Passion-Led Learning: Empowering Homeschool Success through Coaching

Are you stretching every dollar to make your homeschool budget work? In this episode of Empowering Homeschool Conversations, host Peggy Ployhar sits down with Krisa Winn, a seasoned homeschooling consultant and the new SPED Homeschool Director of Consulting and Partnerships, to explore the key to maximizing your homeschool budget. Discover how working with an educational consultant can be a game-changer for your family—not just in terms of educational outcomes, but also in managing costs. Krisa shares her extensive experience and breaks down the tangible benefits of consulting services, from accessing cost-effective resources to saving time, reducing stress, and boosting productivity, all of which contribute to a more manageable and efficient budget. Learn how utilizing a consultant can actually save your family money by identifying unnecessary expenses and prioritizing what truly matters in your child’s education. Peggy and Krisa also discuss the ripple effect of these services—how the guidance and support from a consultant can free up valuable time for parents, allowing them to focus on what they do best: nurturing their children’s learning and growth. Finally, Krisa sheds light on SPED Homeschool’s vision for making quality, effective consultative services accessible to all homeschooling families, regardless of budget constraints. Whether you're a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out, this episode offers actionable strategies and insights that can transform how you approach your homeschooling finances. Krisa Winn is an educator and sought-after public speaker who has served homeschooling families for more than a decade. As a special needs consultant at Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) she worked with thousands of fellow homeschooling parents offering personalized guidance, resources, and practical help to families homeschooling children with special needs. During her 21 years as a classroom teacher, she taught children of all ages, abilities, and circumstances. She has also worked as a private tutor, an early childhood intervention specialist, and an academic language therapist in training. Viewers like you funded similar episodes, and other free resources from SPED Homeschool. To learn how you can support the nonprofit work of SPED Homeschool and this broadcast, visit https://spedhomeschool.com/donate/ To find out more about SPED Homeschool, visit our website at https://spedhomeschool.com/ To learn about the other Empowering Homeschool Conversations Co-Hosts and their resources, visit: https://annieyorty.com/ https://www.leilanimelendez.com/ https://elarplearning.com/ https://solimaracademy.com/ Join our mission to empower homeschool families!: https://spedhomeschool.com/donate/

By Amy Vickrey, MSE Once you've completed the preparatory steps and crafted your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, the next step is to consider the tools necessary for your child to attain those goals. This is where accommodations and modifications play a crucial role.  Accommodations Accommodations are straightforward tools designed to assist your child in working at their level without altering the curriculum. Here are some examples: Time: Providing extra time, an additional day, or breaking up tasks into smaller chunks over several days. Alternative Scheduling: Offering extended deadlines for projects or allowing flexibility in scheduling, provided all tasks are completed. Change of Setting: Providing a quiet workspace for assignments or tests, whether it's outdoors, on a beanbag, or at an easel. Change of Presentation: Altering the method of presenting material, such as using videos, hands-on activities, or specific computer applications. Varying Response Method: Allowing different ways of providing answers, such as orally, while in motion, or through interactive games. Cues and Supports: Providing visual aids like schedules, planners, checklists, grading rubrics, multiplication charts, calculators, or communication boards/apps. (Note: Some states may classify certain items, like calculators or communication boards/apps, as assistive technology.) Modifications Modifications involve adjusting the curriculum to suit the student's needs, often by simplifying or adapting the material: Presentation of Material: Utilizing special education materials or curriculums, such as Simply Classical. Adapted Materials: Simplifying content and vocabulary, reducing the number of vocabulary words introduced, and using leveled or simplified texts, especially in subjects like science or social studies. Grading and Testing Altered: Selectively assessing crucial parts of a lesson instead of the entire content, thus focusing on essential concepts for the learner's understanding. (For strategies on grading, refer to this article.) Considerations Here are some additional factors to consider when selecting accommodations and modifications: Plan to Document: Incorporate documentation of accommodations and modifications into your daily routine by consistently noting what tools are used. Critical Review: Assess the necessity of accommodations and modifications for your child to achieve their goals and reach their potential. Testing Considerations: If testing is required, either voluntarily or mandated by state regulations, ensure awareness of permissible accommodations or modifications aligned with your child's grade level. With careful consideration and implementation of accommodations and modifications, you can support your child's educational journey effectively.