Before I taught home-school Co-op classes, I taught at both private and public schools. Guess what? Students with learning differences abound in public schools, private schools, and among home-school students. I have taught many kids with learning differences. I am solution oriented. How can be help the teen learn? What are ways to help the teen demonstrate understanding? I operate on the principle, if it works, we’re using that strategy. If not, we’ll try something else. Right now, a few of my kids in the Bio class struggle to write. In one case, the ideas soar ahead of the teen’s ability to write them. In another case, writing is slow and difficult. So, I quiz orally, as often as possible. Additionally, lab is performed in groups. I enlist siblings and parents and allow them to act as scribes. Here are a few tips. First, quiz orally whenever possible. Record the quiz and teen’s answers on video—even the promos and corrections. Upload the video to YouTube and save the link in a digital portfolio. Act as a scribe. You might even read the question aloud before recording the answer. Here is another opportunity to use video to document your teen’s understanding. Another tip is to make out vocabulary word cards. Ask your teen to sort the cards into a concept or mind map. Have her explain the connections among the terms. You can write the words on magnets with definitions and ask your teen to match up vocabulary and definitions. I bought a magnetic whiteboard and magnetic labels just for this reason. Remember, we want the teen to learn and demonstrate his understanding. One last tip; try Grammarly. Let your child write assignments digitally using Grammarly, much like using a Word or Google Doc. Grammarly offers more suggestions. See if it helps. BTW I encourage all of my students to write and edit papers in Word or Google Docs. Nearly everyone has to do some light editing. When reading, writing, and processing are a struggle, use every tool to allow your teen to shine.
