7. Cognitive Diversity and Homeschooling
“The world needs all kinds of minds.” - Temple Grandin (American Scientist)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
Dyspraxia
Gifted
Profoundly Gifted
Twice Exceptional (2E)
9 learning profiles and how to support them
One of the disadvantages of a standardized school system is that it can’t fully support diverse thinkers. A creative, innovative society needs all kinds of talents and skills. Jade Rivera, Ed.D. is a curriculum and learning environment designer with expertise in strength-based education for neurodivergent children. In this section, she explores nine common profiles of kids whose families often choose to homeschool and why homeschooling and modular learning can be an effective choice for each profile. This section also shares curriculum recommendations for each profile, and lets parents know the best way to get a diagnosis if they think their child may have this learning profile.
In the United States, 1 in 5 people learn and think differently. Millions of them are undiagnosed or unaware that what they’re experiencing is a learning and thinking difference — and that there are strategies that could help them thrive at school and at work. Understood.org
Nine Learning Profiles
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
What is it: Autism is a neurological and developmental condition affecting a child's social and emotional development. The experience of autism exists on a spectrum and is individual to the autistic individual. Some children may show obvious signs of autism, while others less so.
What are some signs your child fits this profile? An autistic child may have a rigid disposition and engage in repetitive behaviors. They may also have a low tolerance for sensory input.
How do you get your child diagnosed? Doctors look at a child's developmental trajectory and disposition to determine if a child is autistic. The process is subjective and usually relies on a questionnaire like the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Why is homeschooling good for this? The homeschooling environment is orders of magnitude more peaceful and sensory-safe than the typical classroom. The ability of a caregiver to regulate the sensory input of an autistic child's learning environment will create the ideal conditions for them to learn. Additionally, many autistic children have special interests that, while educational, lie outside the typical classroom curriculum. Providing space for autistic children to dive deeply into their special interests contributes to their happiness and overall well-being.
Core Curriculum: Teaching Textbooks, Moving Beyond the Page, and Self-Directed Education
Math: Beast Academy and Touch Math
Any other tips? Learn about autism from those who are autistic themselves. Please avoid programs seeking to change your child or force them to behave neurotypically.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
What is it: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting a child’s ability to pay attention to non-preferred tasks and assess the effectiveness of a plan of action.
What are some signs your child fits this profile? Children with this condition may hyper-focus on tasks and topics to the degree that others find alarming. They may also have excessive physical energy or need to move compared to other children their age. Impulse control could also be a challenge.
How do you get your child diagnosed? An ADHD diagnosis is determined through interviews with a child's caregivers, teachers, and other professionals that work with them. These interviews should be part of an overall health and wellness check that includes a hearing test. In some areas, it is possible to have the child's beta, and theta brain waves scanned as part of the diagnostic procedure.
Why is homeschooling good for this? ADHD children often struggle with low self-worth and rejection sensitivity, which can develop into more serious mental health struggles. Homeschooling children with this diagnosis allows the caregiver to create an environment where they can move, work on preferred tasks, and develop self-regulation skills at their own pace.
Core Curriculum: Blossom And Root, Minecraft Education, Moving Beyond the Page, and Magic Forest Academy
Math: Right Start Math
Any other tips? ADHD children rarely do well with repetitive tasks. They seek novelty and stimulation more than anything. Create a learning and living environment with a lot of variety, and introduce new ideas and activities regularly.
3. Dyslexia
What is it: Dyslexia is a language-based condition affecting a child’s reading and spelling ability. Dyslexic children may also have difficulty with their working memory and word retrieval.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? You might have a dyslexic child if their reading, spelling, and writing lag behind other children their age. Additionally, they may have difficulty with sequence-based tasks like tying their shoes or getting ready in the morning.
How do you get your child diagnosed? A healthcare provider will rely on a mix of questionnaires and assessments to determine if your child is dyslexic.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Dyslexic children, depending on how their dyslexic attributes manifest, will need assistive technology (audiobooks, unique fonts for written material, etc.) and extra time when completing language-based school work. Accommodations like these can be difficult for the conventional teacher to plan for and include as often as the child needs them to be successful in the classroom. Moreover, these accommodations can lead to low self-worth and "othering" in the learning environment.
