This week's episode is in response to a question I got from a listener regarding how we make a Charlotte Mason style exam week work for our kids, even if they don't typically "test well." Our family is in the middle of Term 2 exam week, so it's a perfect time to answer! If you aren't familiar with Charlotte Mason's method for examination, I start the episode discussing exams.  I also talk about what Charlotte Mason's exam questions look like for our family and how they are different from the typical tests we all grew up taking in school. And finally I share how I modify questions or my e ..read more

The Flamingo Feathers podcast is back from a hiatus. As I discuss in the opening of today's podcast, Flamingo Feathers is switching gears just a bit to focus more on Charlotte Mason and how her methods can be implemented for kids who learn differently. (Probably not much of a surprise for regular listeners!) Also, please note that we are currently working on migrating our website over to a new host, so things are a little glitchy right now. We'll resume regular podcast show notes once that is finished. Today's guest is Dr. Kelly Frindell from In House Test Prep.  She has been teaching s ..read more

Welcome back to the Flamingo Feathers Podcast!! If you are homeschooling a child with learning disabilities or special needs, you are in the right spot! It's great to be back with a new season for you. We're kicking off this season with my top tips to help new and seasoned homeschool moms alike start the school year off with success (and not throw the whole family into a tailspin)! If your homeschool is anything like mine, those first few weeks of homeschooling can be a little rocky as everyone gets used to their new books and rhythms of the day. (Throw in some kids who don't like a lot of ch ..read more

One of the questions I have been asked most about curriculum Is "What curriculum Is best for teaching my child with special needs how to read?" Perhaps your child has learning disabilities that make reading more difficult. Or maybe your child has cognitive delays that have made you wonder If your child will ever learn to read. Sometimes the key to unlocking your child's reading potential Is simply finding a curriculum that works well with their mind and learning style. In this episode, I share my top 5 favorite Learn-to-Read Curriculums that I have personally used (and loved!) with my child ..read more

Homeschooling kids Is rewarding, but hard! Throw In some learning disabilities or maybe more profound disabilities, and the reward Is greater, but so Is the difficulty! Special needs homeschooling moms are some of the most resilient people out there, but we definitely need help, encouragement and support when we can get It, right?! This podcast was started just for the special needs homeschooling community! On this Inaugural episode, you'll find out what to expect from future episodes, topics we'll be tackling, and what on earth Is behind the name "Flamingo Feathers." Tune In! Can't wait to ..read more

"Seeing where he came from, going to college with a 1.9 GPA, and I think he got whatever they give you on the ACT for putting your name on it....and then he has two PhD's. So I think as a homeschool mom it has helped me to relax and to feel like I don't have to make sure that my kids have learned every single thing because if they want to learn it, they will learn it. The learning doesn't stop when they leave our house."   My guests on this episode are Dr. Michael Gotcher and his wife Nheree Gotcher. Michael discusses his struggles with dyslexia and how he learned to find accommodations t ..read more

Learning social skills like eye contact, play, and making friends is something that every person needs to do. But for some kids, learning social skills comes easier than for others. And while neurotypical kids can struggle to pick up socially appropriate skills, kids with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome can tend to struggle with learning some social skills. In this episode, my guest Gayla Martin, a licensed BCBA, shares practical ideas for how homeschoolers can work on developing appropriate social skills so that your child can express himself or herself to the world. It all sta ..read more

There's nothing wrong with switching things up in the middle of your homeschool year. In this first episode of Season 2, I share why our family is not just changing homeschool curriculum, but also how we approach everything as we delve into Charlotte Mason's educational method.  This is an off-the-cuff episode that will hopefully encourage you to reconsider your family's needs in the middle of the school year and fearlessly change gears mid year if you need to do so.  You can find all the links mentioned in this episode at http://www.flamingo-feathers.com/26 ..read more

Time blocking is a homeschooler's best friend! And if you also have special needs kids with multiple doctors' appointments or therapy appointments each week, you're going to like this style of time management even more!  I think it is the best type of scheduling system for special needs homeschoolers because it compensates well for all those disruptions and objections that I’m sure you’ve thought of when it comes to having a daily schedule. Rigid scheduling like this is good in a lot of environments that have meetings and bells—like a workplace or school—but when you’re home during the da ..read more

How can a Charlotte Mason education benefit a child with special needs or learning disabilities? This is the second installment in the Homeschooling Philosophy Series. My guests Emily Kiser, Liz Cottrill, and Nicole Williams, hosts of the A Delectable Education podcast share their wealth of knowledge and passion for Charlotte Mason's educational method and philosophy. All three are intimately acquainted with various special needs such as dyslexia, visual impairments, and reactive attachment disorder. This is definitely a must-listen episode if you have ever wondered if Charlotte Mason's metho ..read more