No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids With Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties

by Marianne Sunderland

Discover the freedom you have to give your kids with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences a meaningful education.If you're overwhelmed by the day-to-day education of your kids with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties, you're probably looking at it from the wrong point of view.

After twenty-five years of home educating seven children with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD, Marianne Sunderland has learned how to create an engaging, meaningful, and effective educational experience for these smart but struggling learners.No More School will equip you

Understand that learning struggles caused by dyslexia are learning differences that require a different way of teachingAccept that traditional schools are not equipped to provide the education your children needStep outside the box of traditional education and focus on your children's unique learning needs Plan a learning environment that meets the unique needs of your familyHave peace that you are doing enough and that you are giving your kids the best education possibleFor parents doubting that they are able to give their children with learning struggles the best education possible, homeschool veteran Marianne Sunderland provides a thorough and engaging guide filled with practical advice to help you get started and finish strong!

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2021

Reviews

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this very encouraging as I prepare to begin another school year. The author is a home educating mother of 8 children, seven of whom have some combination of dylexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD. . .perhaps other diagnoses, but these are the ones I related to and thus remember.

My primary takeaway, a reminder I needed, was the difference between learning about _____ (whatever subject) and learning to *get school done.* We were falling too much into the latter category at the end of our last school year, so I needed to hear this.

This is not a book about dyslexia, either defining or knowing how to recognize the signs of dyslexia, but it's for the parent who already knows their child's learning challenges and needs encouragement, needs to hear from someone ahead of them on the journey, and/or needs ideas about how to teach to their child the way God made them. I think she does a great job of helping parents see and focus on a child's strengths, and I especially appreciated the chapter sharing the traits successful adult dyslexics have (self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal-setting, maintaining effective support systems, and employing emotional coping strategies). In some ways, this book affirmed things I'm doing (which is always encouraging) and in other ways it gave me ideas and encouragement of things I can improve in. Very much worth my time.

[Midori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging and Relatable

As an overachieving homeschool mom of three kids who all struggle with dyslexia and ADHD, I needed all of this!

By this point, 6 years into our educational journey, the fact that we’re not going to have a “normal” homeschool had started to dawn on me, but Marianne showed me that it’s actually a good thing, and my kids are going to be okay.

She offers practical guidance and describes how it all worked for her kids. I’m now actually excited to embrace this different path and find the opportunities that will prepare my kids for their unique life callings.

[Jill Camacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great encouragement

In our sixth year homeschooling with Autism, ADHD, ODD, OCD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed some days about falling “behind.” Although going to God for a vision reset is priority one, this book is also a great encouragement.

It’s definitely not meant to answer specifics about disorders and identifying them (as she mentions, this is more so the purpose of her dyslexia 101 book). It’s more so good food for thought and encouragement in taking a big picture, whole child approach to your child’s education.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, refreshing read.

This was a quick read but a really refreshing read. It intertwined real life with practical tips and actually studies. I love that the author is actually in the trenches with kids with learning challenges and relates the struggles and triumphs. I think it is a great read for anyone with kiddos with learning challenges or just out of the box learners.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an encouraging read. From the first page, I was already teary and related to all the worries and struggles for my own child. This book doesn't teach about diagnoses or symptoms, but it's for parents/caregivers who already know their learner has a LBLD. Admittedly, I already knew most of the research presented in the book, but seeing it in a concise manner like this with the authors experiences while being in the thick of it and seeing the successful adults her children have become despite early learning struggles was extremely uplifting. If you don't have a bright student who struggles with language processing, it's hard to fathom all the silent struggles they deal with.
Here are a few excerpts that I found to be relatable or thought-provoking.
"...but I was SO DONE! How many times did I need to teach the same thing?? I could see the hurt and frustration my words caused the wide-eyed 6-year-old. Why could he tell me the names and characteristics of 52 dinosaurs but not remember how to read the word 'the'? And that after being taught it a trillion times.
If this story sounds familiar to you you are in the right place, teaching smart but struggling students can be confusing and worrying and consequently, overwhelming atleast that is until you make a few changes to the way you look at learning and education."
"There are some pretty frightening statistics out there on what happens to kids who aren't remediated before 3rd grade, claiming that they may never catch up to their peers. Then, one day recently, I read this quote from Carol Black, Collecting data on human learning based on children's behavior in school is like collecting data on killer whales based on their behavior at Sea World.
I realized that these studies about reading and dyslexia were carried out by following kids who were in a traditional school system. A system that frequently allows kids with lbld to fall through the cracks, not receive proper diagnoses, appropriate remediations, or accommodation. Kids who are marched from one grade to the next despite not having mastered the material from the previous grade.
Even my older kids learned to read at 12 and went on to do very well in different school environments."

"Kids with dyslexia often take longer to master the basics. A major benefit of homeschooling is allowing students time and freedom from being measured by peers who are traditional learners.
While most traditional learners may learn to read fluently at 7 or 8 years old, kids with dyslexia might learn to read independently with fluency at 12, 13, or even older in some cases.
If our kids with lbld can learn and master language but at a slower pace, why is it a bad thing? If standards designed primarily to organize large numbers of students in a classroom didn't exist, how would we feel about our kids' unique learning paths? "

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that gives practical ways to home educate an out of the box learner. It basically defines out of the box learners as any child that struggles in anyway with the traditional learning style. It has been the most helpful book I’ve read in my 3 years of homeschooling.

The author also talks about her personal experiences and overall I found the book to extremely helpful and encouraging!

[Jennifer Bacci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably most useful to those with only Dyslexia and not as much for those with other language based learning disabilities. A lot of emphasis on the fact that kids with dyslexia will eventually "catch up" to their peers with the right supports in place during the younger years. This is not so true of other language related disabilities.

[G C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maryanne has been so helpful in her Facebook group but I loved reading even more helpful tips and all the information she shared in her book. Invaluable information for any parent of a child with dyslexia

[Beth Lorow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took lots of notes and felt encouraged while reading this book that examines the challenges of traditional schooling for kids with language based learning difficulties. This book reinforced the unique beauties and challenges of homeschooling with a lot of hope and encouragement woven in.

[Allison Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for new or experienced homeschoolers looking for the basics needed to empower yourself and your child with language based learning difficulties.

[Ashley Hotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This is a wonderful book for parents of children with language based learning disorders. I found it very informative and helpful.

[Bethany Holestine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just what I needed!