AHAInteractive

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now that the hustle, bustle & stress of the holidays are over, it's time to take a breath & reset. January is the month for new beginnings, reassessment and swiveling when necessary, even for homeschool families!

In honor of this, I've put together a list of 7 simple, quick things you can do immediately to support your learner:

1) When your child is truly struggling in a subject, during a test, with a project or on a question, stop what you & they are doing and do a "temperature check".

Take several minutes to help them notice & name their feeling then regulate.

Questions like: What are you feeling right now? What feels particularly easy? What feels hard or heavy? If they don't know how to name their feeling, give them some appropriate options based on how their behavior is.

Write down their answers & help them problem solve an alternative way to get their work done.

2) If they are struggling in multiple subjects or ways, choose 1 focus and be your child's partner in working on that skill.

Decoding? Number sense? Writing? Emotional regulation? Organizing thoughts? Comprehension? These are all skills, some are easier than others and unique to each child, that can & should be taught. Go as fast as they can but as slow as they need.

3) Shorten the lesson but lengthen the consistency.

If your child is struggling with a straight hour of any subject, try letting them take a short 5 minute brain break every 15-20 minutes. Do a few body movements (jumping jacks, elephant swings, cross body exercises, hopscotch...), have them get a drink, use the restroom & go outside for a couple of rounds of deep box breathing. Then get back to it. Sometime going slow to go fast is the fastest way to success.

4) Take the time to assess the learning environment, NOT just the curriculum.

If there is sensory "clutter", your child's struggle may not be subject or curriculum based. Look at distractions from seating, lighting, noise, & visual stimulation.

Try allowing them to choose where they learn for awhile: is it on the couch with noise cancelling headphones (like for shooting sports, no music) or on the floor with music playing? Do they thrive with a floor desk or sitting in the sunshine outside? Where & how do they regulate themselves best & get the most work accomplished in the shortest amount of time.

5) Separate the can't "yet" from won't.

Often times the refusal & big feelings around not doing something isn't a won't, it's a fight or flight nervous system response when the brain is overwhelmed. Similar to 1, this is about shifting their mindset from them "failing", to problem solving a skill that needs work. "What part of this doesn't your brain like yet?" YET, is a POWERFUL word, empowering growth and allowing you to find where support is needed.

6) Get YOURSELF a lifeline and make them a valued team member.

You've tried what seems like EVERYTHING: brain breaks, curriculum assessment, changed seating & lighting, investigated food & environment allergies, had medical, vision & dental check ups, you are as exhausted & stumped as your child is. Sometimes WE get overwhelmed & dysregulated because we don't know how to help. That can create a sensation of helplessness & being out of control.

If you suspect a learning difference, write down your observations, what you've tried, what worked & for how long, and what your child has said, felt, stamina length, how they responded & anything else you notice. Then consider contacting a professional in education struggles. They can look for common markers and challenges related to struggles like ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, executive functioning gaps, autism, etc. and help equip you to help your child.

7) Schedule another temperature check to reassess any course corrections you made and put it on your calendar.

Give you & your child time to adjust to any modifications or changes- about 6-8 weeks. If you have had your child assessed (not necessarily diagnosed) remember that the road map you've been given by your assessor is about supporting skill growth. There will likely be some fine tuning that needs to happen until you find how your child's brain is wired to learn best and that's ok. By scheduling your temperature check now, you can remember to pause, & make little adjustments then, instead of waiting for burnout.

If you'd like help or more information on turning this list into a personalized plan for your child, comment PLAN or send me a message to talk about next steps.

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Did you know that Scholastic Book Fairs, has an option to "Share the Fair" where you can donate to help children who can't afford to participate in their schools scheduled book fair, get books like their classmates?

As part of our commitment to help children read, we encourage you to join with us and "give a hand up" in honor of your child's successes.

We are honored to be able to donate to a local elementary school for this months give-back opportunity!

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