I was compensated for my time reviewing this product, writing this review, and hosting the giveaway. I was not compensated for my opinions, and all opinions are my own.
Homeschooling a child with learning disabilities is no small task, but perhaps the hardest part of it is facing down all those fears that what I’m doing won’t be enough, or that I might even make our struggles worse. Part of my strategy for facing these fears is knowledge: I read a lot. Each summer, I spend a portion of my summer reading on “professional development,” just a couple of books that help me to understand my kids (and husband) better. Specifically, that means I’ve always got at least a couple of books on my ADHD-dyslexia summer reading list. This year, one of those books was Helping your Child with Language-Based Learning Disabilities by Daniel Franklin.
Honestly, this book easily made it into the list of my top five on the topic. It’s encouraging, positive, and filled with great info! Best of all, I love that his approach focuses so much on relationship.
Dr. Franklin has an amazing story of his own struggle with dyslexia and the teacher that made all the difference in his life. He went on to become a teacher and therapist himself, and his experiences with these students fill his book as he shares their stories and their successes.
A New Favorite for my ADHD & Dyslexia Reading List
Helping your Child with Language-Based Learning Disabilities is divided into three parts. Part I focuses on laying the groundwork for identifying language-based learning disabilities. Then, the author relates how to collaborate with your child through a strong relationship. This book is not about meeting standards! And perhaps that’s why I so quickly fell in love with it. Dr. Franklin continually emphasizes the uniqueness of each child and focusing on the child rather than the standard.
“Throughout this book, I will urge you to become comfortable with your child’s unique developmental timeline. I will encourage you to pay greater attention to your child and yourself than to standards and societal expectations.” (pg. 5)
This first section of the book provides information on what each disability is and classic signs your child may be struggling, how to get your child assessed, what to do if you disagree with an assessment, what therapies are available, what the differences are between a 504 and an IEP, how to set up a learning environment that meets the needs of your child, and so much more. One of my favorite parts of this section was “Collaboration is Not ‘Enabling’”:
“All human relationships are based on dependence, which can be healthy or unhealthy. We make dependence healthy by recognizing it for what it is: receiving necessary support. If you want to help your child to become independent, provide him or her with the help he or she needs.” (pg. 41)
Part II delves into “Succeeding at School” and is written to those who have kids within a traditional school setting, but I still found the information to be very adaptable to a homeschool situation. Because the book places such an emphasis on the relationship between the parent and child, much of this section is answering how to form and cultivate that relationship, especially when there can be so much negativity surrounding schoolwork. How do I calm my child? How do I break the cycle of negativity? How do I get my child out of “crisis-mode”? This is right where I live, questions I ask on a daily basis. And I’ve got so many sticky tabs marking this section!
“When your child knows that you are comfortable with his or her inconsistency, it helps him or her feel safe and comfortable; it also, interestingly enough, helps him or her feel capable of greater effort.” (pg. 62)
He also goes on to address how to set up an environment for you active learner, how to address reading skills for your dyslexic learner, how to address writing skills for your dysgraphic learner, and how to address math skills for you learner with dyscalculia. Dr. Franklin includes tips for note-taking, for test-taking, for time management, as well as tips for dealing with anxieties related to these tasks. Honestly, this book is a treasure-trove of info for the parent of a child with ADHD and Dyslexia or other language-based learning disability.
The last section of the book deals with challenges beyond school: “Succeeding at Life.” Topics like social skills and social anxieties are covered, as well as sleep and nutrition. Then, there are the topics of how to get into college and options besides college. While this book is not exhaustive, it touches on so many relevant topics and provides hope and solutions for the many concerns that keep us up at night. And over and over again, Dr. Franklin emphasizes that parent-child relationship as the key factor to success.
Helping your Child with Language-Based Learning Disabilities is easily my favorite book right now, and will be one of my first recommendations to those within the SPED homeschool community. I’ll be re-reading a number of these sections and taking thorough notes on not just how to improve our homeschooling methods, but how to improve my conversations and my relationships. If you have a child with ADHD, dyslexia, or another language-based learning disability (or suspect that you might), Dr. Franklin’s book needs to be in your parenting toolbox. It’s not a book that overwhelms with technical information; it’s a book that reminds you that you do know your child best, and your parenting relationship is the biggest factor in your child’s success.
You can pick up your own copy of Dr. Franklin’s book at one of the links below.
- https://www.danielfranklinphd.com/?utm_source=iHomeschool
- https://www.amazon.com/Helping-Child-Language-Based-Learning-Disabilities/dp/1684030986
- Franklin Educational Services Company Site: https://www.franklined.com/?utm_source=iHomeschool
Plus, enter to win our free giveaway copy:
Be sure to watch the video of Dr. Franklin’s story: “Unteachable.” Then, connect with Dr. Franklin on social media or at his website.
- https://www.facebook.com/DrDanFranklin
- https://twitter.com/DrDanFranklin
- https://www.pinterest.com/franklined/
- https://www.youtube.com/c/Franklinedtutors
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-franklin-phd/
