Beyond the Box Learning

Marianne Sunderland

Educating and encouraging parents and teachers of kids who learn differently, author, blogger, and veteran homeschool mom of seven of her own outside the box learners Marianne Sunderland teaches honestly from her many years educating her own kids with dyslexia and ADHD. Marianne asks the hard questions about what is really important as we educate our kids encouraging parents to step beyond the box of traditional education to meet the real needs of their kids. With a unique blend of research and practical experience, Marianne will help you gain the confidence you need to teach your kids.

  1. 9h ago

    Resistance to Learning: What Is Your Child’s Resistance Telling You?

    When homeschooling starts to become a daily battle, it’s easy to focus on the behavior: complaining, procrastination, tears, anger, shutdowns, or outright refusal. But what if the resistance itself isn’t the real problem? In this episode, I’m talking about how to look beneath resistant behavior—especially in kids with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences—and begin figuring out what may actually be making learning so difficult. Why persistent resistance can be a sign that something about learning isn’t workingHow repeated difficulty and stress can lead to avoidance and shutdownWhat to notice before assuming your child is lazy or unmotivatedThe difference between normal resistance and patterns that deserve a closer lookWhy adjusting expectations or teaching methods isn’t the same as lowering expectationsHow helping kids experience success can rebuild confidence and motivationI’ll also share details about the upcoming Resistant Learner Intensive, where we’ll go deeper into what causes resistance and the practical changes you can make when homeschooling has become a struggle. Resistant Learner Intensive Homeschooling With Dyslexia

  2. Sep 27

    What I Wish I Knew When I Started Homeschooling My Struggling Learners

    When I first started homeschooling more than 30 years ago, I had no idea what homeschooling a child with dyslexia was supposed to look like. In this episode, I'm sharing the story of how homeschooling my own outside-the-box learners completely changed the way I think about education. Seven of my eight children have been diagnosed with dyslexia, and some also have ADHD, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia. Over the years, I learned that my kids didn't need me to recreate school at home. They needed an education built around the way they actually learned. I share the lessons I wish I had understood much earlier. Why learning later does not necessarily mean staying behind How our three years of sailing changed my definition of education and success Why a child's reading or writing level should not determine the level of their entire education How understanding dyslexic strengths changed the way I viewed my children Why interests and motivation can be powerful drivers of learning How to adapt curriculum instead of constantly throwing it out and starting over Why homeschooling parents need to know what to prioritize—and what can wait Why I encourage parents to think more like tutors than traditional classroom teachers Kids who learn differently need to be taught differently. That means we have to understand how dyslexia, ADHD, processing weaknesses, memory, and executive function affect learning. It also means giving ourselves permission to adapt. Sometimes that means remediation. Sometimes it means accommodation. Sometimes it means modifying a curriculum. And sometimes it means letting go of something that simply isn't important right now. A successful homeschool doesn't have to look like school. It needs to meet the needs of the child in front of you. Better Late Than Early by Raymond and Dorothy Moore [Out of publication. Check used book sources.] Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock and Fernette Eide Unschooled by Kerry McDonald No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids with Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties by Marianne Sunderland Many of the lessons I learned over 31 years of homeschooling eventually became the foundation of my newest parent course, The Plan. The Plan is a practical framework for creating an individualized education for smart but struggling learners. Inside, you'll learn how to: identify what your child needs most right now know what to prioritize from kindergarten through high school choose appropriate teaching methods and supports decide when to remediate and when to accommodate adapt curriculum to meet your child's actual needs use accommodations effectively create a realistic homeschool routine that works for your family Instead of giving you another rigid system to follow, The Plan helps you make confident decisions about your own child's education. Learn more about The Plan here. Visit HomeschoolingWithDyslexia.com for more resources on homeschooling kids with dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other learning differences. If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with another homeschooling parent who may need the reminder that a successful education doesn't have to look traditional.

