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Plan - Point - Adjust:
Teaching Attention with Patience and Purpose

If Your Child is Struggling to Focus, Try This 3 Step Plan

Does this happen at your house?
Your 4th grader is supposed to complete 5 math problems.
Instead, they’re tapping their pencil and staring at the dog.

Instead of saying:
“Why aren’t you paying attention?”

Try this:
Before starting a math lesson, think
Plan - Point - Adjust.

Plan
Write a plan to focus thoughts and energy on completing a math lesson.

Example:
1. Get a pencil.
2. Get your math paper
*Include 1-5 problems, based on the student's ability to focus.
3. Solve the problem.
4. Go to the next problem.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 until finished.
*Before asking the student to work independently, practice the plan together, shining the flashlight on each step.

Point - To get started, shine a flashlight on the first step.
When your student’s attention wanders from the page, use reflexive questions to get on track:
“What’s your plan right now?”
(“Finish problem 1.”)

“Where is your flashlight pointing?”
(“At the dog…”)

Adjust

“That’s right! Let’s adjust. Where does it need to point?”
(“Back at problem 1.”)
That’s right, can you do that?
(“Yes.”)
Great job!

_______________________________________________________

Executive function grows when children learn to:
✔ Notice drift
✔ Re-aim intentionally
✔ Continue with the plan
That’s skill development.

What’s one area where your child’s flashlight drifts most right now — math, reading, transitions, chores?

Last week was already Session 4 of the MPE Unique Learners Coaching Program!
We jumped into the new year with a homeschool survey and a time of brainstorming to lay the foundation for creating 90 day goals. I can’t wait to see the impact of setting meaningful, 90 day goals!

SPOT

Did you choose an amazing curriculum this year, but realize it doesn’t seem to be “working” for your child? Are you frustrated with low engagement or slow progress? Maybe you just hit a wall.
When you chose that program, something about it made sense to you. Now you are not sure.
The good news?
With simple accommodations you can enjoy teaching the curriculum and your child!
The key is to make a simple shift in mindset and approach.
Focus on your student’s learning needs first.
Then, flex the curriculum to fit your child.
This was such an aha for me! I was lacking in confidence and wanted to “teach the curriculum perfectly”. My main accomplishment, however, was creating frustration for me and my family!
So I took a step back and thought about the classroom strategies that worked well for students. SPOT is an easy way to remember them.

Make a SPOT for your student to succeed! Explore four areas of learning to bring life and joy back into homeschooling.

• Space – where learning happens
• Presentation – how concepts are taught
• Output – how the student responds to learning
• Time – when concepts are shared

Space
-Find a quiet area
-Create a personalized workspace with a trifold board
-Use a table or no table
-Identify size appropriate chairs

Presentation
-Multi sensory approach to learning
-Show fewer items on a page, such as math problems
-Share concepts multiple times for mastery, games make mastery learning memorable and fun!

Output
-Shorten written responses, when appropriate
-Scaffold writing - model writing – student copies
-Speech to Text and Text to Speech tools

Time
-Provide additional time for lesson completion
-Chunk tasks into manageable steps over time
-Provide structured timelines for support: finish 3 more problems or work 5 more minutes

I'm curious, what part of SPOT would help you and your student?

This summer I was trained to teach grammar skills using the The Grammar Case by Phillips Fundamental Learning Center. What an impactful program!
I started teaching it to a rising middle schooler and is really making grammar click. She loves the color coding, brainstorming, and hands on approach.

Partnering with homeschooling families and unique learners is my whole heart! I am excited to announce a new program for Midwest Parent Educators - MPE members - The MPE Unique Learners Group Coaching Program. This is a partnership to build a community and grow as homeschooling parents. Check it out! Have questions? Send me a message! Can't wait to see what God is up to this Fall.

Unique Learners Group Coaching Program - Midwest Parent Educators (MPE) Special needs homeschool? Join our Unique Learners Group Program with Suzanne Wandling, MS, ICF Trained Coach, & Special Educator!

This summer I was trained to teach grammar skills using The Grammar Case by Phillips Fundamental Learning Center. What an impactful program! I started teaching it to a rising middle schooler and it really is making grammar click. She loves the color coding, brainstorming, and hands-on approach.

Today is the day! I am so excited for reading screenings today at the homeschool conference 🎉

Learn the power of blending drills and other reading skills Friday at the MPE Homeschool Conference!

I will be speaking at 3:15 in the Truman room on Dyslexia: Myths, Truths, & Strategies.

I can’t wait to see you there 🥳

This year at the MPE Homeschool Conference I will be sharing my insight on Dyslexia: Myths, Truths, & Strategies to help you teach your kids with joy and confidence!

I can’t wait to see you there 🎉

What a wonderful weekend it was at the MPE homeschool conference! Thank you for having me!