A place where Dyslexics can be Dyslexics.
Find information, resources, stories, curriculum, encouragement and a lot of fun!
This is a place to foster a love of learning!
Here is some great ways to kick-start your Spring Homeschooling.
Dyslexic's learn by doing, feeling, smelling and experiencing. Check out this compilation of some of the things we have tried and been successful at doing. (This post contains affiliate links-I will be compensated if you purchase anything using these links-Thank you for supporting The Dyslexic Homeschooler)
Here are some books that might help bring inspiration and understanding to your homeschooling days!
Whatever the area that needs rejuvenating, enjoy the newness of Spring around the corner and bring some of that freshness to your classroom...aka, your living room/dinning room area!
Happy Homeschooling!
Entomology starts at such an early age and with all of those tiny Science experiments waiting to happen-how can you avoid getting your fingers dirty and digging to investigate them for yourself? Especially when they look and move with such fascination! Even ants-the most notorious of bugs. They are everywhere! So what better way to start class than in your very own backyard...
Looking at Ants you can observe how they live by finding an ant hill. Sometimes you can also get a kit, but I find the backyard much more fun! You can observe what they eat by putting out certain foods by these hills to see what types of food they prefer and record it in a science journal. You can observe how they are a colony and stay in line. You can study how they have order and use their scent for others. "Consider the ant..." the Bible says...You can search the scriptures on them and find some wonderful wisdom. Ants are a great way to start!
We got a butterfly kit and that was such an amazing experience for our family! The kids got to see the butterfly emerge from its cocoon and wow..to see their faces....I have never seen anything so wonderful. It almost reminded me of birth in itself and I am absolutely astonished that God would let us do such an amazing thing. I will add a link below with places you can order butterfly kits through.
Let your child's imagination change and become wiser through observations and studying God's wonderful creation. Here are some great ways to enhance learning and use some other senses to develop stronger neurological pathways!
Write and draw about what you have seen or learned. Keep it to a sentence or very short paragraph for those that have strong Dysgraphia. Or, better yet, scribe for them and let their words flow freely!
Create bugs using paint and leaves from autumn. I love the idea above!
Easy and cheap fun Creations!
Then, of course, bake something!
Below I have added a recipe that I love!! Maybe bring it to your Homeschool learning Co-op or bring it to your small Homeschool meet-ups for some fun :D
Kiwi Crate now ships to Canada! I was soooo excitted to learn that Kiwi Crate is shipping to Canada Now! They have such a great thing going on and now for us too :D If you don't know about them, see below!
About Kiwi Crate
Kiwi Crate's award-winning, monthly subscription service makes a wonderful gift for kids ages 3-8. For less than $20 per month, your little one will receive multiple arts, crafts, and science activities – delivered right to your door. (gift options ››)
Recently featured in InStyle, Parenting Magazine, and US Weekly, Kiwi Crate has also been awarded Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Products of 2012, Parent’s Choice 2012 Gold Award, and an Oppenheim Gold Seal Best Toy Award. Kiwi Crate is already a celebrity favorite, and is sure to delight the little ones in your life, as well!
Kiwi Crate offers a range of subscription levels, all shipped for free:
Below is some of the things we use in our Homeschooling, or think will be great for other Dyslexic learners! Some are ones that I am looking forward to getting too. I think learning through games is the best thing to concrete those neurological pathways after learning a new concept as well as break up the day for them and get them to enjoy learning again :)
POP for Rhyming Game - $9.99
Fun pre-reading practice with a POP! Pull a picture card say what you see ("cat") then say a word that rhymes to keep your card. Pull a POP bubble and all your cards go back! Fast-paced game includes durable bubble-jar container with guide printed on the outside 80 bubble-shaped cards and spinner. Spin and take a bubble card. Name the image shown on the card and then say a word that rhymes. Watch out for the POP cards! Be the player with the most bubble cards and win!
Recordable block reaches beyond simple listening and speaking practice (auditory) to also include visual reinforcement. Insert card/photo and press down to record and replay up to 30 seconds of sound. Flip the switch to lock. Convey activity instructions assess or reinforce skills (phonics sight words mental math vocabulary and more). Great augmentative communication tool. Grades PreK+
Ideal for speaking and listening records and plays back 30 seconds of sound
With a removable clear top you can create pictures symbols numbers or letters to match your recording
The large size is ideal for children with visual or motor skill impairments
Wall mountable
Requires 3 AAA batteries not included
We use this resource!