  3. Sep 21

    Why Your Child Can Read a Word but Still Can’t Spell It

    Have you ever wondered why your child can read a word correctly but still struggle to spell that same word? This is incredibly common for kids with dyslexia. Reading and spelling are closely connected, but they require different skills. Reading involves recognizing and decoding words that are already in front of us. Spelling requires a child to retrieve sounds, spelling patterns, and word structures from memory and reproduce them independently. For many kids with dyslexia, that makes spelling the more difficult task. In this episode, I talk about why spelling progress often lags behind reading progress, what is happening beneath the surface, and how parents can support spelling development without becoming discouraged when progress seems slow. You'll learn: Why a child can read a word correctly but still struggle to spell it How phonological processing, working memory, and orthographic memory affect spellingWhy kids with dyslexia need explicit instruction, meaningful patterns, and lots of repetitionHow to balance continued spelling instruction with accommodations like spellcheck and speech-to-textOne of the most important things to remember is that slow spelling progress does not necessarily mean your child isn't learning. A child may recognize spelling patterns in reading long before they can consistently retrieve those patterns when writing. With the right instruction, repeated practice, and appropriate accommodations, spelling can continue to improve over time. I recently updated my guide to spelling curriculum for kids with dyslexia. It includes stand-alone spelling programs as well as Orton-Gillingham and Structured Literacy reading programs that teach reading and spelling together. Read the Spelling Curriculum Guide Learn more about what effective spelling instruction looks like and why kids with dyslexia need a different approach than simply memorizing weekly spelling lists. How to Teach Spelling to Kids With Dyslexia If you want to go deeper, my Teaching Spelling class covers why spelling is so difficult for kids with dyslexia, effective methods for teaching spelling, morphology and etymology, and how to know when it is time to use accommodations. Learn More About the Teaching Spelling Class For older students, tools such as spellcheck, predictive text, speech-to-text, and other assistive technology can reduce the impact of spelling difficulties while students continue developing their underlying skills. Learn More About the Assistive Technology Guide

  4. Sep 15

    Teaching Kids With Dyslexia to Read: What Progress Really Looks Like

    If you're teaching a child with dyslexia to read, you may have wondered: Is this actually working? Maybe you're using an Orton-Gillingham-based reading program consistently, but progress still seems painfully slow. Your child remembers a phonogram one day and forgets it the next. They decode a word correctly on one page and don't recognize it on the next. That doesn't necessarily mean your reading program isn't working. In this episode of the Beyond the Box Learning Podcast, we're talking about what reading progress really looks like for kids with dyslexia—and why it is often much slower and more uneven than parents expect. We'll talk about: Why the severity of dyslexia affects the rate of reading progressHow working memory, processing, executive function, phonemic awareness, and rapid naming can affect learning to readWhy progress with dyslexia is often unevenWhy spelling typically develops more slowly than readingSubtle signs that your child's reading skills really are improvingSix simple ways to track reading progress over timeWhy some dyslexic kids seem to suddenly "take off" with reading after years of slow progressOrthographic mapping and why all that decoding practice mattersHow to keep your child's education moving forward while reading skills developWhen slow progress may be a sign that it's time to investigate furtherMost importantly, we'll talk about why your child's reading level is not their intellectual level—and why progress, rather than catching up to someone else's timeline, is the goal. FREE Reading Progress Tracking Guide It can be surprisingly difficult to see reading growth when you're working with your child every day. This free resource includes a simple Reading Progress Log for tracking changes in accuracy, prompting, stamina, fluency, and other signs of growth, along with 6 simple, low-pressure ways to make reading progress more visible to both you and your child. → [DOWNLOAD THE FREE READING PROGRESS TRACKING GUIDE] Best Orton-Gillingham Reading Programs for HomeschoolersNot sure whether you're using the right approach? Read my comparison of Orton-Gillingham-based reading programs that parents can use at home. → [READ THE ORTON-GILLINGHAM PROGRAM COMPARISON] Processing, Memory & Executive Function Class BundleSometimes a child's difficulty with reading isn't only about dyslexia. Weaknesses in processing, working memory, and executive function can make it much harder for a child to retain and efficiently use what they're learning. This bundle will help you better understand these underlying areas of learning, how they can affect your struggling learner, and how to strengthen each area for faster progress. → [LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESSING, MEMORY & EXECUTIVE FUNCTION BUNDLE] Prefer to read? The complete article includes all of the signs of reading progress, tracking ideas, and information from this episode. → [READ: TEACHING KIDS WITH DYSLEXIA TO READ — WHAT PROGRESS REALLY LOOKS LIKE] Remember: You aren't trying to get your child to read on someone else's timeline. Give them the right instruction, watch for growth, and keep the rest of their education moving forward while their reading skills develop.

