Generally, elementary students need the most attention and one-on-one instruction when learning how to master basic math, reading, and writing. Therefore, parents should plan to spend the majority of their time with their younger children. It may even help, and is advisable as well, to schedule one-on-one time. Depending on how many children you have, this may be from thirty minutes to an hour or more. While you are working with one child, older children can be practicing their handwriting, working on a craft, or reading to another sibling. With careful planning and lots of patience, you can come up with a system that works for your particular family and have everyone working at the same time.

Articles

How to Homeschool Multiple Age Groups
Are you one of many homeschool families trying to figure out how to homeschool different age groups? Which homeschool curriculum is best for families homeschooling multiple children in different grades? Learn how to homeschool your big family today.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2331261_homeschool-multiple-age-groups.html

Teaching Multiple Kids at Home Easily and with Less Stress
Many homeschool families have multiple children covering a large span of ages. One family may have everything from preschool age children to teenagers in high school. How do you homeschool all these kids at the same time? It’s not easy, but there are some great tips and tricks to making homeschooling multiple grades and ages easier and less stressful.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/92729/how_to_homeschool_multiple_grades_and.html

Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Age and Skill Levels
If you are looking for ways to homeschool multiple children at various age levels, this article offers tips and answers to many common questions. Read on to learn more about how to best homeschool children of varying ages.
href=”http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/article/Tips_for_homeschooling_multiple_age_and_skill_levels.html

Tips on how to teach multiple ages
So, you have kids you are homeschooling that are multiple ages. Here are some tips on how to homeschool different age groups.
http://www.homeschool-curriculum-and-support.com/multiple-ages.html

Services

Natural Talk Mom’s Radio (Blog) How Do You Homeschool Multiple Children?
Provides tips and advice, as well as a place to share.
http://naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/how-do-you-homeschool-multiple-children/

Homeschool Curriculum and Support
Learn how to teach multiple grade levels, includes curriculum pages.
http://www.homeschool-curriculum-and-support.com/multiple-grade.html

Books

Homeschooling More Than One Child: A Practical Guide for Families
Carren W. Joye
Here’s a book that addresses the special challenges of homeschooling two or more children for parents just starting to homeschool and veterans desiring fresh ideas. This book provides a comprehensive collection of quick tips and long-term solutions to make homeschooling more than one child a successful and rewarding experience. This sensible guide offers practical ideas on balancing the needs of different ages and abilities, juggling multiple commitments, choosing or designing a curriculum to fit each child, finding socialization opportunities that appeal to all ages, and more!

Additional Links

A single mother’s guide to homeschooling multiple kids
This resource offers tips from a homeschooling mom.
http://www.helium.com/items/1289322-homeschooling-multiple-kids

Peah’s Homeschool Curriculum
Home School Organization: Tips to Teach Multiple Children Efficiently (good info)
http://www.homeschool-curriculum-savings.com/home-school-organization.html

Advice

Themed unit studies are one of the easiest ways to teach children of multiple age groups and grade levels. While they may all learn the information at the same time, the subject matter itself can be tailored to fit each grade level. As younger children learn the basics and complete simple activities, older students can read age-appropriate books and work on more advanced projects. These can be purchased or you can create your own using free resources found online, at home and in books from your local library.

“Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID, also called sensory processing disorder) is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five classic senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception).

For those with SID, sensory information is sensed normally, but perceived abnormally. This is not the same as blindness or deafness, because, unlike those disorders, sensory information is received by people with SID. The difficulty is that information is processed by the brain in an unusual way that may cause distress or confusion.” (Wikipedia)

It is often linked to other neurological issues but even if your child does not have Autism, ADD/ADHD, or Tourette Syndrome, the child may still suffer from sensory issues. So if your child gets upset with seams in socks, tags, different types of material, noise, no noise, lights, no lights, textured foods or no texture, touching everything, music, humming of lights, or just seems very overwhelmed, then some research into SPD might prove to be what you are looking for.

Home learning can offer a calm environment, a flexible schedule for therapy, more consistency in therapy integration into your everyday lives, and a loving place of acceptance. Whether you have got the diagnosis of SPD years ago or if you just found out, below is some information to help you.

Articles:

Symptoms of SPD
What is SPD? How do you describe it? This articles offers support and understanding. It explains the parent’s view, the teacher’s view, and the professional’s view. A good introduction into SPD.

Is SPD real?
Why has SPD eluded the DSM V testing? How can you get a real diagnosis? Soon it will be in the testing and information on what you can do to help in the meantime.

Dysfunctional Sensory Integration
An article written by Julie Shepherd Knapp describing SPD and gives helpful resources.

Services:

Research & Literature
A series of articles made into PDF and listed from the National Library of Medicine about Sensory Integration Disorder.

Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist: Signs And Symptoms Of Dysfunction
A tool to help you understand the sensitivities that could be affecting your child, teen, or you.

The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
Resources, articles, help, and support.

Books:

The Out of Sync Child-Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder
Carol Stock Kranowitz
A book that provides drug free alternatives and therapies.

Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D and Doris Fuller
An excellent overview of Sensory Processing Disorder.

Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues
Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske
A comprehensive handbook that walks through understanding your child to dealing with therapy.

Additional Links:

Sensory Homeschool
A yahoo group made specifically for families that homeschool children with Sensory Processing Disorder. It says it is a brand new group but it has been running since February 2005!

Sensory Street
Sensory Street is a yahoo group whose members share ways to support children/teens/adults with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

Does my Home School Child have a Sensory Integration Issue?
A mom answers her own question and offers support with homeschooling her child.

HS-Plus
A yahoo group for children that homeschool special needs children. All special needs and styles are welcomed.

Notes and Advice:

Sensory Processing Disorder can be debilitating in nature or just something that itches constantly. It can be a struggle for parents to find other people to believe them, support them, and help them. Help is out there. Parents can find what they are looking for. I hope the above links are a support and lead you to keep researching and get the word out that Sensory Processing Disorder is real and can be overcome!

If you have more links, books, or articles you would like to share, or just a story to tell, please log in and let us know!

“Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.”

Facts and Statistics

• 1 in 150 births¹
• 1 to 1.5 million Americans²
• Fastest-growing developmental disability
• 10 - 17 % annual growth
• $90 billion annual cost³
• 90% of costs are in adult services³
• Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention³
• In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion⁴
  

2003, 2006 Copyright Autism Society of America. All rights reserved.

With Autism on the rise and schools being underfunded to take such a increase in autism, many are turning to home learning to help their children. It is not necessarily less stressful to have an autistic child home with you, but many parents are finding the struggle worth every minute. Home learning can offer consistency and with parents doing research, teaching life skills, and finding support, the sky is the limit for these children!

Articles:

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
Founder of OASIS website by Barbara L. Kirby, she is the co-author of THE OASIS GUIDE TO ASPERGER SYNDROME (Crown, 2001, Revised 2005)

Autism Checklist
A guide to help parents understand the diagnostic process and to give understanding to autism.

Teaching Children with Autism
An excellent resource about teaching children with autism, ABA therapy, and other resources.

What is ABA Therapy
An article explaining what ABA therapy and how it works.

Services:

Autism Society of America
The official American website for information about autism and services in your area.

Autism Society of Canada
The official Canadian website for information about autism and services in your area.

Autism Research Institute
For more than 40 years, ARI has conducted research and disseminated the results of research on the triggers of autism and on methods of diagnosing and treating autism.

Autism Family Resources
The program provides funding for therapy equipment, safety equipment, or respite care to families with children who have Autism or other special needs.

Autism Family Resources
This is a program of last resort to help parents of children with autism spectrum disorder to pay for necessary treatments.

Books:

A List of Books about Biomedical Treatment
Books by different authors offered through the Autism Research Institute

Voices of Autism : The Healing Companion : Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength
“A powerful response to a mysterious disorder, this compilation features dozens of writers from all walks of life speaking candidly about their experiences with autism—a disease that affects more than a half million Americans under the age of 21 at every level of society. Filled with true stories of the parents of autistic children, their caregivers, teachers, and friends, the stories presented both inspire and inform, providing a palpable sense of connection and community.”

That’s Life with Autism : Tales and Tips for Families with Autism
Donna Satterlee Ross
This book is written by parents for parents!

Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew
Ellen Notbohm
This book is said to be ‘the shot around the world’ for the autism community and a must read.

Additional Links:

ABA therapy part 1
A YouTube video showing a child receiving ABA therapy.

ABA therapy part 2
The part two of the video above on YouTube.

Play based ABA therapy
A video on YouTube that shows a child receiving play based ABA therapy.

AbnormalDiversity
A blog written by a lady with autism, she was also homeschooled through some of her school years.

Aut-2B-Home in Carolina
A mom shares her journey homeschooling her autistic daughter.

HS-Plus Yahoo Group
“This list is for families who are Home-Educating special needs children. We are here to support, encourage and learn from one another as we share our experiences, our struggles and our successes. We discuss many aspects of our lives here and little is considered “off-topic.”

Notes and Advice:

Autism has a wide scale, meaning it can range from mild to severe. For many children, it is difficult to tell they have autism by looking at them and they are often misjudged for their behavior. For the parent who decides to homeschool, it can be the most challenging, rewarding experience they have ever encountered. Do you have a story to share about homeschooling your autistic child that you would like to share? Please do!

