The typical school-day routine works well for a lot of students, but it’s not for everyone. Growing up in Albania, my school journey was unusual – a combination of homeschooling, international school, and Albanian school – and the diversity of perspectives inherent in this model of education broadened my mind and shaped my understanding of the world. My own experience as a student, as well as my years of instructing in both typical and atypical environments, has made me a firm believer in the nontraditional school day.  

The Homeschool Advantage

My unique schooling arrangement was driven by circumstances – my setting required it – but for many students, especially those with dyslexia and other learning differences, a homeschooling approach may be inspired by the potential academic benefits. “As schools are increasingly required to follow mandates, less time is devoted to individual needs,” notes the International Dyslexia Association. Homeschooling “allows for the necessary individualization in all subject areas, including reading, spelling, composition, and comprehension. It allows a student to focus on areas of interest and allows parents to develop lessons based on those interests.”1

The International Dyslexia Association further emphasizes that a “student with dyslexia requires direct, systematic, and individual instruction in reading and spelling, and traditional schools do not always provide adequate levels of service.” It takes a lot of time and resources for schools to get qualified literacy instructors in the building, and it often doesn’t happen. (This is why Redwood is so driven to partner with school districts.) In a homeschooling environment, a dyslexic student is “free from measuring progress and skills against peers without learning differences. A child can work at an individualized pace in a program that directly addresses unique needs.”

The advantages of homeschooling a child with learning differences are clear, but it also introduces a new challenge. Effective dyslexia remediation requires specialized training; if you don’t have the training to teach literacy or math skills to a dyslexic brain, it can cause a lot of unnecessary frustration for both you and your child. 

Homeschool + Redwood

This is where we come in. 

Redwood is a great fit for a homeschooled student. If you know your child is dyslexic and you’re passionate about the homeschooling model but you aren’t equipped to provide specialized instruction, we’ll partner with you to ensure your child receives the right intervention. Consistent Redwood sessions throughout the week will allow your child to continue within the homeschooling community, getting instruction from you in the content areas you feel confident teaching while also receiving best-in-class interventions specifically for students with dyslexia. 

a redwood homeschooler

Harry, a homeschooled 5th grader and a veteran Redwood student, has made extraordinary progress within this model. Harry attends math, science, English, and psychology courses online, and his parents have paired those rigorous academics with one-on-one Redwood instruction in literacy and writing. He’s made it through nearly the entirety of Wilson Reading System®, demonstrating enormous gains in reading, spelling, and comprehension, and in his writing classes, he’s composing thoroughly researched nonfiction pieces and imaginative short stories. 

Successful homeschooling often involves multiple entities, each bringing expertise in a different field. Harry’s growth over the past few years demonstrates how much can be achieved when Redwood is one of those entities – supplementing homeschooling courses with expert literacy instruction will give your child a significant boost in every content area. 

A word from one of Harry’s parents: 

“Redwood is a perfect companion for our homeschooling program, offering flexibility and customization. In our case we were matched with an amazing instructor whose individualized attention allowed our child to make enormous strides coping with dyslexia and developing a true love for language and writing. Our child progressed from nearly illegible spelling to successfully completing an essay-based literature class with high marks (including Shakespeare!). He loves his instructor and looks forward to every class. We are truly grateful for having found Redwood and their amazing instructors.”

partnering with redwood

When you partner with Redwood, you’ll get specialized curriculums and trained interventionists for reading, writing, math, and assistive technology. We prioritize flexibility and ease of access, placing your child with an instructor whose teaching hours match your schedule, and virtual classes mean instruction stays steady and consistent no matter where you are or how often you travel. Harry, living the best homeschooling life, regularly logs on from Spain, New York City, San Francisco, Lisbon, etc. Sometimes he’s in an airport or a museum. Other days his remote classroom is a cafe, a campsite, or a hotel. Often he’s on his way from one place to the next, and his Redwood session takes place in the car. (On-the-road instruction isn’t uncommon, and it works just fine. As long as the student isn’t driving.) I’m a mother of three, and I know “flexible” is among a parent’s most treasured adjectives. Our instructors will meet you where you are. 

We offer both one-on-one and small-group instruction, so if you have multiple students in your household who need the same intervention or if your student has homeschooled buddies who could also use extra help, we can place them together in a group. Monthly progress reports and annual testing are always included, allowing you to track your child’s progress with data. 

Not every model fits every student. It’s all about finding the program that works best for your child, and that’s what we’re here for. If this combination of homeschooling and Redwood intervention sounds like a good fit, we’d love to hear from you. 

Learn more about our virtual programming options in reading, writing, math, and assistive technology here.

References:

1. International Dyslexia Association. (2017, July 24). Why Homeschool a Student with Dyslexia? - International Dyslexia Association. https://dyslexiaida.org/homeschooling-fact-sheet/