Core Curriculum: Torchlight (especially audio components) and Blossom and Root
Math: Math U See, Right Start Mathematics
Literacy: Nessy, All About Reading, Reading Eggs, Teach Your Monster to Read, Blast Off to Reading, Barton or Explode the Code.
Handwriting: Getty-Dubay or Method: Orton-Gillingham
Any other tips? A small but growing body of research suggests that dyslexic children rate as highly creative compared to other children their age. Find outlets for this creativity. Treat it as a strength so your child may continue to enjoy learning and exploring. Additionally, assistive technology and accommodations are natural and normal rather than "crutches." If a child succeeds using these tools, do not take that as a sign that they are no longer needed.
4. Dysgraphia
What is it: Dysgraphia is a condition that affects large and small motor functions, particularly in the hands and limbs.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? Children with dysgraphia will have difficulty with tasks that simultaneously require small and large motor functions, such as writing, weaving, cutting, etc. Writing by hand is painful, and the product is often irregular and illegible.
How do you get your child diagnosed? Some lesser-known and rare signs of dysgraphia include trouble with executive function and other forms of self-expression. If you seek a diagnosis for dysgraphia, aim to perform a comprehensive expressive language test, such as the Test of Written Language–Fourth Edition (TOWL-4) subtests for vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and logical sentences and sentence combining.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Children with dysgraphia, depending on how their attributes manifest, will need assistive technology like speech-to-text apps and extra time when completing language-based school work. Accommodations like these can be difficult for the conventional teacher to plan for and include as often as the child needs them to be successful in the classroom. Moreover, these accommodations can lead to low self-worth and "othering" in the learning environment.
Core curriculum: Any curriculum that allows typing or speech-to-text will be easier for a child with dysgraphia to use. Brain Pop and Khan Academy allow kids to type. Typing.com is a fantastic typing app.
Math: Beast Academy (online)
Any other tips? Assistive technology and accommodations are natural and normal rather than "crutches." If a child succeeds using these tools, do not take that as a sign that they are no longer needed.
5. Dyscalculia
What is it: Children with dyscalculia will have difficulty with math-related tasks, including estimation, memorization, and telling time.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? Children with dyscalculia typically show signs of this learning difference early in life. They will have problems counting in sequence and remembering the corresponding names of a number with their written symbol. They will struggle with memorizing math facts and identifying the operations and related symbols.
How do you get your child diagnosed? Dyscalculia is diagnosed via observation on behalf of a child's teachers and caregivers and the administration of standardized math tests.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Children with dysgraphia, depending on how their attributes manifest, will need assistive technology like speech-to-text apps and extra time when completing language-based school work. Accommodations like these can be difficult for the conventional teacher to plan for and include as often as the child needs them to be successful in the classroom. Moreover, these accommodations can lead to low self-worth and "othering" in the learning environment.
Core Curriculum: Khan Academy Kids or Khan Academy
Math: Beast Academy, CTC or Math-U-See
Any other tips? Research on effective interventions for dyscalculia is emerging. Very little is known at this time. Do your best to keep up with the newest research and innovations regarding this learning difference. Assistive technology (calculators, fact sheets) and accommodations are natural and normal rather than "crutches." If a child succeeds using these tools, do not take that as a sign that they are no longer needed.
6. Dyspraxia
What is it: Dyspraxia is a condition that affects a child’s movement and coordination.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? Children with dyspraxia will have difficulty with tasks requiring coordination and strength, such as doing a summersault, swinging on a swing, and skipping.
How do you get your child diagnosed? There is no formal diagnosis for dyspraxia. If you notice your child having difficulty with learning to skip or complete a summersault, reach out to an occupational therapist. They can work with your child to develop the strength and coordination necessary for comfortable movement.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Children with dyspraxia may have trouble sitting at desks. Educators may misunderstand their need to move as defiant or misdiagnosed as ADHD. Additionally, homeschooling will free up time for your child to spend time playing, climbing, and growing strong.
Core Curriculum: Blossom and Root
Math: Math Mammoth or Wild Math
Any other tips? Dyspraxia does not affect your child’s intellectual development.
7. Gifted
What is it: There is no agreed-upon definition of giftedness. Children might be what some consider "schoolhouse gifted," excelling academically, or "creatively gifted," excelling in the arts or other creative fields. Generally, a child is gifted when they have advanced cognitive abilities in one or more realms compared to children their age.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? Your child might be gifted if they show sophistication or talent in an academic or creative realm when compared to other children their age. They may have extensive vocabularies, early readers, or a motivation to master difficult tasks and subjects.