Articles:

Your Homeschool Blog
This article from Home Education Magazine encourages homeschoolers to start blogs, and gives ideas for sharing.
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/226/homeschoolblogs.html

How to Start a Homeschool Blog
Step-by-step suggestions for getting started blogging.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2173137_start-homeschool-blog.html

Blogs and Kids - Staying Safe and Having Fun
A good article with important considerations about blogging with kids.
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/031606.htm

Services:

Blogger.com
This free blogging service is popular with homeschool bloggers.
http://www.blogger.com/

Word Press
Another very popular free blogging service.
http://wordpress.com/

Homeschool Blogger
This is a place where homeschoolers can sign up for free, and receive a personal homeschool blog of their own.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/

Homeschool Journal Dot Net
This site, run by homeschool parents, offers free homeschooling journals for homeschooling families to document their experiences.
http://homeschooljournal.net/

Live Journal
With a free basic account, Live Journal can be used as a blog, journal, or whatever a family wants it to be. More features are available with a paid service.
http://www.livejournal.com/

TypePad
This blogging service is easy to use and offers different pricing plans according to level of expertise and budget, along with a free 14-day trial period.
http://typepad.com

Books:

Blogging for Dummies
Brad Hill
This resource for new and intermediate bloggers provides step-by-step instructions, illustrations, tips, and more.

The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog
Rebecca Blood
This is a very useful guide to weblogs: how to start one, how to grow an audience, protecting your privacy, and more.

Essential Blogging: Selecting and Using Weblog Tools
Shelley Powers
A helpful guide to getting started in the world of blogging.

Additional Links:

The Carnival of Homeschooling
Better than a homeschool magazine! A collection of links to the week’s best homeschool blog posts, with a different, fun theme for each issue. The carnival is hosted at a different blog each week, so for the link to the current location please visit: http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_199.html

The Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival
This blog carnival focuses on the posts of Charlotte Mason style homeschool bloggers. This carnival is held every two weeks, and you can always find the latest edition here:
http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_2378.html

HomeschoolBuzz.com
This homeschool blogging site features the latest news and other stories relevant to the homeschooler.
http://homeschoolbuzz.com/blogwatch.html

Homeschooling Blog Ring
A blogging ring specifically for homeschoolers to keep in touch, share stories, and more.
http://www.ringsurf.com/netring?action=info&ring=homeschoolingblogs

Homeschool Blog Awards
This site hosts an annual contest for homeschool bloggers.
http://homeschoolblogawards.com/

Writer’s Advice:

Homeschool blogging has many helpful side effects! Keeping a blog, even if it is mostly for friends and family, can actually help you document what you are doing in your homeschool. The blog can serve as a scrapbook or record of activities, assignments, field trips, vacations, funny episodes, and more. You may find that you can look back on your entries and easily see progress that has been made. (Without such records, we often forget how far we’ve managed to come, focusing instead on our current problems and challenges!)

The blog can also serve as a communication tool, especially if your children live far away from their grandparents or other family members. Your entries can keep everyone up to date on your family’s activities, and the ability to comment on entries allows others in your family to participate in a conversation about your experiences. Of course, the option to include photos can make it even easier to help other family members feel included in your lives, even when they can’t be around in person.

As you get started in the homeschool blogging world, you can get ideas by looking at what other homeschoolers are doing with their blogs. You will find that blogs vary widely in their intended audiences, and in their writing styles as well. Some blogs are basically for the benefit of friends and family, or for personal record keeping, while others are designed to pass along advice or links to other homeschoolers. Many are a combination!

The best way to get started is to just jump in! Read homeschool blogs and comment on their posts. Write a few posts of your own. If you have a nice post that you’d like others to read, submit it to one of the blog carnivals mentioned above. (Most of the homeschooling blog carnivals accept all homeschool related entries, except ones promoting businesses or spam.)

Above all, have fun!

Typically, tics increase as a result of tension or stress (but are not caused by stress) and decrease with relaxation or concentration on an absorbing task. (Taken from Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada )

That is an important factor to point out, because it is especially relevant to the decision to homeschool your child with Tourettes Syndrome. TS is not CAUSED by stress but stress can INCREASE the tics. One of the biggest advantages of home learning is the stress factor. Yes, in the home there are still factors that cause stress, but a support system is also in place. Children with Tourettes are sometimes teased and segregated within the school system and sometimes they are missing that vital support system that says it’s okay, it’s just everyday life, it has nothing to do with your IQ, you can still accomplish your dreams, you are important, and you are loved unconditionally.

Articles:

http://www.homeschooldiner.com/specials/special_needs/tourettes_OCD.html
Basic information on Tourettes and OCD, the benefits of homeschooling, and links to other resources. A very well written article.

http://www.lifesatwitch.com/haven.html
Youth Haven is a webpage devoted entirely to youth with Tourettes. It gives role models, ideas on dealing with TS, and much more.

http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/about_ts.htm
All About Tourette’s Syndrome is a huge resource set up for parents/teachers to understand terms commonly used and concepts associated with TS. This website answers the question, “Tourette Syndrome-Now what?”

