ArticlesArticles
HOMESCHOOLING: COULD IT WORK FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Have you ever dreamed of leaping to your feet right in the middle of an IEP meeting and shrieking, "I quit?" When the nightly homework battle erupts into shouts and tears, are you tempted to crumple into a chair whimpering, "I can't take this anymore. I give up." All parents caught in this trap sometimes wonder if there isn't a better way.
Is there?
Some families have found a better way through homeschooling. It isn't for everybody. But under the right circumstances, educating an LD/ADD student at home can work miracles for the child and his/her entire family.
The first question must be: Is there a qualified adult in the family who has the temperament for such a demanding, long-term commitment? This is not a job for the fainthearted, easily discouraged, perfectionistic, or disorganized. Also, successfully homeschooling an LD/ADD student requires a thorough understanding of the particular youngster involved as well as a willingness to coach, encourage, commiserate, and remain flexible. One teaching mom had to search out a different reading program for each of her six LD children. Not everybody has that kind of patience.
Homeschooling is labor intensive. In addition to finding and learning to use effective techniques and materials, each lesson requires advance preparation as well as close supervision. For this kind of child, the standard "Get out your book, turn to page 53, and start where we left off yesterday" approach won't work. Anybody thinking of homeschooling an LD/ADD child needs to be prepared to design lessons that can capture and hold the attention of this wiggly, distractible youngster. And that isn't always easy.
Then, there's the question of the law. Before jumping into the home education business, parents need to be well-informed about their state's homeschooling regulations. Every state has its own requirements, and they vary widely. In North Carolina, anyone with a high school education can homeschool a child as long as they keep good attendance records and provide the state with a set of standardized test scores annually. Other states are much stricter. Some require the teaching parent to have a college degree or a teaching certificate. Others allow homeschooling only under the supervision of the local public school system. A set of the state guidelines along with the necessary application forms can usually be obtained with a phone call to the state Board of Education. Not all parents will qualify.
If the preliminary investigation makes homeschooling look like a reasonable option, it's wise to talk to people who are actively involved in it. The library, the internet, and local churches can usually provide names of families, groups, or organizations committed to this form of education. Do be aware that many homeschoolers do so for religious reasons and band together with others of the same persuasion. Such groups often prefer to exclude non-believers. However, those that welcome outsiders and focus their attention on supporting homeschoolers in developing sound educational practices can be extremely helpful.
For those who decide to leap in, it's wise to take an experimental approach. Without permanently cutting any ties, allow a semester for healing and learning. Give the homeschooling pair the opportunity to discover that the key to success is observation, preparation, developing a routine, and persistence. Give the partners time to discover unexpected delights and talents which they will then use to resolve persistent problems.
When it works right... When the parent and child make a good working team... When the student has had a semester or two to heal from the shame of failure and public humiliation... When satisfying learning experiences begin to accumulate... parents say that the eager, enthusiastic, inquisitive child who delighted them as a four year old comes back.
I've heard it over and over. The successful homeschooling mother proclaims, usually with tear-filled eyes, "I've got my child back."
excerpted
from Smart Kids with LD — www.smartkidswithld.org
A truly outstanding web resource where parents can find
information and support.