Help Homeschooling a child with ADHD/dyslexia

Bobbi Jean - posted on 03/11/2013

If you still have not found a good program, consider Reading Horizons Home or Barton.

Kelly - posted on 02/12/2013

I to have ADHD and Dyslexia . We have homeschooled and she did great in every subject but reading writing and spelling . I tried God knows how many tutors nothing helped at all she is in the 3rd and was reading at a 1st grade level . Then we found all about spelling and all about reading . when we frist started i thought man this is stupid and too easy what the crap did i spend my money on and then one day i woke up and she is reading and spelling and someone kidnapped my child and replaced her . it has been awsome . jsut thought i would share . Oh you have to have the cd becasue i can nto always pronounce the letter properly but the cd does it for you .

Lisa - posted on 06/27/2012

I can't say much about how to help with dyslexia, but I can help with the ADD.

Once you feel comfortable with your curriculum, don't expect him to sit at the table and do it all day long. Start with the hardest thing, for my son it was Math. Let him work until it is clear that he has had enough. Sometimes he will just sail through a lesson, reward him with a little free time if that happens. Sometimes, he will struggle to make it half way, that's okay, we can finish this tomorrow. Follow with something he likes.

Take a break for snack and do something like science that is hands on or preferably outside. Come back in a switch to a new place in the house for reading time. Reward any and all attempts at reading by reading out loud to him. Something exciting. Let him build with Legos or act out the action scenes while you are reading. (He can still hear you and will remember the story for years.)

Move to another spot in the house to do some worksheets. Find some way to make it a race. Make a reward poster that shows he can earn something cool (like an ice cream cone) for every ten workbook pages.

We used to do two long days and three short days every week. Two of the short days we only did school before lunch and then went to the park to meet other homeschool kids in the afternoon. The third short day, we did some sort of family activity: game day, dollar movies, local zoo, etc.

I'm not sure why, but breaking up the day with physical activity and moving from place to place (computer desk, comfy chair, kitchen table) for different subjects really made a difference in his concentration. I have a friend with an ADD son who would reward a job well done by letting him run laps around the house!

Experiment a little to find the right balance for your son, but don't forget, he's at home because the public school wasn't the right fit for him, don't make the mistake of trying to replicate the public school at home at the kitchen table.

Beth - posted on 06/16/2012

Has anyone used the Bonnie Terry programs for teaching ADHD/dyslexia. It's terribly expensive but if it works isn't is worth the cost. I'm working with a 13 year old who is reading at the 1st grade level. I'm considering homeschool until I can give her the social and academic skills to go into a mainstream classroom. She doesn't live with me, so my time with her is limited to 2 days a week. Is this even going to be enough to make a difference.

Michelle - posted on 11/28/2009

Starfall.com got my ADHD son on level with his reading in about 3 months. He was a 3rd grader who was reading at a pre-k level. As for the dyslexia we found what colored gels to cover the page they are reading seemed to help you just have to trial and error until you find the color that works for you. I use pink and one of my sons uses blue the other uses yellow.

Brandy - posted on 10/24/2009

I just started myself 2weeks ago! Both my kids are ADHD! So am I. I have found so wonderful is the free websites that reads to the child. Like for spelling we use spellingcity.com, it teaches, tests, and they play games. Another spelling one we use is KidsSpell.com, this teaches, plays fun learning games, and tests them. We use kidshealth.org for science and health this is a wonderful website there a variety of pictures, a few worksheets, kid oriented movies, and you can print any of the sheets off. On this site there are sections for Kids, Teens, and Parents. I love this one we have used it the most. For more Science you can go to Houghton Mifflin .com and go to their eduplace.com/kids and they have fun games related to Social Studies/Science/Math/English they are related to grade level and their books but I research them to see which suits or lesson better.



The reason I put my kids on the computer, I have learned that with us having ADHD, we learn much faster using Audio and Visual techniques. I am new like I stated but so far I find these have been very helpful. I am hoping to find more Frees websites for Social Studies, Science, and English. Good luck *B*

Taffy - posted on 01/27/2009

I LOVE Heart of Dakota curriculum Super easy to do and keep you on task. 

Also, if you both suffer from ADHD an am home all day then it is SO important to get the toxins out of your home! WIndex, clorox bleach, lysol, tide and more all contribute to ADHD.

My family went green and has seen such a HUGE improvement in our health. 

www.livetotalwellness.com/BeAtHome

is a great resourse for more information.

HUGS and good luck

Taffy