Services:

http://www.lifesatwitch.com/
Life’s A Twitch is a website devoted to B. Duncan McKinlay, Ph.D., C.Psych. He is a well known doctor that has TS and speaks on TS. “Through empathy, good humour, research, and both considerable personal and professional experience, Dr. McKinlay teaches acceptance of Tourette Syndrome and associated disorders in the world and in ourselves.” It gives resources and lots of information on TS and TS+

http://www.tsa-usa.org/educ_advoc/ts_and_ot.htm
Tourette Syndrome Association for Americans with Tourettes Syndrome and Occupational Therapy website that helps with the tactile sensitivities, fine motor issues, and sensory overload and many other sub-symptoms associated with TS.

http://www.tourette.ca/educators.php
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada
Canadian resources to help Canadians with Tourettes Syndrome understand it and find resources in their area.

Books:

Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome: A 9-Year-Old Boy’s Story in His Own Words
Dylan Peters
A children’s book about living with Tourettes tells a 9 year old boy’s story in his own words.

Children with Tourette Syndrome: A Parents’ Guide
Tracy Lynn Marsh
This book for parents examines the medical, educational, social, and legal issues often associated with Tourette Syndrome.

Tics and Tourette Syndrome: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals
Uttom Chowdhury
A general book about Tourette Syndrom that addresses common problems at home and school. Reviewers generally find this book highly useful, and not too long, detailed, or overwhelming for the lay reader.

http://www.lifesatwitch.com/nixyourtics_book.html
Nix Your Tics: Eliminate Unwanted Tic Symptoms, A ‘how to’ guide for young people. The link has excerpts from the book and full accreditation from medical personal.

http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/ts_books.htm
A list of books for Tourettes Syndrome for parents, educators, and people with Tourettes Syndrome

Additional Links:

http://mysonsean.homestead.com/
My Son Sean is a list of websites devoted to Tourette Syndrome. This resource was put together by a mom with a son who has TS and she has checked every link before posting, making sure each website is valuable and informative.

http://www.tsa-usa.org/Professionals/ProfEducators/educators.html
A resource for professional educators with information on therapy, books, and behaviour, just to name a few.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HS-Plus/
A group for families who are home educating special needs children to support, encourage, share resources and experiences, struggles and successes. All types of special needs are welcomed.

Notes and Advice:

There is no known cause for TS but it is sometimes thought to be hereditary. TS symptoms are usually the most misunderstood aspect of the syndrome.  TS can range from mild to severe, depending on the tics and symptoms.   Not everyone with TS yells out things and has severe gross motor tics, which are the symptoms that are most commonly featured on TV.  TS is sometimes diagnosed along with other conditions like ADHD or OCD, which is sometimes referred to as TS+.   Both diagnoses together can make things more of a struggle but that doesn’t mean there can’t be accomplishments in a supportive home environment. Understanding all aspects of TS goes a long way towards helping make learning accomplishments easier.  Home learning can provide an environment where a child can work at his own pace and be more relaxed.   Home learning gives more time to work on some of the issues TS children struggle with, like their handwriting, tactile defensiveness, and the need for calming.   Sleeping issues are often a big struggle for people with TS, and home learning can provide a more flexible schedule to help with that symptom. Rage is another aspect of Tourettes Syndrome that is easily misunderstood.   Not every person that has TS has rage, and those who do sometimes find that home learning makes it easier to manage this aspect of Tourettes, as well as many others.

Podcasts provide a myriad of instructional benefits when using them with kids, especially in the homeschool environment. Using educational podcasts can be an effective way to work with students on reading and writing skills. They can be used to create lessons that supplement existing homeschool curricula, or they provide interesting enrichment on their own. They can also be created with specific learning needs in mind. Children often enjoy writing and producing podcasts, whether on their own or as part of a project for the whole family. The potential uses of educational podcasts are limited only by the imagination and available resources! The following links will help any family get started:

Articles:

What is a Podcast?
This short article sums up what podcasts are and what they can do.
http://www.epnweb.org/index.php?view_mode=what

How do I subscribe to a Podcast Program?
By clicking this link, parents can receive step-by-step instructions for subscribing and downloading a free iPodder program.
http://www.epnweb.org/index.php?view_mode=questions

Think Educational: Podcasting with Windows
This great article provides step-by-step instructions for educational podcasters.
http://thinkingmachine.pbwiki.com/Think%20Educational%20Podcasting%20with%20Windows

