If you decided to homeschool your kid with ADHD (or with a learning disability) and are still in search for perfect online curriculum, take a look at our list of 10 best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a very common disorder with symptoms that usually appear before the age of six. According to data published by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 11% (6.4 million) of children 4-17 years of age have been diagnosed with ADHD and around 237,000 children ages 2-5. The number of children diagnosed with ADHD is growing day by day, and 44% are regularly taking medication. The percent of children taking medication for ADHD varies from state to state with high rates in Louisiana 10.4% and low 2% in Nevada.
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Despite it is often described as “childhood disorder,” ADHD can continue through adolescence and adulthood as well although the symptoms really do begin in childhood. According to Healthline, there are three main types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive and combined. Persons with inattentive ADHD show symptoms of inattention and are easily distracted, but they do not show signs of hyperactivity or impulsiveness while persons with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD do not show signs of inattentiveness but are hyperactive and/or impulsive. Those with combined ADHD show signs of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness as well. Symptoms of ADHD include: forgetfulness (even in everyday chores and activities), having trouble with organization, not following instructions, intruding and interrupting others constantly, having severe problems in waiting his/her turn while talking/playing, etc. These symptoms can range from mild to severe ones which impact everyday life, including school, work or social interactions.
Children with ADHD or learning disabilities can benefit a lot from online programs and homeschooling in general. Each child can work according to his/her own pace without school bells, background noise, and numerous distractions. You should definitely take a look at our recommendations for best online programs for special needs students on our list of 7 best online programs for special needs students because you might find some useful resources here as well. A lot of online study tools for children with ADHD offer shorter lessons so that the kids can take more rest in between the lessons and regain their concentration. Traditional classroom, on the other hand, can often be very boring and distracting for a child with ADHD. With well-structured lessons, online programs can help your child achieve much better results, acquire as well as retain the things he/she learned.
In order to compile this list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities, I’ve consulted various websites specializing in this issue as well as blogs where parents of children with ADHD or learning disabilities share their experiences with various online programs. These include Circle of Moms, Secular Homeschool, Learning Abled Kids, Bright Hub Education, Avko, Look We’re Learning and don’t forget to read the comments below the text. I’ve also advised Insider Monkey’s article 6 best homeschool curriculum and online resources for Asperger’s and high-functioning autism to see if some of these curricula offer separate programs for children with ADHD or learning disabilities. With some additional research and advice from above-mentioned websites, I’ve created this list of recommended online programs which are not ranked according to some specific parameter. The main reason for this is the fact that each program is different and only you as a parent can rate the curriculum properly in regards to your child’s needs. Pricing is also very individual since some programs include monthly fees, yearly fees and even separate fees per course. If you take for example curriculum solely for math, you will still need more money to complement this with reading and writing curriculum, so it is very hard to calculate exact cost. However, I’ve added prices for each program for easier orientation.
10. Time 4 Learning
Price: $19,95 (PreK-8th) monthly
$30,00 (9th-12th ) monthly
Time 4 Learning is definitely one of the leading online resources for children with learning disabilities which is why we also mentioned it in our article 6 best homeschool curriculum and online resources for Asperger’s and high-functioning autism. Time 4 Learning is an automated program and children can get a quality education without the immediate help from their parents. Lessons are designed in such a way to let the child go at his/her own pace and even repeat the same lessons, if necessary. Learning activities are presented via animated and interactive lessons which are more alike to video games than learning exercises. Each student has an individual learning system which is created according to student’s skills rather than grade levels. During each lesson, the student is asked a number of questions to confirm that he/she is paying attention and understanding the given material.
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9. Math Mammoth
Price: $37,50 Lesson plan for each grade
Math Mammoth is a mastery-based curriculum focusing on mathematics. It uses multi-step concepts that include reviewing previously learned concepts. This curriculum is organized into chapters, each focusing on a different theme. Each grade curriculum contains 8-10 chapters. It uses a lot of visual models focusing on conceptual understanding. It is nearly self-taught program since detailed explanations are included in the student book. However, parents of children with ADHD might want to be included to make sure that their child is focused while studying. Prices for this program vary, but you can always find something interesting in their Discount Bundle section.
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8. Monarch
Price: $39,95 monthly
Monarch, next in line on our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities is a Christian online homeschool curriculum designed for children in grades 3-12. It is very convenient because you online need to type in your username and password and curriculum is ready to use. Grading and record-keeping are completely automatic. They offer placement and assessment test to help you find the best curriculum for your child. Monarch received positive reviews, and it is probably the best option if you want your child to have a Christian-based education. If not, then you might want to choose some other online program from this list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities.
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7. Calvert Education
Price: $349,00 (per course) – $2,390 (complete homeschool curriculum for 8th grade)
We are continuing our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities with Calvert Education that has a long history of educating children in the USA as well as in more than 90 countries all over the world. They offer assistance for homeschoolers and children with learning disabilities. They offer Pre-K to 8th-grade education with a complete homeschool curriculum which includes step-by-step lesson manuals and a lot of online resources. Full-grade packages contain online as well as printed reading books, text books and all the resources your child needs. Prices vary from $349,00 per course to $239,000 complete homeschool curriculum with Advisory Teaching Service for 8th grade. Since each child needs individualized approach, it is best if you contact them personally and take a look at their website and payment plans.
