How to Home School Your Child - Homeschooling Children with Special Needs

Special needs children need special education and many parents of special needs kids prefer to home school. They feel that they can provide their child with the one on one attention that they need to learn as much as possible. Public schools sometimes do well with their special education departments but that is not always the case. In addition, even though some schools do better than others, none can offer the constant one on one attention that you can provide for your child.

Homeschooling a child with learning disabilities gives them a unique advantage. You can allow the child to learn at his own pace and to give time to the areas where he excels. These children need special attention and the freedom to learn in their own way. When you home school, you allow the child to discover their own potential, and excel in ways they may never experience in a public school.

 

Developing Teaching Methods

The most important thing to immediately learn before homeschooling special needs children is successful teaching methods. While you may be able to develop your own teaching style and methods according to what works for you and your child, you need to start out with some basics. Children with learning disabilities require specific, tried and true teaching methods. The methods you use, and the materials you teach, will depend on what type of learning disability your child has.

The best way to develop these teaching methods is to talk to professionals involved with your child’s case. This includes their doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and any other specialists that they see on a regular basis. These individuals understand your child’s situation fully and can offer advice and resources to help you determine the best way to teach your child. You can then take what you learn and alter it as needed to fit your child’s needs.

Measuring Success

With special needs children, it becomes even more important to measure their success within the home school. Their progress needs to be clearly charted, as well as failures. This will help you determine what is working and what isn’t. It can also give important insight into how severe developmental or learning disabilities really are.

These records should be carefully maintained and shared with any doctors or specialists your child sees. These professionals can help ensure that your child is learning to the best of their ability. These records will also give these individuals the information they need to make decisions about the care of your child. They may also be able to offer additional advice and resources based on your child’s progress.


This is an excerpt from the book: How to Home School Your Child: and Develop a Well Trained Mind