Get Yourself Heard: Learn to Express Yourself Through Podcasting
Here’s a resourceful article about creating a personal podcast.
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/home/internetandsecurity/2.4.58_createyourownpodcast.aspx

How to Create Your Own Podcast
This article is a basic guide to creating a first time podcast with lots of resources.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/how-to-podcast.htm

Services:

Education Podcast Network
EPN is a directory of educational podcast programs that includes a variety of subjects and grade levels.
http://www.epnweb.org/

Kids Learn Out Loud
Here is a site with FREE educational podcasts for kids in a variety of subject areas and grade levels.
http://kids.learnoutloud.com/Kids-Free-Stuff

Candlelight Stories
FREE audio stories for children, including podcasts and more, are offered at this site.
http://www.candlelightstories.com/

Books:

Podcasting For Dummies
Tee Morris, Evo Terra
This book is designed for the not so technologically inclined person, giving step-by-step instructions for listening, downloading, recording, and creating podcasts.

Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide
Todd Cochrane
This book explains how to get started with podcasting, from choosing software, subscribing, recording, and creating podcasts using a personal computer and whatever else a family has on hand.

Additional Links:

Education Podcasts
This is a directory to educational podcasts, for preschool and up.
http://www.podfeed.net/category_list.asp?id=30

Podcasting in Education, A New Way to Inspire Learning
This article is intended for classroom teachers, but homeschooling parents may find many of the suggestions useful.
http://www.apple.com/education/digitalauthoring/podcasting.html

Podcasting in Education
Excellent resource site for learning more about using and creating podcasts for education.
http://www.stager.org/podcasting.html

Notes and Advice:

Educational podcasts can be a wonderful medium for supplying instructional content that enriches the quality of learning.

On the one hand, you can access existing podcasts to provide interesting listening experiences to your children. And, on the other hand, you can also provide your children with a wonderful creative outlet by encouraging them to develop their own podcast productions. They can create their own podcast “shows” on a variety of topics, and they can then share them with friends, family, or online. Such projects can encourage your children to research, organize, write, and edit information on favorite topics, providing valuable experience and life lessons.

The low costs involved in podcasting technology make this option a viable choice for anyone with a computer and internet access!

Because public and private schools don’t often offer sign language classes, and because homeschoolers are allowed more flexibility in their curriculum topics, homeschooling parents have the perfect opportunity to incorporate American Sign Language into their children’s education. There are numerous books, articles, videos, and online resources available to any homeschooling family, with many that are free for the asking.

Articles:

American Sign Language (ASL) vs. Signed English (SE)
This article discusses the differences between American Sign Language and Signed English.
http://www.lessontutor.com/eesASLIntro.html

American Sign Language
For teaching American Sign Language to toddlers and young children with speech delays, this article can benefit parents greatly.
http://www.speechdelay.com/testrosesign.htm

Top 10 Reasons for using American Sign Language(ASL) with babies, toddlers, preschoolers - All Children
If parents are looking for reasons to teach American Sing Language to their children, this article lists many and explains how it can be used with ALL children.
http://www.wesign.com/Articles.htm

American Sign Language Instruction for Homeschoolers
This short article from Home School Magazine describes an American Sign Language class for interested homeschooling families.
http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/resources/?p=164

Services:

SigningOnline
Web-based courses designed to effectively teach American Sign Language at a comfortable pace from anywhere in the world.
http://www.signingonline.com/

ASL Access
ASL Access gives parents access to American Sign Language stories, lessons, and other video resources for all ages.
http://www.aslaccess.org/

ASL University
This unique free online curriculum resource for learning American Sign Language can be a benefit to any homeschooling parents of deaf children.
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/index.htm

Learn American Sign Language (ASL)
Free online ASL course at Lesson Tutor.
http://www.lessontutor.com/ASLgenhome.html

Books:

American Sign Language The Easy Way
David Stewart
This book introduces the deaf culture and American Sign Language to parents and students.

Help Me Learn: Counting 1-10 in American Sign Language
Joan and Gene Silvey
To anyone who wants to learn counting in American Sign Language, this interactive book will be very helpful.

American Sign Language Basics for Hearing Parents of Deaf Children
Jan Kelly-King, Jess Freeman King
Here’s an easy-to-use book and videotapes that provide an introduction to American Sign Language.

Signs for Me: Basic Sign Vocabulary for Children, Parents & Teachers
Ben Bahan & Joe Dannis
This American Sign Language guide to the basics will teach the vocabulary to pre-school and elementary schoolchildren.

The American Sign Language Phrase Book
Lou Fant
With this book, appropriate facial expressions and proper American Sign Language grammar are clearly demonstrated.

