Home Schooling Your High Functioning Autistic Child: 5 Tips for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year
If you’re looking for a guide to home school your high functioning autistic kiddo in 2023, you’ve come to the right place. With more and more families turning to homeschooling their autistic children, it’s important to be prepared for the journey. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with 5 tips on how to home school your autistic child like a pro. Whether you’re a veteran home-schooler or just getting started, these tips will help you make the most of your homeschooling experience. So, if you’re ready to get started, read on!
1) Assess Your Child’s Learning Style
One of the most important aspects of homeschooling your child is understanding their unique learning style. Just like every child is different, each one has a distinct way of processing information and understanding concepts. By recognizing your child’s learning style, you can create a more effective curriculum and make learning enjoyable for them.
There are 3 main types of learning styles:
*Auditory– learn best through hearing information.
* visual– prefer to see information through pictures, diagrams, and videos.
* kinesthetic– hands-on and prefer to learn through physical activities and experimentation.
To assess your child’s learning style, consider their personality and the environment in which they thrive. For example, does your child enjoy hands-on activities or are they more interested in reading and writing? Do they prefer a quiet or active environment?
Once you have a better understanding of your child’s learning style, you can tailor the curriculum to meet their needs. Start by choosing materials that cater to their strengths and interests. You can incorporate sensory breaks through out the day which will add some excitement for your kiddo. For auditory learners, consider using audio books or podcasts. For visual learners, use graphic organizers and infographics. Kinesthetic learners may benefit from manipulatives and experiments.
The benefits of homeschooling your child with a customized curriculum that caters to their learning style are numerous. Your child will feel more engaged and motivated to learn, resulting in better academic performance. You can also create a more enjoyable learning environment, which can help foster a love of learning in your child.
Knowing where to start with assessing your autistic child’s learning style can be overwhelming, but there are many online resources and communities available to assist you. Use these tools to gain insight into your child’s unique learning style and create a successful homeschool experience for them.
Finally, establish a schedule and routine that works best for your child. Some children may thrive on a structured daily schedule (this seems to work very well), while others may need more flexibility. It helps to use a visual reminder so the kiddos can see what task is coming next and what they’ve already done. Something as simple as a white board, or a schedule with chart pockets. Remember to set realistic goals and expectations for both yourself and your kiddo!
2) Create a Customized Curriculum
One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling your child is that you can create a customized curriculum that caters to their interests and strengths. By doing so, you can make learning more enjoyable for them and help them excel in their studies. Here are a few subjects and activities you can include in your child’s curriculum to take advantage of the benefits of homeschooling:
1. Finance: Teach your child about money management, budgeting, and investing. This will help them develop a strong foundation in financial literacy that they can use for the rest of their lives.
2. Gardening: Get your child involved in planting and caring for a garden. This can help them learn about science, nutrition, and the environment while also providing a fun and rewarding activity.
3. Trade: Introduce your child to trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. This can help them develop practical skills that can be used to pursue a career in the future.
4. Nature Walks: Take your child on regular nature walks and encourage them to observe and document the plants and animals they encounter. This can help them develop a love for the natural world and learn about biology and ecology.
By incorporating these subjects and activities into your child’s curriculum, you can take advantage of the many benefits of homeschooling. Tailoring your child’s education to what is perfect for them will make school fun and exciting! You can add what your child is most interested in and add that as well, like Geography or a foreign language. Your child will have the opportunity to explore their interests, develop practical skills, and gain a well-rounded education that prepares them for a successful future.
3) Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
One of the benefits of homeschooling is being able to set personalized goals and expectations for your child. However, it is crucial to ensure that these goals are realistic and achievable. Here are some tips on how to set realistic goals and expectations for your child’s homeschooling journey:
Moms- start by creating a timeline that outlines the duration of your homeschooling journey. This will help you plan and set goals accordingly. Divide your timeline into smaller, manageable sections, such as months or quarters. Consider using a calendar to track goals and progress and a reminder to remind you of what to prepare for next.
