Homeschool – the Ultimate IEP
Children with autism often struggle in mainstream
classrooms, where their sensory needs cannot be adequately addressed, and their
developmental delays often result in painful social ostracizing and bullying.
Homeschool is not always the answer to these problems, but it is one option for
families struggling with the school system. Homeschooling gives you the
flexibility to adapt to your child’s needs in the moment. If he is spinning
wildly around the room, there is no point in trying to teach fractions! Instead,
take a 20-minute sensory break, then come back to the math lesson.
Before you decide to homeschool your autistic child, keep in
mind that assuming full, personal responsibility for his education can be
daunting, especially if – like me – you have no formal training as a teacher.
However, it can be truly amazing how much children learn if you simply provide
the right atmosphere and encourage them to explore.
In the three years that I have homeschooled my two autistic
children, I have learned a few things that will help if you are currently
homeschooling or are considering transitioning out of mainstream schooling.
Borrowing From the
Classroom
Structure and routine is crucial for the autistic child. If your child is transitioning out of a mainstream classroom, he will recognize certain elements of the school day. Create a daily visual schedule similar to what his teacher used in the classroom, and let him be “Schedule Helper” each day. Using a schedule that he already associates with school will help him transition from playtime to school time, and will help him understand that even though you might be sitting at the kitchen table, he is still “in school.
classroom management tools help autistic kids transition into school time
If you have an extra bedroom, den, or family room, you might
want to consider setting up a dedicated classroom. This will help you keep
school supplies from migrating all over the house, and will help your child
transition into school mode.
Sensory Breaks
If, like many autistic children, yours has sensory needs be
sure to speak to his Occupational Therapist about integrating sensory diet
activities into your homeschool routine. I plan a 15 to 20 minute sensory break
at the very beginning of our day, because one of my children needs alerting
activities before he can focus and the other (my sensory seeker) needs calming
activities. I find that addressing their sensory needs first makes the entire
day go much more smoothly.
Keep small sensory items available in your school space. I
keep a plastic rice bin handy because I find that burying his hand in rice helps
my son focus on his work. He also sits on a large yoga ball instead of a
traditional chair. Yes, my son bounces while he listens to me read, but he can
tell you exactly what happened in the story. If he had to sit on a stationary
chair during the same story, he would be so distracted he wouldn’t even hear
the words.
Social Skills
One of the hallmarks of autism is difficulty in social situations. Our children have to learn social behavior just like they learn reading and math – it’s an academic subject. We read social stories, discuss and role play social situations as a regular part of our school day. We also participate in extra curricular activities that give our kids a chance to practice their social skills in the real world.
Extra curricular activities allow kids to practice
their
social skills in real world situations
Learning Styles and
Curriculum
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| Homeschooling allows the flexibility to adapt to your child's preferred learning style |
Every child has a different learning style. Some are highly
visual, while others learn best by hearing or doing. One of our kids learns
best on the computer, so he does his more difficult subjects electronically.
Another learns best by listening and discussing, so we accommodate that
preference. They will not always have the option of learning through their
preferred style, so we make sure to push them outside their comfort zones every
so often, usually with a subject they are already comfortable with.
There are a lot of curriculum options available to
homeschoolers. Sometimes we’ve found that a curriculum that looked great on
paper simply didn’t work well in practice. That’s ok, because we aren’t tied to
it. When our Kindergarten math curriculum became too easy for our younger son,
we put the book away. He’s finishing the school year learning hands-on math
topics such as telling time, identifying and counting currency, and measuring.
Next year he will move on to a more advanced math curriculum.
Homeschooling, fundamentally, allows us to do what works for
our individual kids. It is a legal educational option in every state, but the
rules and regulations for homeschooling vary widely. Some states simply require
that you declare yourself a homeschool, while others require strict testing and
record keeping. Research your state’s requirements before you decide to
homeschool your child.