Additional Links:

American Sign Language Resources
Free information, flashcards, and printouts for teaching American Sign Language are available at this website.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/asl.shtml

Teaching American Sign Language to Hearing Children
Hearing children can enjoy learning American Sign Language with these articles and videos.
http://www.deafhomeschool.com/study/languages/aslhearing.html

Handspeak
Handspeak is a subscription-based website, consisting of American Sign Language (ASL) online dictionary, lessons and resources.
http://www.handspeak.com/

Notes and Advice:

For parents who want to teach American Sign Language, or even learn along with their children, there are many resources available. There are a multitude of books or articles in print form, websites that offer free printable material, and low-cost or free videos. Although most children are not hearing impaired or deaf, hearing children can learn to sign to help them communicate with those who are.

Parents can even use learning sign language as a family project, and practice throughout the day between family members. The family can make a game out of it by insisting that no one speak for a given amount of time, which then requires the use of sign language exclusively. Not only will it give the whole family practice using what they’ve learned so far, but it also gives children an idea as to what life is like for someone who is deaf or hearing impaired. This exercise can provide not only a valuable lesson in empathy, but also a proper appreciation for the gift of hearing and speech, as well.

Articles:

Ideas for Parents to Use Assistive Technology at Home
This article gives useful information and resources to parents wanting to implement assistive technology into their homeschooling.
http://childparenting.about.com/od/technologytools/a/assistivetech_2.htm

Help for Young Learners: How To Choose AT?
This article isn’t explicitly for homeschoolers. However, it does offer advice for those trying to choose suitable assistive technology products for their children.
http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088

Technology Overview: Assistive Technologies for Dyslexics
This informative article provides descriptions of the various types of assistive technology tools available and links to some of them.
http://www.dyslexic.com/overview

Services:

EnableMart
This website provides assistive technology products, from software and accessories to books and more.
http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Learning

Co-Writer
This program helps anticipate what children want to say and how to find the words they’re looking for.
http://www.donjohnston.com/products/cowriter/index.html

United Streaming
Here’s a video-on-demand service from Discovery Education that covers numerous academic subjects through visual means.  It’s member-based with a free 30-day trial.
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

Time4Learning
Time4Learning offers a comprehensive, educational learning system that builds and reinforces Reading, Writing, and Math skills and is used by special needs children as well as the gifted and mainstream. It also offers a free trial period.
http://www.time4learning.com/learning-special-needs.shtml

Books:

Computer Resources for People with Disabilities: A Guide to Assistive Technologies, Tools and Resources for People of All Ages
This book is a guide to the assistive resources available for people with many types of disabilities.

Family Guide to Assistive Technology
Katharin A. Kelker
A guide to finding and funding assistive technologies for children with disabilities.

Additional Links:

Special Education & Learning Disabilities Software Resources
Links for assistive technology software and more can be found at this website.
http://www.iser.com/special-needs-software.html

Children’s Talking Dictionary and Spellchecker
For parents who teach and for children who learn, this website includes a phonetic spell-checker, speaking dictionary, and handwriting guides in both print and cursive.
http://www.franklin.com/estore/dictionary/KID-1240/

Brainpop Jr.
Using animated movies, quizzes, games, vocabulary and activities, this resource gives homework help in various subject areas for students in K-3. It can be used by parents and teachers.
http://www.brainpopjr.com/

Notes and Advice:

Some types of assistive technology can be expensive, but it doesn’t all have to be. Technological advances are making it increasingly cost effective to obtain services such as voice recognition, text-to-speech, and other assistive technologies. By being aware of a child’s strengths and weaknesses, parents can be thrifty, selecting only the most well-suited products.

It’s also advisable to search online for assistive technology products that are either free, or include free trial periods. By using a product during the free trial period first, parents will know before investing large amounts of money that what they’re purchasing is what they actually need.

One other possible option is the public library. Some of the larger libraries are beginning to loan out computer software of various types. If parents aren’t certain whether they want to purchase a whole new program, or only need a software program for a short time, the library versions will often suffice nicely.

Articles:

Gifted and Learning Disabled: A Homeschool Perspective
This article focuses on a situation that is increasingly common in the homeschooling community: a child who is gifted in some areas with learning difficulties in others. Varying degrees of asynchronous development are common with gifted children, and this article includes ideas on teaching and adapting curricula to fit the needs of the child.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/4336/ldgift.html

Helping Your Highly Gifted Child
This article deals with areas of concern and provides practical suggestions based on the experience of other parents and the sometimes limited research available.
http://www.dirhody.com/discanner/highly.html

How Do I Homeschool My Gifted Child?
Parents can learn how to choose the right method of teaching to fit their gifted child’s learning style, and how to find materials and resources.
http://giftedhomeschoolers.org/articles/howtohomeschool.html

Homeschooling with Profoundly Gifted Kids
This article is a book excerpt from High IQ Kids, by Kathryn Finn, showing how home-based education can grow, expand, and accelerate to meet the needs of gifted learners. It also addresses the challenges and joys of teaching a gifted child.
http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles/81-4.html

