The Homeschool Solutions Show

Today Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart are talking about how common it is to feel that we've lost ourselves in this season of homeschooling. We used to have interests, passions and plans, even careers. While Wendy and Kelli both had to learn to fit their writing careers into the cracks and crevices of family life, they want to encourage you to remember and reclaim some of your passions and pleasures.

In her 25 years of teaching special education and consulting, Dianne Craft has found that it takes only 5 steps, consistently applied in a daily reading lesson, to not only remove the symptoms of Dyslexia (reversals, scrambling sounds, and dysgraphia), but the effects of Dyslexia , (below level reading, spelling and writing). In this Podcast you will learn 2 simple steps: Physical Exercises that internalize directionality for a child and Visual Teaching Strategies that faithfully put "Zany Memory Hooks" on all aspects of reading…phonemes/phonics; sight words; spelling words. This can all be done in a daily reading session. It's a method that she used in both Elementary and Middle School settings with equal success. A minimum of 2 years growth in a year was made using these simple, but non-curriculum related strategies. (many times, more) No need for future college accommodations. No need for curriculum purchase. No special training needed. Just success at your fingertips.

Cynthia and Sue give tried and true tips on what works when you are just about to hit the wall as motivation is waning.This episode speaks to those who need to get over obstacles.

Have you ever thought about starting your own homeschooling co-op? In this episode, Jessica shares the step-by-step of how she built a small homeschool community from the ground up. The episode discusses what kind of people you should think about including, the ideal size of a beginning group, her co-op's daily schedule and curriculum, forming a community mission, and how they added extra events to enrich the community.

Stories are more than words on paper. A good story can serve as a window through which we can see truth. Just as a picture is said to be worth a thousand words, a short story can convey an idea more effectively than an entire self-help book. Join me today, and I'll talk briefly about reading, and then we'll have a grown-up storytime with a short story by Leo Tolstoy. I hope you'll enjoy this episode!

Today we're talking about suffering and hardship. How we can keep putting one-foot-in-front-of-the-other as we homeschool our kids when we're going through a frightening diagnosis, financial struggles, relationship battles…? How do we keep the family together when our world is falling apart?

Many parents find that the very best educational setting for children with Asperger's like symptoms is at home. Since these children are often gifted learners, at home they are free to explore the topics of interest to them, without needing to do the mundane chores that are needed in the more formal school setting. Let's explore the various interventions and resources available to help these wonderful kids and teens thrive at home.

More practical tips for loving and teaching your strong-willed child--without driving either one of you crazy!

Are you losing your creativity? Got the winter doldrums? Feeling depressed? This episode offers 10 very practical ideas for what to do with your family inside and also encourages parents who may feel down in the dumps.