Create the Ripple Learning Studio

Here is a beautifully written blog explaining the sensitive periods a child goes through from a Montessori perspective.

Montessori Sensitive Periods From Birth to Age 6 & How To Support Your Child Throughout Them Explore Montessori's sensitive periods from birth to age 6 with our comprehensive guide. Learn how these critical developmental phases, including movement and language, shape your child's learning and how you can support them. Dive into Montessori's unique insights and enrich your child's journey.

If you’re a parent who has a quiet sense that your child might learn differently, but you’re hesitant to pursue testing or use words like dyslexia, ADHD, or learning disability because you’re afraid of labels, I want you to know this comes from a place of love. I’ve been there.

For a long time, I believed that avoiding labels was the safest way to protect my child. I worried that a word would follow her, limit her, or become how others saw her. I thought that if we just worked harder, waited longer, or loved her through it, things would eventually smooth out.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that avoiding the word didn’t remove the struggle. It just removed the language. And without language, it was much harder for my child to understand herself.

Before we named how her brain learns, my daughter didn’t think, “I learn differently.” She thought, “Something is wrong with me.” She was called lazy. She was called dumb. And eventually, she called herself stupid because she couldn’t do what other kids seemed to do with ease.

When we finally named it, dyslexia, everything shifted. The word didn’t define her. It explained her. It gave us a map. It opened doors to the right supports, the right teaching order, and the right accommodations. More importantly, it gave her freedom. Freedom from shame. Freedom to say, “This is how my brain works, and this is what I need.”

I want to say this gently: children are labeled whether we choose the word or not. The difference is whether the label comes from misunderstanding or from knowledge. When we avoid naming a learning difference, the labels often show up anyway, just in quieter, more painful ways.

Getting answers isn’t about boxing a child in. It’s about setting them free. It’s about helping them advocate for themselves, access supports, and grow into who they are with confidence rather than confusion.

Since my daughter’s diagnosis in 2021–2022, I’ve dedicated myself to understanding dyslexia and how the brain learns. I’m currently completing my training to become a dyslexia specialist because I want children to grow up knowing that learning differently is not a flaw. It’s simply information. And information is power.

If this is something you’re quietly wondering about, I see you. You don’t have to rush. You don’t have to decide today. But you also don’t have to walk this road without language, support, or understanding. Labels don’t have to be limits. When framed with care, they can be bridges.

Do you have a child who is struggling to become an independent and skilled writer? Check out this online event from ONLit.org.

https://onlit.org/event/teaching-writing-with-self-regulated-strategy-development-using-thinksrsd/

Events for January 2026 – ONlit.org Join Erika Chesnick and Jordan Ingola to explore Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) – a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps students become independent, skilled writers.

It can be really hard to realize that the way you were parented isn’t the way your child needs you to parent. Not because your parents were bad — but because your child is different. And learning to respond to who they are, instead of repeating what’s familiar, takes a lot of quiet courage.

It’s not easy to hold your ground when other voices are loud. When your parenting doesn’t fit neatly into a box — not boomer, not trendy, not easily labeled. When you’re allowing your child to learn differently than you did, to move at a different pace, to need different things.

But I’m learning that growth doesn’t always look like toughness. Sometimes it looks like listening, adjusting, and trusting that love can show up in more than one way.

I want to share something that’s been pretty eye-opening in our house.

When I removed artificial dyes from my kids’ food (especially the yellow ones), I noticed a real difference. Mood, regulation, focus… it wasn’t subtle. And one that surprised me the most was annatto — it’s in nearly everything. Cheese, crackers, snacks you’d never expect.

I can actually see the change in my kids when they eat foods with these dyes. It’s like their bodies — and brains — are inflamed. Big emotions get bigger. Regulation gets harder. Things that were manageable suddenly aren’t.

I’m not saying this is the whole story for every child. And this isn’t about perfection or fear. But for our family, removing these dyes made enough of a difference that I can’t ignore it anymore.

If you are homeschooling a child who is neurodivergent, sensitive, or just seems to struggle more than expected with behaviour or focus, I really recommend watching the documentary To Dye For. Even just to be informed.

