Tag: Special Needs

For many families, school districts and specialized schools provide appropriate levels of support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These children benefit from the expertise of specialists, structured learning programs, supported interactions with peers, and customized learning plans. Other families, however, do not find success in these or traditional school programs and are increasingly […]

National Autism Awareness Month, also known as Autism Acceptance Month, has been observed every April since 1972 to promote public awareness and acceptance, improve lifestyles, and expand opportunities for people with autism. Time4Learning serves a large number of families who are homeschooling a child with autism, and we proudly join our nation in recognizing this […]

At age 3, Laura was nonverbal. Fifteen years later, this Time4Learning graduate is headed to the Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME) to pursue a college degree. This educational journey has involved therapy, and the determination of her parents to encourage Laura’s talents. Above all else, it underscores the power of Laura’s own strength, determination, […]

As we celebrate Autism Awareness Month, we are pleased to share part two of this special series by Christina Stiles, a homeschooling mom and Time4Learning staff member. If you haven’t yet, read part one here. So began the first heartbreaking year for my daughter, Bella, when she was pushed into a classroom at a charter […]

As we celebrate Autism Awareness Month, we are pleased to share this special blog post by Christina Stiles, a homeschooling mom and Time4Learning staff member. I can remember it as clear as day: the moment a dear family friend, Marta, (who also happened to be a Speech Pathologist, and like a mother figure to me) […]

In our series of benefits of homeschooling kids with special needs, we’ve covered from planning to teaching strategies and assessments as well as how to provide feedback. But what else can you do to help your child achieve greater success and prepare them beyond academics? Your child may excel in certain topics, perform at average […]

If your child has special needs, you know that there may be some reluctance regarding academics in general. This may be especially true when more difficult content pushes your child outside of their comfort zone. Luckily, there are effective motivational strategies for students with special needs, including how to provide feedback throughout your instruction and […]

Assessing students with special needs can be tricky. Students with ADHD or autism can struggle with testing. At the very least, being assessed is less comfortable for students who have academic challenges. However, it is important to assess exceptional learners to monitor progress more closely in order to discover challenges as early as possible and […]

Once you have planned instruction with your child’s needs in mind, you are ready to get started on the actual delivery process of that plan. We’ve put together some tips to guide you through, from how to teach to how to engage your students with special needs. Each of these methods for how to teach […]

In the previous post we talked about how to help students with special needs through homeschooling.  The homeschool setting allows for flexibility to plan instruction with their needs in mind. It also allows individualization that may not be possible in a traditional classroom setting.  It also opens the possibility for even more creative types of […]

Navigating a school’s special education system can be tricky, and sometimes well-meaning efforts still allow students with special needs to fall through the cracks. When children with special needs are homeschooled, they get the benefit of teachers who really know them. Also, there are many types of individualization that can occur in a homeschool environment […]

Many educators are introducing technology as a learning tool into public schools and homeschools. It makes sense. These tools, such as online curriculum products, electronic worksheets, phonetic spelling software, amongst others, can maximize childrens’ learning strengths and help reduce their weaknesses. But the benefits of technology in education go above and beyond that.  These tools […]

When it comes to homeschooling, there are certain subjects that parents just don’t feel comfortable teaching. At the top of the list, you’ll usually find math. When it comes to autism and math skills, some students are highly gifted. There are others who can memorize certain facts but are unable to apply the information when […]

When you have children, summer is usually a time dedicated to relaxing, perhaps family vacation, and a more laid back schedule overall. Even before summer rolls around, many parents are on the hunt for activity ideas such as summer camp to keep their children active both physically and mentally. If you have a child with […]

As mentioned in Part One of this blog series, children and teens with dyslexia have a lot to offer the world. The reason diagnoses such as dyslexia are often labeled “learning differences” rather than “learning disabilities” in today’s society is because research has shown that the very thing that makes reading and writing a challenge […]