Are you Homeschooling a child with Dyslexia?
As parents, we all know our children will grow up and go to school. Just like we did as children. Most of us never dream that we will become our child’s teacher for one reason or another.
David and I weren’t prepared to Homeschool so if you’re like me; you may not think you can do it. Although there may come a day when you have no, choice but to Homeschool, your child for one reason or another. As a parent, you take on this challenge or journey with fear and trepidation that you will stumble and fall and you might even fail not only as a parent but as a child. Especially if your children have Special Needs like Charlie, who has Dyslexia and is also diagnosed with ADD not ADHD although he may have it as well as his sister suffered from both though she didn’t have Dyslexia although at times I wondered about it. But we couldn’t get the school to test her as they did for Charlie.
Bullying Goes hand in hand when a child has Special Needs like Dyslexia.
For my family, several factors went into Homeschooling our son. The main reason was Charlie Bullied in school, and he ended up getting hurt. Once the teacher brushed it off and didn’t call us, and we ended up in the ER with a child who begins to have nightmares and was afraid for us to be out of his site. I knew it was time to do something. Although before I could my husband went and checked our son out of school.
Before you ask if he did this without me no, we had discussed it, but I didn’t think it would be that soon. I am glad he did because once our son was home with us he was able to sleep through the night and he begins to laugh again. I could see my son as a child again he didn’t cringe at everything. The next step was telling our family, and yes, we had a lot of negativity and what about Socialization questions.
As a family, we answered them as good as we could and moved forward into schooling Charlie. Now, I didn’t have any formal training nor did I know what to use. So I just searched on Google for classes for Charlie to take. Then we picked up workbooks at the store and begin our journey. For a while, it worked, and I thought wow this is easy why didn’t I do this sooner. Then Charlie just quit doing his work, and he wouldn’t talk to us.
Finding Resources that would work when teaching a child with Dyslexia
Cause me to feel like a failure not only as a parent or teacher but also my child. So the question came up of should we put Charlie back into school and the answer was no. We had tried twice, and both times he was Bullied. So I sat at the computer and thought I am the worst parent ever. I didn’t know what to do so I searched Facebook for Homeschool moms and found groups I could join. I begin to ask questions, and they all let me know I wasn’t a failure. They had the same problems with there children at times.
Every one of them let me know to find things Charlie was interested in and to teach those things. If he struggles with something find a new way to explain it. Use Audio Books, Videos, and Movies. As well as Board Games as long as they are learning. Once I knew this, I sat down, and I looked through all the workbooks I had, and as I did, I knew if I had to use them every day that I would also have become bored and thrown in the towel and not wanted to do school either.
Charlie and I sat down, and we talked, and I was able to get to know my son better, and we have been able to get more done in school by learning about Sports and Wrestling and taking lots of Field Trips. Charlie goes grocery shopping with me, and he helps me cook dinner. As we do these things, Charlie is learning and isn’t bored. On a day he doesn’t want to do work we may take the day off and veg out on the Couch.
Now, I know that no, the school day is going to be perfect and there is no right or wrong way. What I can say is Charlie happier and so, am I. I know I am not an ideal teacher, and I struggle every day. Charlie may not be learning everything he would learn in a regular school. But we are learning as a Family, and we are spending a lot more time together, and we go over things at Charlies pace.
He doesn’t feel stressed all the time, and I haven’t had to put him on Medicine for ADD as the school wanted. Charlie has been able to help his dad and other children learn to read. We Volunteer with older people in Nursing Homes and Charlie is building Life Skills. When Charlie struggles with things, we can go slower, and he doesn’t feel rushed. If he hates something, we set it aside and go back to it later.
Now, I am going, to be honest with you and say Homeschooling isn’t for everyone and there are days when I want to throw in the towel and send Charlie back to school. Then we will do something we watch the news, and there is another Shooting, and I take a step thanking God that I can teach my son at home. I grab a movie or the Soccer Equipment and I head outside for a bit.
I take some deep breaths, and I list the pros and cons of public school versus Homeschool and it always comes back to Homeschool is the only way for us to go at this time. Even though it may not be the right answer for David or I. Or it might be hard at times or it’s inconvenient. It’s the right choice for Charlie and as a parent that is all that matters. I stumble along and Pray I am not harming my son as I work to teach Charlie the things he needs to learn.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
I have a friend that does homeschooling and I know he struggles a lot. I wonder if he has a little bit of dyslexia. I will have to show her this post and see if she thinks that they can help her son.
