June 16, 2020

Occupational therapy at home during COVID-19

Tags: , , , , , , , , Occupational therapy helps kids with many skills, including managing sensitivities

by Kathy Kuhl — This spring, I’ve been speaking with pediatric occupational therapist Laurie Chuba of Learning Integrations.  A veteran homeschooler, she helps children who are homeschooled or in private school. We discussed how COVID-19 was affecting her students with learning challenges and their therapy. But first, Why might my child need an occupational therapist? […]

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May 16, 2019

Music in your homeschool

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by Kathy Kuhl Make time for music? If you’re homeschooling a child with learning challenges, you may think you’ve got more urgent business. Maybe not. Music opens minds Music can stir hearts, inspire, and open minds—and mouths. This nine-year-old boy’s awestruck reaction to hearing Mozart last week got me thinking. Ronan Mattin has autism and […]

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November 08, 2018

The Myth of Learning Styles

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by Kathy Kuhl     “If you teach to your children’s learning styles, they’ll learn better,” they told me. But what if you can’t tell how your child learns best? That was my problem. Learning Styles: Popular Theories One of the most popular theories of learning styles is based on the idea that people prefer different way […]

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July 19, 2018

Something to chew on, for kids that can’t stop

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By Kathy Kuhl     Do you have children who can’t stop chewing on things? Kids and teens with sensory issues and other issues may struggle with this—or give in to it without a thought. No matter how well they know that pencil has been handled by many people, it pops into their mouths. And […]

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June 28, 2018

Summer Holidays: Fun, fizzle, or flame out?

Tags: , , , , , , , , summer holidays

By Kathy Kuhl     For most families, thoughts of a summer holiday–with family picnics, parades, fireworks, and other patriotic celebrations–are happy thoughts. But for some of us with kids who learn differently, they are times of stress. Are you longing for fireworks without emotional fireworks? Cookouts without meltdowns? Parades without panic? Manage your hopes You […]

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July 27, 2017

6 Travel tips for distractible kids

Tags: , , , 6 Travel Tips for Distractible Kids

By Kathy Kuhl How do we help our kids when they have to sit and travel? Long times in the car or plane can make anyone restless. It drive kids crazy, especially those who have trouble sitting still. Of course, sitting to travel is not just a summer problem. Children have to sit on the […]

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May 17, 2016

Your child can solve linear equations using beans

Tags: , , , , , , adding -4 and +4 to the right won't change its value

By Kathy Kuhl Today we’ll finish looking at bean algebra, a simple way to make algebra concrete. We’ll start using negative numbers with our bean algebra. (This 4-part series began here.) Often we rush our children into abstraction too soon when we teach math. But if our children practice at length with concrete objects, illustrate their discoveries, […]

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December 15, 2015

Distractibility, the Christmas tree, and me

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By Kathy Kuhl [Note below about last week’s prize winners.] Who isn’t distracted this time of year? Lovely ornaments, music, delicious foods—but more to do, too. It’s an especially tough time for our children and teens who are distractible or who have sensory processing difficulties: the intensity can be overwhelming. When he was small, my […]

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December 08, 2015

Gifts your child can make

Tags: , , pipe cleaner knight

By Kathy Kuhl Our kids are restless with the holidays are upon us. In a world of advertisements, how to do we help our kids grow more generous, and less greedy? One way is to let them make gifts this season. But if you’re like me, you’re busy and a bit tired, and time and money are […]

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December 03, 2014

My Top Ten Holiday Resources & a gift or two

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by Kathy Kuhl For a happier, saner, holiday: Instead of Christmas cards, send Easter cards and letters. Enjoy an Advent calendar. I don’t care if it’s a cheap chocolate one from the grocery store, one of the expensive Lego advent sets, or one you make. I’m fond of the traditional cardboard ones from Germany, which […]

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