Children with special learning needs typically fall into two primary categories: (1) those with specific learning challenges and (2) those with attentional difficulties. These are distinct types of learning difficulties, although they are often conflated. It’s important to note that a child with a specific learning challenge may also exhibit attentional difficulties, and vice versa, but this is not always the case.
A child with a specific learning problem exhibits a processing weakness in one or more of the following areas:
1. Oral or language expression
2. Listening comprehension
3. Reading decoding
4. Reading comprehension
5. Math computation
6. Math reasoning
7. Written expression
Specialized testing for these children often reveals an average or above-average IQ, with a discrepancy of 15 to 20 points between their achievement scores in one or more of the above seven areas and their IQ scores.
A child with attentional difficulties exhibits characteristics that are persistent and evident before the age of seven. If your child displays at least 3 of the following 4 characteristics, and they impact their daily academic success, it’s likely they have attentional difficulties:
- Issues with concentration, listening, following directions, and completing tasks
- Impulsive behavior, shifting from one activity to another, or struggling with organizational skills
- Difficulty sitting still, waiting his/her turn, or constant restlessness
- Appearing "distant", "spacey", or "in his/her own world"
We have created two low cost and distinct guides specifically for homeschooling parents of students with learning challenges and attentional difficulties. Unlike most resources on the market that approach these issues from a traditional classroom perspective, our guides are tailored to the unique needs of homeschooling families. They offer clear, practical guidelines for daily success, empowering you to effectively support your child’s learning journey.