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6. Wilo Star 3D
Price: $2999,00 (grades 6-8) and $3499,00 (grades 9-12) per year
Wilo Star 3D, number 6 on our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities is interactive online homeschooling program that features pioneering the use of 3D virtual world for 3-12 education and has accredited High School diploma program. What differentiates Wilo Star 3D Program from other online resources is the fact that it literally creates virtual classrooms where students can “attend” classes in the virtual world. Wilo Star 3D curriculum focuses on different areas of study including English, History, Math, etc. This program is adapted for children with ADHD, gifted children with attention deficit, autism, Asperger’s, children with Tourette Syndrome as well as those with learning disabilities such as information processing deficits, weaknesses in specific areas such as math, reading, etc.
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5. Bridgeway Academy
Price: $4,490 – $5,195
Bridgeway Academy, that that ranked 5th on our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities is one of the certified online home schools which uses accredited curriculum for children with learning disabilities. It is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Private Licensed Schools, the Southern States Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI), the National Association of Private Schools (NAPS) and AdvanED. Bridgeway Academy offers over 200 courses, and you can easily choose the right one for your kid. The program designed for children with learning disabilities is called HOPE package. It includes regular monitoring and feedback reports as well as nine months of learning disability therapy.
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4. Math-U-See
Price: $131,00 – $175,00 per set
We are continuing our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities with Math-U-See that uses unique (online) approach to studying Math. Their grades do not correspond to traditional grades but are mastery-based and student-based meaning that it is perfect for children with learning disabilities who learn according to their own pace. Math-U-See is structured with a step-by-step system which includes introducing new procedures as well as reviewing, practicing and mastering already learned concepts. It focuses on each student individually and focuses on his/her learning abilities. This program follows five different approaches: Charlotte Mason approach (short lessons, students are encouraged to teach back the concepts to the parent), Traditional Homeschool (concepts are taught on DVDs), Classical Homeschooling (memorization of facts is encouraged early on), Relaxed/Unschooling Approach (materials are organized by topics rather than grade levels, and students can work according to their own pace while simultaneously exploring their specific interests) and Unit Studies where the topics are grouped by concepts, helping students understand how various mathematical concepts are related to one another. Traditional and Classical homeschooling approach is probably not a very good option for children with ADHD or learning disabilities, but the other ones will probably do a great job because they are unit-based and short which makes them perfect for kids who cannot stay focused for a longer time period. While Math-U-See offers printed books and worksheets, they also offer Online Co-Op program. While researching about best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities, I often came across recommendations for Math-U-See. However, when reading about their online program, I’ve noticed that it also uses classroom setting with up to 16 students per class. For some children with learning disabilities, this can be a good option while for those with ADHD and similar disorder it is probably better if you take a look at some other suggestions from our list.
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3. K12 Online Public Schools
Price: Free
K12 Online Public Schools, thet ranked 3rd on our list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities are basically online, tuition-free, public schools which use certified teacher educated for online teaching. There are five types of schools powered by K12: Virtual Academies; Insight Schools; blended schools, including K12 Flex Academies; Destinations Career Academies; and district-run schools. However, the school which your child can attend will depend on the state you live in so might want to take a look at K12’s School Finder to see which one is available for you. While this online homeschool program is not specifically designed for children with learning disabilities, it supports children who need “more support academically.” It is definitely worth taking a look.
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2. Reading Horizons At-Home
Price: starting at $199
Reading Horizons At-Home, next on the list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities is online software created for children with dyslexia. This software contains decoding strategies, comprehension tests and vocabulary practice which help your child make amazing progress in a matter of months. It uses a multi-sensory approach thus activating several areas of the brain which helps a dyslexic person to make the connections needed for understanding and reading the text. This program starts with simple concepts and then slowly advances to more complex ones allowing the student to gain more self-confidence. It received positive reviews, and it is definitely a good idea to try it, especially because you have a 60-day money back guarantee. If the program does not suit your child, you can get your money back and try a different curriculum.
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1. Gemm Learning
Price: Starting from $369,00 per month
Gemm Learning is an online learning software with remote support which provides individual programs for each child focusing on language skills such as reading and writing. The first step is to go through online behavioral assessment (done by parents) and reading assessment (done by the child). This is followed by creating a customized curriculum for every child. These online programs are intended for children five years and older as well as adolescents and adults. Gemm Learning is a truly wonderful program for children with learning disabilities since it offers separate programs for children with autism, Asperger’s, dyslexia and ADHD. Program for ADHD, Fast ForWord software, aims at improving child’s working memory, attention span, processing and sequencing (children with ADHD and learning disabilities often have problems recalling already learned material and sequencing can have a big impact on learning power). We hope that you found useful information about homeschool curriculum for children with learning disabilities on this list of best online homeschool programs for kids with ADHD or learning disabilities. Also, do not forget that you can always create your own homeschool curriculum according to your child’s needs but of course it will take much more time and engagement than simply choosing one of these amazing programs. Good luck!
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