling rules, and I never even knew that there were intelligent people who struggled with...
How Interest-Led Learning Can Jump Start Your Homeschool
Learn how to tap into your kids' natural curiosity with interest-led learning and give your homeschool renewed energy and momentum. After homeschooling for more than 20 years, I can safely say that I've tried just about every homeschool method out there. If I haven't...
Informal Reading Assessments
Have you ever wondered at what grade level your child is reading? Have you wanted a way to measure your child's reading progress? Informal reading assessments can be a valuable way to see how your child is progressing. Assessments can also show you areas where you...
The Truth About Dyslexia and Spelling
For most people with dyslexia, reading improves steadily over time. Also for many dyslexics, spelling does not. Spelling continues to be a problem for many people with dyslexia throughout their lifetime. That will be the topic of this week's Mailbox Monday: "My...
Help for the Shut Down Learner
Do you have a child who shuts down when it comes to learning? This week's Mailbox Monday speaks to this situation. "My son IMMEDIATELY says “I don’t know” to ANY educational question. No thought or attempt to try. Any suggestions for that? Have any of your...
My Adults Kids Who Were Homeschooled: What worked and what didn’t
A unique look at four adults that were homeschooled. What worked and what didn't. Welcome to our first edition of Mailbox Monday. I started this series in an effort to answer more of your questions that come through email, Facebook, and Instagram every week. As a...
Overcoming Dysteachia
This post on Overcoming Dysteachia was first published as a series of weekly newsletters. Since it struck a nerve with so many of you, I am republishing it here. Subscribe to the newsletter here. Table of contentsOvercoming Dysteachia Means Redefining...
Strengths-Based Learning for Reluctant or Struggling Learners
Would you like to learn a teaching method that fosters resilience and confidence in your kids? What if this method caused kids to be excited for learning, earn higher GPAs, and have more hope for their futures? I thought so! Let me tell you a bit about strengths-based...
Are you Afraid to Teach Your Kids With Learning Differences?
In my last post, I asked the question of whether or not language-based learning difficulties like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are learning disabilities that need to be 'fixed' or learning differences that need teaching differences. We also talked about the...
Strategies for Teaching Math to Kids With Dyslexia
40-60% of students with dyslexia also struggle with math. Just as with teaching reading, there are effective strategies for teaching math to kids with dyslexia. Why Kids With Dyslexia Struggle With Math There are a several underlying weaknesses that cause kids with...