The first thing most parents say when they sit down for a homeschool evaluation is "I'm so nervous." The second thing is usually an apology for their binder. So let me say this up front. Your binder is probably fine. A Pennsylvania homeschool evaluation isn't a test you pass or fail. It's a ... READ the POST
Homeschool Curriculum in Pennsylvania: 7 Easy, Smart Ways to Choose Without Overbuying
I've watched more than one family spend a few hundred dollars on a gorgeous boxed homeschool curriculum in July, then quietly shelve half of it by October. Nobody did anything wrong. The curriculum just wasn't built for their kid. Choosing homeschool curriculum is the fun part, and also the part ... READ the POST
How to Homeschool in Pennsylvania: 5 Easy Steps for a Confident First Year
Every summer I get some version of the same message. "We're thinking about homeschooling this year. Where do I even start?" Sometimes it's a family who has been thinking about it for years. Sometimes it's a family who decided last Tuesday. If you want to homeschool in Pennsylvania, here's the ... READ the POST
IEP Progress Monitoring: 4 Fixes When the Data Looks Perfect but Nothing Changes
I once opened a data binder that was gorgeous. Color-coded tabs. Every page dated. Every box filled in. And every goal said the student was at 80 percent. For six months. Nobody was lying. The data just wasn't telling anyone anything new, so nobody really looked at it anymore. It had become ... READ the POST
How to Keep First-Year Special Education Teachers Past March: 6 Supports That Work
It's usually around October when I can tell which first-year teacher is struggling. It shows up in the emails to the office, the walkie calls, and the para who keeps showing up at the principal's door. And by March, if nothing changes, that teacher is quietly updating their resume. I've coached a ... READ the POST
5 Things I Look for in the First 10 Minutes of an Autistic Support Classroom
The first time a principal walked me into an autistic support classroom and asked, "So what do you think?", I could feel her bracing for a long list. And honestly, I didn't need one. I'd already learned more in the first 10 minutes than I would have in an hour of reading paperwork. After almost ... READ the POST