HSLDA recommends that parents who are homeschooling struggling learners and/or children with special needs arrange for regular evaluations and document their child’s progress. It is important to keep accurate records demonstrating how you are meeting your child’s special needs and how your child is progressing. As a general guide, the more severe the special learning need, the more frequent and thorough the evaluations should be.

What types of tests/assessments are used to measure and document progress?

• Curriculum-based assessments, such as end-of-unit tests, parent-teacher made tests, quizzes, or evaluations.
• Informal and ongoing assessments, such as checklists, rubrics, oral reading records, anecdotal notes, work samples, portfolios, student learning logs, journals, etc.
• Standardized, achievement tests (nationally normed).
• Informal reading inventories and other diagnostic reading tests (such as the GORT-4 and the QRI) which must be...

MÂCHÉ has the desire to empower parents to love homeschooling the special children God has chosen for their homes. If God is leading you to keep or bring home your special child, MÂCHÉ offers the following support systems for parents who step up to this unique and wonderful challenge.

• MÂCHÉ SPECIAL NEEDS ONLINE SUPPORT

Be inspired and become informed with the insights of authors in our Resource section and gain further understanding with occasional special needs additions to our home page blog.

• Events for Parents of Homeschooled Children with Special Needs ​

​Numerous helpful workshops, seminars, and conferences, will be listed by location and date as they become available.

• MÂCHÉ Handbook Section

​​Find...

Dear Friends,

We hope that the month of August finds you enjoying barbeques, the pool, and the hammock. Summer is a wonderful opportunity to kick back and enjoy your teens. While you are relaxing, please know that we've been working for you! We've organized information on a number of tests that you may want to consider incorporating into your teen's plan for the next school year. Many parents of high schoolers have questions regarding the PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, PLAN, Compass, and Explore tests. Let's take a look at each test specifically in relation to homeschooled students.

(Note: Even if your teen is unsure about attending college, we recommend that he take a college entrance test while in high school when subject knowledge is "fresh" rather than possibly having to take the test several years after high school.)

PSAT

PSAT/NMSQT: The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test not only prepares students to take the SAT, but it is...

Dear Friends,

Homeschool parents know how important it is to stretch available dollars as far as possible. Two for one deals  (such as earning both college and high school credit for the completion of one course) or saving tuition dollars by testing out of certain courses are attractive options for homeschooled teens.

Some teens--but not all--may be up to the challenge of working hard and possibly earning college credit for coursework completed during high school. If your teen is not yet ready for these advanced courses and testing opportunities, don't feel badly or think that your teaching is substandard. The Lord created each of our children with a variety of talents and abilities, and teens should not be encouraged to take courses that they are not prepared to successfully complete. (You may want to reread one of the past newsletters entitled, "Eureka! Average to the World but Special and Unique to God.")

On the...