When School Fails, Is Homeschooling Right for You?
Here’s an article that focuses on the lack of resources for gifted children in public schools and why homeschooling best suits these children’s needs
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/schools_fail.htm

Services:

Prufrock Press
One of the nation’s leading resources for gifted and advanced learners. Offers articles and other resources, including curricula, textbooks, and more.
http://www.prufrock.com/

Moving Beyond the Page
A comprehensive research-based curriculum, this service is designed to challenge and stimulate gifted and creative homeschoolers.
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/?gclid=CKjfkeW1rI8CFQtFgQodLzrE8w

Hollingworth Center for Highly Gifted
Open to anyone interested in the support of highly gifted children, they are especially supportive of homeschooling families. Membership includes the Newsletter and access to resources and networking services with other families of highly gifted children, professionals, schools, and organizations having expertise with these children.
http://www.hollingworth.org/

The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY)
Dedicated to developing computer-based multimedia courses in Mathematics, Physics, English, and other subjects to gifted students, their goal is to present gifted students with the opportunity to take courses suitable to their ability. http://epgy.stanford.edu/index.html

Books:

Homeschooling Your Gifted Child: Language Arts for the Middle School Years
Lee Wherry Brainerd, Wendy Moss
This book is full of ideas for teaching gifted kids at home. It includes information for determining whether and how a child is gifted.

Creative Home Schooling: A Resource Guide for Smart Families
Lisa Rivero
Parents can find helpful hints for homeschooling gifted children in this book. It includes an entire section entitled ‘At Home With Gifted Children’ and addresses areas not usually covered in homeschooling books, such as asynchronous development, perfectionism, and learning for self-actualization.

Parent’s Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education
David Palmer
As a reference for parents in an easy-to-understand language, this book gives those with little or no background in IQ testing and gifted education a close look at how the system of screening, testing, and programming works.

Additional Links:

Is it a Cheetah?
This thought-provoking article uses a great analogy to help get you thinking about how to identify gifted children. Because of many circumstances, gifted children may not all be able to live up to their abilities, and may not always be the highest performing students.
http://www.stephanietolan.com/is_it_a_cheetah.htm

Asynchrony: Homeschooling an Exceptionally Gifted Child
This article talks about exceptionally gifted children and how homeschooling can help. It also includes additional links at the article’s conclusion.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/asynchrony.htm

National Society for the Gifted and Talented
This resource for parents has additional benefits to those with membership.
http://www.nsgt.org/resources/parents.asp

Homeschooling Mensans YahooGroup
This online support group is for anyone desiring support in homeschooling gifted children.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschoolingmensans/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=4

Accelerated Learner Forum at The Well-Trained Mind
This online forum is for parents whose children are advanced in one or more areas.
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Notes and Advice:

When it comes to homeschooling gifted or talented children, parents should remember that regardless of their intelligence, the child is still just a kid and not a little adult. Parents sometimes panic when they learn they have a gifted son or daughter and wonder how they can possibly homeschool when their child’s IQ may even be greater than their own.

Although that may be the case, intelligence isn’t determined by how much a person knows, but rather by their potential to learn and reason. The mere fact that parents have lived decades longer than their children means that they begin with more experience and factual knowledge. The parents may not learn as quickly or remember as well, but their years of experience on this earth have equipped them to find materials and methods that will help their child learn and develop. The numerous resources now available for teaching gifted children make the parent’s job much easier than in times past. It is no longer necessary to re-invent the wheel!

One difficulty that many parents face is finding enough material, and finding it quickly enough, to keep their gifted child mentally fed. Because of the raging mental appetite that gifted children sometimes have, finding subjects of the greatest interest to the child is a good way to begin homeschooling them. Once they realize that they have the capacity to learn a vast amount of information very quickly, and that they will retain most of it, the world of intellectual challenges opens up like the gate on a playground.

Parents may find that they need to work harder to support their child’s emotional development. It is common for gifted children to be perfectionists, or to become easily frustrated by asynchronous development. Some may also need support and encouragement to develop satisfying relationships with other children, since they may have a hard time relating to how others understand the world.

To help keep up with your gifted child’s needs, sharing communicating with other families with gifted homeschoolers can be especially helpful. By reading all you can, and developing supportive relationships with other homeschoolers, you will have the resources and confidence you need to help your child thrive.

See Popular Product Reviews for Gifted and Talented Homeschoolers at ChoosyHomeschooler.com: 

Miquon Math

“Miquon Math certainly teaches a child to think mathematically. My 7 year old who learned the Miquon way when she was 4 has an understanding of Math that sometimes surprises me and I attribute it to her early experiences with Miquon.”