Thank you, Jeanette and I Pray they find the answers for him and can get the help and support they need.
I wish homeschooling was around when my son was younger. I think it would’ve been a wonderful experience. And you are right. It’s not for everyone. I have seen a few bad situations only get worse. Great post.
Thank you, Tammy, and yes, sometimes things do get worse and for me, I Pray each day I don’t make it worse and that I don’t hinder my child although I know he is safer here and can learn on his own time.
You are very devoted parents and are doing what is best for your child as any parent would. Hope more parents read and understand what your child and you go through daily.
Thank you, Candy I appreciate this so much.
My hat goes off to all the homeschool moms. I can image dyslexia would be an added challenge. You got this mom!
Thank you, Ashely, because sometimes I wonder if I do.
I am a trained teacher who has been teaching for a long time. Even as a trained teacher, I feel overwhelmed by children with dyslexia. There are so many different interventions that dyslexic children need and sometimes it is hard to find the one that works best.
Hello, Kim, it is nice to meet a teacher I think you have the hardest job in the world. As for children with Dyslexia, it is hard and what works one day may not work the next day. So sometimes I feel like I am hitting my head on a wall but Charlie needs me so I can’t give up.
My son’s basketball coach talked to them about his struggles with dyslexia and I learned a few things by interacting with and watching the coach. I love that your son helps others learn to read.
Thank you, Alli, I am so happy he helps others as well.
Every child has struggling to it. Parents should important to know this things for them to be aware.
Thank you, Catherine.
I think that homeschooling is a great option for so many (we love it). I think that homeschooling a child with any learning issue has to be hard, but I also think that they are in the best place to learn.
Thank you, Joanna I agree with you about this being the best place for Charlie to learn as he gets to do it on his own time and not feel rushed. It’s nice to meet another Homeschooling family.
This is such a great post – learning with dyslexia is such a hard thing to do, and definitely needs to be looked at and done differently.
Thank you, Sarah I am glad you think this is a great post as it was hard to write but something I thought others needed to hear.
I agree with you Sarah and I Pray we can change things.
It is a big responsibility to educate a child. I did it for 25 years and every year I was overwhelmed by the responsibility.
Terri, 25 years wow? Knowing you were overwhelmed each year helps me out thank you for sharing that with me. Because I am scared and overwhelmed and afraid I will hinder my son. So I just put one foot in front of the other and move ahead.
This is such great information. I don’t think I have the patience to homeschool, but I know so many people that do it successfully.
Thank you and I can’t say I am successful at it but I can say I am trying.
I believe you are doing the right decision. Good job and kudos for homeschooling your child. I admire home schooled family!
Thank you Dhemz, I just Pray I am doing the right thing for my son and not harming him since I am not the smartest person around so I struggle a lot but I just put one foot in front of the other and move ahead.
I think that you a great parent and doing a great job with your child! I know it is not easy, but keep going! You are awesome!
Thank you Catalina, as there are days when I wonder if I am doing enough and how I can be a better parent. So your comment really made me smile this morning.
Thank you, Catalina it’s one foot in front of the other with lots of stumbling but there isn’t anything else I could do.
I do not think I would be able to home school. You are so right when you say it is not for everyone.
Sometimes we do things we didn’t think we could do which is what happened to our family and one day I may send Charlie back to school which is something I don’t think I could do. Although I admire parents who do because with all the Violence in the world knowing Charlie is in a Public School terrifies me.
No, it isn’t Sara and honestly, I didn’t think it was right for us but I had no choice so I am trying.
I could not even imagine some of the struggles you must go through. I am glad you are making people aware of how things really are.
Thank you, Kita I am trying to let others know its hard but so worth it if we put the time and effort into Homeschooling and Parenting.
Thank you Kita, I am trying as I don’t want other parents to go through what my family went through.
I have a friend who has a son who’s dyslexic and they also hired a homeschool teacher to guide him and also correct some behaviors. One good benefit is that you have your own time and less pressure to compete with other students.
I never heard of this before. I know it is hard but still worth every sacrifices. Insalute al the parents who really take an effort to raise their children well.
I so appreciate this post because my son has dyslexia. We are not homeschooling him, but he goes to a special school and we work closely with him a home. It can definitely be challenging at times!
This is so interesting to know about! I had no idea what other parents and their families go through