At the very least, you’ll understand labels better.
At best, it might explain something you’ve been wrestling with for a long time.

Happy to chat if anyone wants to compare notes or ask questions.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183PVmS36y/

To Dye For: The Documentary is now FREE on Tubi!

One year ago, we released To Dye For, not knowing how many families it would reach. Since then, your shares, generosity, and support have helped so many families and individuals!

Now, the moment we’ve been anxiously waiting for is finally here.
To Dye For is now streaming FREE on Tubi, because a paywall should never keep this information from the families who need it most.

This film explores how synthetic food dyes may impact children’s health and behavior, featuring world-leading experts, real family stories, and science that completely changed how we feed our own kids. We made the film we wish existed when our family was struggling.

As first-time filmmakers, we spent 3.5 years pouring everything we had into this project - late nights, financial sacrifices, faith, and a deep conviction that this message had to get out. Seeing how it’s helped families over the last year has been humbling beyond words.

💛 If this film helped you, please share it.
🎥 Watch free on Tubi or rent it on Amazon! (Link in the comments!)

Let’s get this information into as many homes as possible, because awareness changes everything.

CreatetheRippleLearningStudio.com is now LIVE!

Now Hiring: Part-Time Social Media Support

I’m looking for someone to help grow and support the pages for Create the Ripple Learning Studio & Homeschool Collective.

Content creation will be assisted by AI tools — so the main focus of this role is community engagement, sharing posts into aligned groups, and helping us connect with other homeschool, literacy, and dyslexia communities across Alberta.

With the new focus on the library support group, I need a bit more help to keep everything running smoothly. I’m happy to work with you, train you, and support you in learning how to manage social media effectively.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy — or if you know someone who might be perfect — please share this post or send them my way. 💛

Send a message to learn more

Do you agree?

Repost from Adam Grant;

The researchers estimate that over a semester, students who take notes by hand will be 58% more likely to earn As—while those who type will be 75% more likely to fail. (The obvious exception is students with disabilities that require a digital device.)
For more, read “The screen that ate your child’s education” (Twenge) and see the original research: “Typed versus handwritten lecture notes and college student achievement: A meta-analysis” (Flanigan et al)

In this really unstable political climate — with so many outside voices, agendas, and influences pressing in on our children — raising critical thinkers is more important than ever.

I’m incredibly grateful that a mentor of mine introduced me to the Tuttle Twins series. These books break down big topics like freedom, responsibility, money, and independent thought in a way kids actually understand — without fear, overwhelm, or pressure.

And this year, we took it a step further.

👉 We joined the Tuttle Twins ACADEMY.
It’s designed for teens and pre-teens, but Inara has been absolutely embracing the lessons.

The videos are engaging, the principles are solid, and I love hearing her talk about her rights, choices, and critical thinking with confidence and clarity. That’s a skill set every young person needs right now.

Here’s the link so you can check it out and see what resonates for your family:
👉 https://tuttletwins.com/?ref=Create

Raising kids who can think for themselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give them — especially in the world they’re growing up in.

Teaching Kids Critical Thinking Teaching kids about economics, civics, American history, and more. Help your children develop critical thinking and personal responsibility.

In the Create the Ripple Learning Studio, we focus on more than academics.

We support:
✔ confidence
✔ courage
✔ reflection
✔ resilience
✔ emotional regulation
✔ problem-solving
✔ learning how to try again

One tool we use with students is the Big Life Journal.
It helps kids:
✅ explore their own strengths
✅ learn from mistakes
✅ celebrate progress
✅ build confidence in who they are becoming

It works beautifully for neurodivergent learners, anxious learners, and perfectionist learners — because it’s gentle, encouraging, and child-led.

If you’d like something you can use at home that aligns with our studio’s approach:
👉 https://biglifejournal.com?aff=1431

Let me know if you want recommendations based on age or learning style.

Big Life Journal: Growth Mindset for Kids & Teens We create effective tools and resources to help kids and teens develop a growth mindset so they can face life's challenges with confidence and have every opportunity in life. Our products are based on the latest research, and that's what makes them so unique and effective.