Alphabet Center Pocket Chart - $34.99
Ready-made alphabet center comes with 208 cards! Teaches alphabet awareness uppercase and lowercase letters and vowels and consonants with 52 color-coded letter cards Reinforces initial letter sounds with 156 illustrated cards Encourages children to sort cards into 26 letter pockets Includes 3 clear display pockets storage pocket and Activity Guide Nylon chart with hanging grommets measures 28"L x 34"H Grades PreK-1
The awesome thing about Pocket Charts are that they feel like a game and they are fun for kids too!
Hamburger Sequencing Pocket Chart - $34.99
What a delicious way to learn the parts of a paragraph the scientific method or any step-by-step process. This unique hamburger-shaped chart is a great mnemonic device to help students remember things in a sequence. It includes 12 preprinted cards and 12 blank write-on/wipe-off cards. Features a vinyl storage pocket on the back and grommets for hanging from our Adjustable Pocket Chart Stand (LER 2196) or mounting on the wall.
We use this Resource!
Dino Math Tracks Place-Value Game - $24.99
Learn math with a prehistoric twist. This award-winning game can be played at various levels. Counting addition subtraction and place value skills are strengthened in the ones tens hundreds and thousands places. For 2-4 players.
Spill Your Guts Human Body Game - $26.99
The pressure's on as student surgeons try to assemble all the patient's organs-without spilling its guts! Using the included 100 true/false question cards students answer questions about the human body and its organ systems. When they answer correctly they earn an organ to place in the body tray. When they answer incorrectly they spill the guts-and start over! Collect the most correctly answered question cards to win. Game features 11 plastic organ pieces: heart 2 lungs 2 kidneys diaphragm with trachea pancreas with spleen stomach liver small and large intestines and rib cage. Clear plastic body tray measures approximately 16"L. For 2-4 players or teams.
I like how the Vowels and Consonants are colour-coordinated with the letters they are using.
Blends Center Pocket Chart - $34.99
This heavy-duty chart is sure to keep students' interests as you teach beginning blends. It features three clear pocket rows for card display and 207 coated cards (117 pictures 20 blends 40 consonants 26 vowels and 4 blanks). Made of easy-to-clean nylon. Includes Teaching Guide. Use alone or with Alphabet Center Pocket Chart (LER 2246).
Many times Dyslexics are incredible gifted in these area. Nasa actually seeks out Dyslexic's for employment. They love how they can think outside the box!
OK So I did it! I coloured in one of my children's pictures and wanted to share it with you :D He was so happy that I would take the time out and do that for him. He starting dancing on the spot when I told him.
Here is the before pic
Now I told you earlier that mine won't be as good lol and I was faithful to this saying. I did use this as an opportunity to show my son what shadows are and blending with pastels. I have no doubt in my mind that he will try to use some of those concepts because he is my little graphic artist and drawer. Those are great tools for layering, depth and perception.
I encourage you to give it a try and send me your pics too. I would love to see them!
I love this! I guess his daughter asked him to specifically colour it in as a barred rock and chic. I think this, not only shows how much he loves his children and wants a part of him to be there when he is gone off to work, but it also fosters a love of art; a love of learning, creativity, unity within a family etc.
I especially like the use of animated-type of artwork here. It brings the artwork to life. How proud his children must have been to see their work come to life like this :D I bet my kids would love for me to do that. YOU know, I might give it a try...probably won't look as nice though .
This one made my heart melt. I can see that their father could look at these drawings with a keen eye to get the emotion and the thought of what his children were trying to protray. Quiet incredible.
Something to note:Going along the theme of fostering a love of learning, that we Home Schoolers really try to advocate, he mentioned also that his kids will keep an invention journal that they go over every week as well. Creativity, Invention, Graphic Artistry, Artistry in any sort is often times the strength of a Dyslexic Learner. What a way to help encourage our children in their strengths! I am going to try and do this. Let me know if you do too!
I fly out of state to work 10 days out of each month. When I go, the kids give me pictures they've drawn. I color them on the plane and give the pictures back to them when I return. Nothing fancy. The kids love them. My wife wants me to put them up.
