Anxiety And The Struggling Reader
My son is twelve years old. I clearly remember him in his sweet little preschool classroom at four years old. He loved the arts, the crafts, the playtime and the other children. But the letters, the...
View ArticleReal Life, Hands-On Activities For Teens
Every Friday, I share a new, fun, hands-on activity here as part of our 52 Weeks of Fun-Fridays series. Three full months in, I am so glad to be doing it. Not only is it helping me and my sons, but I...
View ArticleWhat About Curriculum For Children With Special Needs?
It’s what I hear about most from moms considering homeschooling their children with special needs. What about curriculum? There’s just so much. I don’t even know where to start! Should it be different...
View ArticleEasy Make Your Own Harry Potter Wand Activity
My youngest has a love affair with all things Harry Potter. It began a few years ago, when we realized that he could listen to the audio books in the car, as a way to calm down stressful trips and to...
View ArticleHow Do I Help My Struggling Reader?
Last week, we resumed my son’s daily reading lessons and practice. He is profoundly dyslexic, and all the research shows that in order for him to become a proficient reader he needs daily, consistent...
View ArticleHarry Potter Money Activity: Hands-On Math For Older Learners
My son really enjoys and has a natural affinity for money math. He used to “play” with quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies while his older brother did homework. Before he was able to skip count, he...
View ArticleLearning Geography Through Literature With Beautiful Feet Books
When my boys were younger, we had a map of the world rug on the floor in our dining room. Everyday, as part of our morning routine, we would hop from one continent to the next, and sing a song. “North...
View ArticleHands-On Learning for Hands-On Kids: Make Your Own Treasure Chest
There are a few things I have never, ever tried with my kids. One is skateboarding, because the last thing we need around here is me in a body cast. Another is any X-box video game. I can handle the...
View ArticleSummer Break For The Child Who Needs Structure
I have been feeling it for a while now. The nagging worry. A tiny flicker of fear. The desire to head to Mexico and have a drink by the pool. Summer is coming. When you have a child who requires a...
View ArticleArt Without Meltdowns: Activities For The Perfectionist Child
It only takes one thing. We can be happily working on an art project or hands-on activity, everything going well, me taking pictures and feeling like we are accomplishing something – and then one thing...
View ArticleThe Pros And Cons Of Homeschooling A Child With Special Needs
When my son was in public school, I spent a lot of time daydreaming about what it would be like if I could stay home with him and homeschool. No drop-off meltdowns. No calls from the teacher. No...
View ArticlePlants And Gardening Activities For Older Kids
It’s finally feeling a bit like summer around here. The bees are buzzing. The flowers are blooming. The mom is sweating. (I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real. Summer and motherhood can be sweaty.) And,...
View ArticleHomeschooling A Child With ADHD: An Honest Look
We made the decision to homeschool my youngest son before he was diagnosed with ADHD. We made the decision, in part, because we suspected it. We could see the need to move, the need to talk, and the...
View ArticleWater Play For Older Kids: Summer Learning Activities That Are Actually Fun
My youngest has never met a pool or hose that he didn’t like. He’s the first one in, the last one out and usually begging for more. Although we don’t have a pool, we do have a ton of fun each summer...
View ArticleHelping My Anxious Child: Our Summer Learning Plan
When my son was seven and struggling to read, I enrolled him in a summer reading intensive. It was taught by reading specialists at our local college and I honestly thought it would be perfect. The...
View ArticleEasy Summer Learning That Is Absolutely Free
Easy just might be my word for this summer. I want easy afternoons, easy meals, and easy ways to incorporate learning into our days. I know many of you feel exactly the same way! In an effort to make...
View ArticleHands-On Summer Reading Activities
Earlier this week, I shared our plan for summer learning this year. Our goal is to decrease my son’s anxiety and hopefully give him a fun summer while we are at it. I feel strongly that this is what he...
View ArticleWhy Homeschooling Is The Best Choice For My Child With Special Needs
As I type this, I am an hour away from my youngest son’s IEP meeting. Although we homeschool, in order to be eligible for special educations services, we recently enrolled in a charter program here in...
View ArticleSeven Tips For Learning At Home This Summer (and during the school year too!)
We are mid-way through our summer. We have splashed in the water. We have played in the waves. We have gotten the mosquito bites. We are now fully in the swing of all of the summer things. I went into...
View Article17 Powerful Ways To Help A Struggling Reader
Last week, my son was looking for a favorite YouTube channel. As he scrolled through the options, it occurred to me that he was reading the titles. I held my breath a little, wondering, “Will he need...
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