Tips for Learning Challenges

My disclaimer...

While I definitely think children learn at their own pace and research backs that up, I also definitely believe some kids definitely have disabilities that need targeted help. That help may be from a professional or a parent with professional advice or training. 

These tips are things that have worked over my 16 yrs as a homeschool parent with 4 different types of learners and other homeschool parents.

Reading-

1. Reading a loud often is a given. All ages, even up to high school. This not only creates a culture of language and reading but it’s a great 1:1 time for kids and their parents. So much can be done with reading a loud such as having them read a sentence to encourage them but you read the rest so they don’t get too challenged. You can explain vocabulary words they may not know in context. You can point out punctuation so they understand how it’s used. None of this should be done tediously, but slid in now and then as needed. 
2. Audio books are under utilized and can be so helpful for kids! They are often free thru the library (which I highly encourage) or apps. Epic is a great reading app we like.  
3. Line guides, some kids have issues following the lines and line guides can help them stay on track. You can use something as simple as a ruler or buy a fancier one. This is a formal guide, as an example.
4. Graphic novels are the best thing for many struggling readers IMO. Wide range of topics from fun stories for younger kids to mature topics for older kids. There are fiction and non fiction graphic novels. They have long been discounted as poor quality or just simple comics but they have exploded in the last 5 yrs esp with incredible stories. Classics are even turned into graphic novels to make them more approachable and understandable! Kids that get frustrated with so many words on a page of a chapter book can easily digest the smaller text sections of a graphic novel. It can give them reading confidence and expose them to reading in a non threatening and engaging way. Don’t discount graphic novels! 
5. Reading aloud can often be very scary and stressful for a struggling reader but it can be really helpful too. Encourage them to read to a pet or even a stuffed animal if they want. Tell them no one else has to listen, but the practice can definitely help them.
6. Don’t turn reading into a book report for each book they read. I will often ask my daughter to tell me about the story in a conversational way, and she can often share the characters, plot, etc. but if I asked her to write those things down, it would be a blank face. If you need it recorded for some reason for a homeschool portfolio or work sample, write it for them. 

Writing:

1. If printing is a struggle try cursive or italics, keeping the pencil on the paper sometimes helps a child write better because they aren’t having to transition to each letter like printing. 
2. Typing instead of writing
3. Texting is great for simple writing practice

Math:

1. Multiplication facts- yes, ideally we want our kids to know their mult facts but reality is, not all kids can retain these. Don’t spend years wasted on trying to drill and kill! There comes a post where you acknowledge they aren’t retaining them and you give them a table or other tool to use when doing math. You can try again in a year or and maybe they are ready at that point, but if not, just keep using the table.  
2. Games, especially for fractions. Apps and video games are good too for math concepts.

General tips:

Movement, we often think kids have to be sitting still to learn, but some kids are the opposite, they need to be moving or bouncing or fiddling to process information. 

Noise- some need quiet and others need back ground noise 

Noise canceling headphones can be a huge help for some kids.

Be conscious of the type of noise, music or wind chimes or a fan are low key white noise. A TV show or loud kids playing is a different kind of noise than be a distraction so be aware of the noise that is in the background.

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