Why Homeschooling is the Right Choice for Children With Learning Disabilities

The average youngster does not gravitate toward schoolwork as it is fairly dry, and rife with demands for memorization. Most likely it will be forgotten after the test.  Furthermore, attempting to learn in a traditional academic environment is easier said than done.  If your little one is struggling to learn in a traditional academic setting, it is time to consider the alternative. There are so many benefits of homeschooling a child with special needs.

The Benefits of Homeschooling the Struggling Learner

Individual Learning Pace

Part of the problem with the conventional approach to learning is it forces students to attempt to master numerous subjects. A child is trying to master all subjects in a simultaneous manner.  In other words, our little ones are subjected to information overload at an incredibly young age.  There is no reason to inundate your child with an avalanche of information. In a homeschool environment, you can introduce a single concept at a time.  

The bottom line is kids can only absorb so much information in any given period of time.  Acknowledge the fact that your child has limited short-term memory. Opt to teach him or her a single concept at a time and he or she will have a chance at truly understanding the concepts taught.  Furthermore, learning at the appropriate pace makes it that much easier for your little one to store information in his or her long-term memory.

Student Focused Courses

Parents are well aware of the fact that their kids have short attention spans.  Our tech-intensive on-demand society is quickly shortening these limited attention spans. Additionally, it makes learning that much more challenging in the traditional setting.  Be aware, that it does not make sense to force your kid to sit still for hour after hour. If they are having difficulty, forcing them to suffer through lengthy lessons over and over again does not help.

The better course of action is to teach short lessons at a high frequency.  This approach to learning is scientifically proven to increase learning speed and information retention.

Keep your homeschool classes short and your child’s attention is unlikely to wander.  Just be sure to keep the lessons positive, informative and fast-paced to maintain your child’s interest from start to finish.  In general, 20-minute lessons work best.  Notice your child’s unique attention span as you homeschool him or her. Be sure to alter the lesson length as appropriate.

Timely Reviews and Feedback of Assignments

Plenty of students in the public school system are not provided with reviews of assignments within the optimal time for information retention. Most students will not master courses if feedback is not given.  Consistent reviews and feedback on work are necessary for just about every student.  Ideally, you will invest the time, effort and resources necessary to ensure your child is able to retain the course material.  If necessary, implement a wide array of teaching techniques to drive the material home.

Provide Proper Encouragement for Struggling Learners

Part of the reason why kids often struggle in conventional learning settings is the fact that they do not receive the proper encouragement.  The ugly truth is that teachers in conventional academic settings are forced to follow curriculums approved by the state. This restricts students that do not fit into traditional learning environments, which often destroys a young child’s confidence and self-esteem. Every child, tween and teen needs and deserves proper encouragement.  Homeschooling your child can give you the chance to cater to your struggling students and help build their self-esteem.

Even if you provide subtle encouragement at home for your struggling learner, it is better than nothing.  Keep in mind some struggling children have an inferiority complex that is reinforced by critical peers, teachers who are overly critical and/or teachers who do not provide them with the proper level of attention.  Oftentimes, simply removing the child from such a toxic situation and providing the appropriate level of attention and praise is enough to transform a failing student into a successful student.

The benefits of homeschooling the struggling learner are numerous. Most importantly learning at a pace that works for them sets them up for lifelong success.