RightStart Math

 ”That’s one thing I really love about RightStart math: rather than rote memorization, it encourages the child to explore the math concepts he or she is learning.”

The Well Trained Mind: Classical Education at Home

“The Well Trained Mind sets the academic bar high! Any family following this educational model will find that they are being challenged intellectually and can rest assured that their children will do well in whatever roles they choose to pursue post high school. “

Articles:

Homeschooling the ADHD Child
This is a great article for those parenting children with ADHD. It includes not only helpful information but loads of resources and a list of support groups. This article is from a Christian perspective.
http://christianadhd.com/adhomeschool.php

Top 10 Tips for Teaching ADHD/ADD Children
Wonderful article from homeschool parent of ADHD child with tips on how to teach these children (and those with ADD) effectively.
http://www.westfieldacademy.org/adhd/

Positively ADD-Parenting and Unschooling
Lots of information here from an ‘unschooling’ family that’s been there.
http://www.mindspring.com/~jupton/frame-homesch1.htm

Homeschooling Advice: Dealing with the ADD/ ADHD Child
Article that centers around evaluating and focusing on a child’s abilities rather than their disorder.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/37738/homeschooling_advice_dealing_with_the.html

Services:

Timez Attack
This is a great video game that teaches kids multiplication facts. It works especially well for children with ADHD, who just won’t sit still. They offer a FREE version to try or a full version for $39.99.
http://www.bigbrainz.com/index.php

Laurel Springs
Distance learning program that works with children who have ADD/ADHD.
http://www.laurelsprings.com/add-adhd-homeschool.asp

Time4Learning - Student-Paced Online Learning for Special Needs Kids
Time4Learning provides a learning system effective for many special education and special needs including ADD/ADHD. Activities are a combination of learning and fun, using an interactive environment that adapts to your kid’s educational needs.
http://www.time4learning.com/learning-special-needs.shtml

Books:

Homeschooling the Child with ADD (or Other Special Needs): Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the Child with Learning Differences
Lenore Hayes
This is not a “how-to” book but rather a great “why to” resource for homeschooling your child with special needs.

ADD/ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit: Ready-to-Use Strategies & Activities for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Disorder
Grad L. Flick, Ph.D.
This book offers strategies that any family dealing with ADD/ADHD kids can incorporate into their home. It contains surveys, checklists, charts, and worksheets as well as lists of age-appropriate ideas for rewarding students.

How To Reach And Teach Children with ADD/ADHD: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions
Sandra F. Rief, M.A.
This book gives clear, detailed advice and techniques for teaching ADD/ADHD children impulse control and improves concentration and study skills.

Parenting Children With Adhd: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach
Vincent Monastra
This book addresses basic problems and contains guidelines with useful advice on how to handle your child to optimize their behavior.

Twelve Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child: Drug-Free Alternatives for Attention-Deficit Disorders
Laura Stevens
For the parents choosing not to use medication to manage ADHD, this book includes a step-by-step approach for helping their children.

Additional Links:

Chore Chart List
Record your child’s scheduled activities in the available place to help them keep track of those responsibilities.
http://christianadhd.com/schedule.php

How to Homeschool a Student with ADD/ADHD
Article with techniques and tips for homeschooling children with ADD/ADHD.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/176390/how_to_homeschool_a_student_with_addadhd.html

ADHD Parents Homeschooling ADHD Kids YahooGroup
An online support group for parents with ADD who are homeschooling children with ADD
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADHD_Homeschool/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=2

Christian ADHD Homeschoolers List
An email discussion list for Christian homeschoolers with ADHD children.
http://christianadhd.com/adhomeschool.php

Notes and Advice:

For parents who are homeschooling ADD/ADHD children, there are many tools and resources available to help get them started. Begin taking advantage of these resources by reading articles, books, and anything else relating to ADD/ADHD. Then, be sure to get support from other homeschoolers in your situation. There are a number of online discussion groups and forums for parents of ADD/ADHD children, especially those who homeschool. Depending on your location, you may find local support groups as well!

See Popular Product Reviews for ADHD Homeschoolers at ChoosyHomeschooler.com:

Math-U-See

 ”My son did not want to stop doing math that day. He did seven lessons before I finally made his stop. His exact words to me were, “I know why they call this Math-U-See, because you see the math you are doing!””

Time 4 Learning

“In addition, this is one of the few sites I’ve found which is great for families with special needs children. The site is engaging, and lessons can be repeated as often as needed until a concept is mastered. The program is accommodating if you have a child with a short attention span as well.”

Handwriting Without Tears

“In my opinion, this program would be especially good for children with special needs, including fine motor skills delays. It simplifies handwriting and makes it a bit easier for children to get the letters right. I like the fact that they emphasize quality over quantity . . .”