Identify specific benchmarks that you would like your child to achieve within each section of your timeline. These benchmarks can include academic achievements, such as mastering a specific subject, or personal goals, such as improving time management skills.
Use visuals to help your child understand their goals and track their progress. This can be as simple as a chart on the wall or a virtual tracker that they can update themselves. Make sure that your child can clearly see their progress and celebrate each achievement along the way.
Incorporate rewards into your homeschooling journey to motivate your child and help them stay on track. Rewards can be as simple as a special outing or treat, or a bigger reward for achieving a major goal.
By setting realistic goals and expectations, you are ensuring that your child has a clear path to follow and a sense of achievement throughout their homeschooling journey. Keep in mind that these goals and expectations should be adaptable as your child’s needs and abilities change. With the right balance of challenge and support, your child will thrive in their homeschooling environment.
4) Utilize Online Resources and Communities
Another key benefit of home schooling is the wide range of online resources and communities available to support your child’s learning journey. From educational apps to computer games, learning games for reading and math, and video groups, there is no shortage of digital tools that can help enrich your child’s education.
One of the primary advantages of using online resources is that they provide flexibility and convenience. You can access these tools at any time, from anywhere, which means that your child can learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their unique learning style.
Moreover, online resources and communities can help create a sense of connection and community for your child. They can participate in virtual groups with other homeschoolers, collaborate on projects, and exchange ideas and insights. A good place to start is Outschool, where you can find virtually any subject and attend an online course.
When choosing online resources and communities, it’s important to look for options that are age-appropriate and aligned with your child’s interests and abilities. Don’t be afraid to try out different tools and platforms to see what works best for your child.
By utilizing online resources and communities, you can take your child’s education to the next level and provide them with a truly personalized learning experience. A site that we’ve found extremely helpful with a wide variety of options for learning is Outschool. They host online classes on pretty much any topic. Additionally, many online resources and communities offer interactive features that allow your child to engage with the material in a more dynamic way. For example, some apps and games use gamification techniques to make learning more fun and engaging like ABC Mouse or Prodigy. Prodigy is a whole fantasy adventure into a world of fairies, dragons and battles where you can do math, english etc. Others offer quizzes and assessments to help you track your child’s progress and identify areas where they may need additional support.
That said, it’s important not to overlook traditional learning tools like textbooks and workbooks. One of our favorite “Go To” stores is Lake Shore Learning Center. Use worksbooks/journals that you can incorporate into your daily schedule to encourage social emotional learning. You can also find social emotional games as well as “consequence” games to help your kiddo learn what the better choice is when it comes to social scenarios. While online resources can be incredibly valuable, they should be used in conjunction with other materials to provide a well-rounded education for your child. Look for reputable publishers and curricula that have been designed specifically for home schooling families.
Overall, online resources and communities are a fantastic way to supplement your child’s education and enhance their learning experience. By incorporating these tools into your home schooling routine, you can provide your child with a comprehensive education that meets their unique needs and interests. To get started with online resources and communities, consider looking into homeschool programs that offer digital resources and support. Many of these programs provide a complete curriculum and can help guide you through the home schooling process. Some also offer online classes or tutoring services to supplement your teaching efforts.
When it comes to workbooks, there are many options available for homeschooling families. Lakeshore Learning Center has a few that we love. Spectrum Math is great from a parent’s perspective because it gives you a brief look at what the lesson is and what to look for. It also breaks down the task step by step. If you are a parent who may have forgotten a few steps along the way, this is super helpful to have. Brainquest is also a workbook that we like (my kiddo enjoys and thinks it is fun!). This is an all encompassing workbook that incorporates all the other subjects. Look for workbooks that are aligned with your child’s learning goals and objectives, and that offer a range of activities and exercises to keep them engaged and motivated. Additionally, consider supplementing with educational games and apps to keep learning fun and interactive.
Overall, incorporating online resources and communities into your home schooling routine can help provide your child with a rich and fulfilling education. By staying flexible and open to new learning opportunities, you can help your child achieve their full potential and thrive in their academic pursuits. Check out this link for more information on how to homeschool your Autistic kiddo.
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