The main factor that determines whether a person with dyslexia will thrive or not is the presence of someone in their life that is supportive. Here are some tips to help with overcoming emotional issues from dyslexia. Yesterday we talked about how discouraging...
Teaching Tips
Homeschool Priorities for Kids With Dyslexia
After homeschooling kids with dyslexia for nearly 30 years and now having graduated 5 of them from high school, here are a few things I've learned are priorities for homeschooling kids with dyslexia. Teach them at their level. You are not behind! One of the reasons...
Why your dyslexic child is resisting reading instruction and what to do about it.
Is your dyslexic child resisting reading instruction? Honestly, I would be surprised if they weren’t. Learning to read as a child with dyslexia is HARD! I talk to parents every week who are experiencing some kind of resistance to reading instruction from...
20 Ways to Give Homeschool Kids More Choice
Today we’re going to focus on ways to increase autonomy; how giving homeschooled students more choice in their schedules and learning can have a big impact on their level of engagement and motivation. Last week I shared some research on Self-Determination Theory that...
Helping the Chronically Negative Child
Do you have a child who tends to focus on the negative? One whose glass is always half empty? I do and I’m here to say that it can really be exhausting and discouraging at times. I tend to be an optimist and I dislike negativity, probably to a fault. So facing a child...
Choosing the Best Dyslexia Help Program
Determining if a dyslexia help program is the best one for your family involves careful research and evaluation. Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects reading and writing skills, and it's essential to choose a program that is evidence-based and provides...
Self-Directed Learning with Blake Boles
Self-directed learning is an approach to education that allows students to choose what and how they learn. Similar to unschooling or interest-led learning, it is a powerful method for real learning that is especially helpful for kids who are non-traditional learners...
Fostering Internal Motivation to Learn
Over my nearly three decades of parenting and educating kids with dyslexia and ADHD I have learned that if we can foster a child's sense of internal motivation, home education is way easier and more enjoyable for everyone. But how do we foster internal motivation?...
Narration: An Introduction to Composition
Charlotte Mason, an English educator from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, left an enduring legacy in the field of education with her innovative and holistic approach. One of the key components of her philosophy is narration, a powerful technique for teaching...
How to Homeschool Kids With Dyslexia
After homeschooling my seven kids with dyslexia for nearly 30 years, here is what I want you to know about how to homeschool your kids with dyslexia. I'm working on writing and recording a new Parent Master Class on what you need to know to establish a balanced,...
A Day in the Life of a Non-Traditional Homeschool
I’ve been sharing here and there how we are homeschooling our non-traditional 9th grader this year. I've had quite a few questions about what our day looks like so today I'm sharing a typical day in the life of our non-traditional homeschool. Of my 8 kids, 6 have...
How to Choose the Best Dyslexia Options
There are so many good resources for teaching kids with dyslexia it can be hard to know what the best dyslexia options are. We're well into the school year now. The honeymoon period with its excitement over new curricula, courses, and co-ops has ended and we are faced...
When to Take a Break From Reading Instruction
Does your child shut down when it comes to reading? Do they cry or berate themselves or refuse to do their reading lessons? It may be time to take a break from reading instruction. The scenario is not uncommon. For a variety of reasons, children can come to resist...
Four Ways to Troubleshoot Learning Struggles
Using weekly review planning sheets helps me to troubleshoot my kids' learning struggles with confidence. Many of us have spent a lot of time over the summer planning and preparing for the current school year. Maybe you joined one of my coaching groups or you went to...
Adaptive Typing With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
One of the most common accommodations offered to students with dyslexia and dysgraphia is learning to type. Adaptive typing is a specific method of typing that works well. Because people with language-based learning difficulties have a hard time with the written word,...
Effective Reward Systems for Kids and Teens With ADHD
Reward systems are an incredibly effective way to help kids and teens with ADHD change their behaviors. Because of the unique wiring of ADHD brains, rewards are especially motivating. Because ADHD brains are under-stimulated, they need excitement and rewards to get...
Summer Learning for Kids with Dyslexia
What kind of summer learning should you do with your kids with dyslexia? If you prefer to listen to this post, click the player below: Summer is just around the corner and many of us are considering what, if any, academic learning to do over the next few months. It's...
A Day in the Life: Homeschooling With Dyslexia
It has been a while since I shared what a day in the life of our homeschool with dyslexia looks like. For years I have shared these kinds of posts to show how we juggled the needs of a houseful of dyslexic kids. Today, our dynamic looks a lot different. Who We're...
Kids Homeschool Assessment
You know the old saying "Ain't Mom happy, ain't no one happy"? In my 30 years of parenting, I have come to understand that "Ain't the kids happy, ain't no one happy" is also true. Do this quick Kids Homeschool Assessment to find out how your kids really feel about...
5 Powerful Habits to Improve Learning
Cultivating these 5 powerful habits will improve learning for your kids with dyslexia. I’m writing this post during that nebulous time between Christmas and New Years when you’re not sure what day it is or what you’re supposed to be doing. If you’re in this season and...
Pulling Kids With an IEP From Public School to Homeschool
I get a lot of emails asking about making the decision to homeschool with dyslexia. Pulling kids with an IEP from public school to homeschool can be a little confusing. Here's what you need to know. There was a community meeting this week in my town to answer...
My 4 Top Priorities as I Teach My Kids With Dyslexia
As parents (or teachers) of kids who are bright but struggle we are always on the lookout for the best methods for teaching our kids with dyslexia. Here are the 4 top priorities for me as I homeschool my kids with dyslexia every day. I get emails every week asking me...
Do Colored Overlays Help With Dyslexia?
Have you wondered if colored lenses or overlays could help your child with dyslexia? The quick answer is no. But keep reading to see if colored overlays might still help your struggling reader. Dyslexia and Vision Problems Research on dyslexia has shown that dyslexia...
8 Things I do Each Day With my Dyslexic Reader
These are the daily habits that help my dyslexic reader to be more successful. I have been homeschooling kids with dyslexia for over 20 years!  Where did the time go? I am mainly focused these days on my 9 and 12-year-old sons. One of these guys is moderately...