How do you get your child diagnosed? In many cases, an IQ test will reveal an IQ of 120 or higher. However, this should not be the only method used to determine if a child is gifted. If they consistently demonstrate a sophistication beyond their age-mates, they are likely gifted.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Gifted children learn faster but also differently than children their age. Acceleration is considered the best practice for gifted children in single subjects or even entire grade levels. Depending on where you live, there may not be a gifted program at your child's school. For your child to get the most out of their education, they need space to learn at their pace. Create individualized opportunities for them to explore and grow their talents.
Core Curriculum: Torchlight
Math: Beast Academy or Right Start Math
Any other tips? Children identified as gifted can feel pressure to excel or be good at everything. This pressure can have disastrous effects on their mental health. Remember, your child is more than their talent(s). Let them learn at their own pace, but do not pressure them to be great.
8. Profoundly Gifted
What is it: Profoundly gifted children are gifted children with an IQ of 140 or higher.
What are the signs your child might fit this profile? Profoundly gifted children are extraordinarily sensitive and feel life very deeply. They tend to crave mental stimulation and understand various subjects with an uncommon depth and rapidity.
How do you get your child diagnosed? In many cases, an IQ test will reveal an IQ of 140 or higher. However, this should not be the only method used to determine if a child is gifted. If they consistently demonstrate a sophistication beyond their age-mates, they are likely gifted.
Why is homeschooling good for this? The conventional classroom cannot meet the advanced intellectual needs of a profoundly gifted child. Most gifted programs won't meet their acceleration, depth, and complexity needs in any given subject.
Core Curriculum: Torchlight
Math: Beast Academy or Right Start Math
Any other tips? Connect with other families that have profoundly gifted children. Profoundly gifted children experience life distinctly differently than 99 percent of the population. This difference can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness early in life. The sensitivity your child experiences as a profoundly gifted person isn't something most people are familiar with. Depending on their personality, your child may be misdiagnosed as autistic or bipolar. There is potential for professionals to misunderstand your child.
9. Twice Exceptional (2E)
What is it: The term twice exceptional was coined to describe students who have a disability and who also have characteristics and traits associated with giftedness. These students may appear to be capable and bright but do not demonstrate that ability when asked to produce work in the classroom. Recognizing these students may be challenging, as the disability may overshadow the gift, the gift may mask the effect of the disability, or both remedial and advanced learning needs may go completely unnoticed. (Baldwin, 2015)
What are the signs your child fits this profile? Twice-exceptional (2e) children are developing asynchronously. Their physical, psycho-social, and intellectual development are operating on separate, intersecting racks. A physically ten-year-old twice-exceptional child may have the math and reading ability of a high-schooler but the social and emotional disposition of a second grader.
How do you get your child diagnosed? At this time, there isn’t an agreed upon, empirically validated assessment explicitly for twice exceptional children. However, receiving a neuropsychological test from a skilled professional with an awareness of twice exceptionality is usually sufficient for determining if a child is 2e. The results of the test will reflect the asynchronous development explained above.
Why is homeschooling good for this? Homeschooling allows space to meet each child where they are in any given skill or subject. If a child has advanced abilities in one realm and lagging skills in another, the learning plan is individualized to speak to both. Moreover, the best practice for educating 2e children is strength-based learning. Strength-based learning focuses on what the child is doing right or well. Educating in this way allows a child to find their talents and purpose; it will enable the right conditions for the child to grow socially and emotionally.
Core curriculum: Curriculums that are self-paced, and allow for multi-modal learning (i.e., videos, audio, hands-on, games, readings) such as Torchlight, BrainPop, and BrainPop jr.
Math: Curriculums like Beast Academy that are self-paced, and allow for multi-modal learning (i.e., videos, audio, hands-on, readings)
Any other tips? Learn about and adopt positive or peaceful caregiving techniques emphasizing empathy, consent, and partnership. Avoid power struggles with 2e children wherever you can, as these children are known for being sensitive and anxious.
At this point, you’ve heard many compelling reasons to do modular learning. In part II, we get practical: We’ll help you choose curriculum, make friends and create a flexible schedule and childcare plan to support your child’s learning.
First up, the Complete Guide to Homeschool Curriculum
