Our question today comes from Cheryl who blogs at Somewhat Crunchy Mom…
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to homeschool a family member who has been lost in the shuffle of public school. He is a vibrant 12 year old who loves to learn but is struggling. He is completing 6th grade but reading and writing on a 3rd grade level. He has a myriad of learning delays, but learns well visually and with tactile applications. He also has great difficulty writing; even if he has something to copy he has difficulty getting it on paper.
So, taking all this into consideration, what curriculum would you recommend for an older student to relearn the foundations of reading, handwriting and spelling?
Please share some advice with Cheryl as she begins this new adventure in her life.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m definitely not a seasoned homeschooler, but I very HIGHLY recommend “The Spalding Writing Road to Reading. It is amazing! You can really tailor it to his needs/abilities. I use it for preschool and kindergarten, but the author even recommends using it for remedial work for much older students.
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For handwriting, I recommend Handwriting Without Tears. It was designed by an occupational therapist to help kids who had small motor delays and other handwriting issues.
I would also suggest to make his writing assignments oral, to find out if the problem is with the physical act of writing, or not being able to form thoughts or ideas about a subject. Those are two very different problems that would need different solutions.
How wonderful of you for trying to help this child! Kuddos to you!
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Thank you guys for the suggestions! I will be sure to check them out.
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My son also thrives with visual and tactile learning. We have had great success with All About Spelling. It reinforces phonics rules, laying or reinforcing a good foundation for reading. And it uses magnetic letter tiles which have been wonderful for my son. You can read a review about it at The Curriculum Choice. (Sorry, I don’t know how to link in the comment box. Maybe google All about Spelling Curriculum Choice, and it will probably pop up for you.) Blessings to you and your son on this journey!
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Thanks Shannon, you’re the second person to recommend AAS, it looks fantastic :)
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My son is about the same age and sounds like he has similar issues as yours. When I started homeschooling in April, I used textbooks, thinking that I could just adapt them. I’ve since given them back.
What works for SJ has been a variety of sources. First and foremost, he has to be interested in the topic before I get any engagement. I use Popular Science, Bicycling magazines, Medieval weaponry books, and the like. My handler (Education Specialist) reminds me to teach where he is without worrying about what he is NOT getting. She assures me we will make progress and we have.
I particularly liked an article in The Homeschool Magazine titled, “Three Keys to Teaching Writing” by Danielle Olander. Essentially, you use established text and work with the student to write key word and ideas, then rewrite. I have found that letting my son dictate to me works well. He is not so stopped by the processing deficiencies. My handler also recommends “Step Up to Writing.” I am reviewing it now and think I might try pieces of it next year. Good luck to you! Please pop over to my blog and let me know what works for you. With our struggling learners, each day can be a struggle for us, too!