  5. Sep 7

    ADHD Is More Than Focus: What Parents Often Miss

    When most parents think about ADHD, they think about difficulty paying attention, distractibility, or the child who simply can't sit still. But ADHD affects so much more than focus. This episode was inspired by a recent conversation in my online mentoring group. As we talked about children with ADHD, several of the moms began sharing their own experiences of living with ADHD. What struck me most wasn't their difficulty focusing. It was the way years of struggling with things that seemed easy for everyone else had affected the way they saw themselves. They talked about feeling lazy, irresponsible, disorganized, or somehow less capable than other people. And it made me think about our kids. If we don't understand what's behind our children's ADHD behaviors, it's incredibly easy to mistake their struggles for laziness, carelessness, defiance, or lack of motivation. Over time, our kids can begin to believe those things about themselves, too. In this episode of the Beyond the Box Learning Podcast, we're looking beyond the most obvious symptoms of ADHD to understand what's really happening underneath the behaviors we see. Why ADHD is much more than difficulty paying attentionCommon ADHD myths that can lead parents to misunderstand their kidsWhy a child can focus intensely on something they love but struggle tremendously with schoolworkWhy ADHD and dyslexia so often occur togetherSigns of inattentive ADHD that parents frequently missWhy ADHD is often overlooked in girlsHow ADHD can affect working memory, task initiation, organization, time management, impulse control, motivation, and transitionsHow ADHD affects emotional regulation and relationshipsThe emotional cost of growing up believing you're lazy, careless, or not trying hard enoughWhy understanding ADHD can protect a child's confidence and sense of selfMy family's experience with ADHD medication and some considerations for parentsHow children and adults are evaluated for ADHDWhy understanding the why behind a child's behavior changes the way we support themOne of the most important things I've learned after many years of homeschooling kids with dyslexia and ADHD is this: Understanding changes the story. Instead of asking, “Why won't this child just do it?” we can begin asking, “What's getting in the way, and what skills or support does this child need?” Those are two very different approaches, and they can produce very different experiences for our kids. If ADHD is affecting your homeschool, your relationship with your child, or the way your child sees themselves, I've created a six-part ADHD course specifically for homeschooling families. We go beyond basic ADHD information and look at practical, research-based ways to help with: Focus and attentionOrganization and executive functioningLearningSocial skills and relationshipsEmotional regulationYou'll also learn what's happening underneath common ADHD behaviors so that you can better understand your child and give them the support they need. This week, you can save $50 on the complete ADHD course through Monday. [Learn more about the ADHD course]

  6. Aug 31

    How to Build Independent Learning With Dyslexia and ADHD

    Does it feel like your kids need you for every single part of the homeschool day? You’re teaching one child while another needs help logging into math. Someone forgot what they’re supposed to be doing. Someone else can’t find their pencil. And the child you just got started is back three minutes later because they’re stuck. 😂 For kids with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function weaknesses, independent learning can be especially challenging—but often not for the reasons we think. In this episode, I’m talking about why struggling learners may have a harder time working independently and, more importantly, how we can gradually help them need us less without expecting them to do things their brains simply aren't ready to do yet. We’ll talk about: Why independence is actually a collection of skills that need to be taught How executive function weaknesses affect independent learning The difference between an independence problem and an access problem Why accommodations like audiobooks, speech-to-text, checklists, and timers can actually create more independence What happens when "Mom becomes the executive function system" How to transfer some of the support you provide to tools and systems your child can use on their own Why independent work doesn't always need to be academic How to gradually transfer responsibility instead of suddenly expecting independence Why we shouldn't compare the independence of kids with dyslexia and ADHD to other children their age Choose one activity your child currently needs your help with and ask: 1. Why do they need me?Is it reading? Directions? Attention? Initiation? Organization? An academic skill? 2. What could replace some of my support?Could a tool, accommodation, checklist, routine, timer, audiobook, or shorter assignment help? 3. What is one small step toward doing this with less help? Don't try to "make your child independent." Just make one thing a little more independent. Need ideas for what your kids can actually do independently while you're teaching another child? I've put together a FREE Independent Learning Ideas download with practical activities your kids can do on their own while you're working with a sibling—or simply helping them build greater independence. Download the Free Independent Learning Ideas here. Remember, the goal isn't to remove all support. The goal is to transfer support from you to tools, accommodations, skills, and systems your child can eventually use independently. Executive Function Resources If you have a child that struggles with executive function, weakness, here are resources on my site to give you the skills to support your kids and grow their executive function skills. Executive Function Master Class The ADHD Intensive

  7. Aug 24

    Avoiding the Comparison Trap

    Comparison can sneak into our homeschools even when we know what we're doing is working. In this episode of the Beyond the Box Learning Podcast, I share a recent conversation with an experienced homeschool mom who found herself questioning her family's individualized approach after seeing another family choose a more traditional homeschool program. We explore why traditional education can remain our unconscious measuring stick, why comparison is so often based on assumptions, and how homeschooling kids with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences can require us to completely rethink what a successful education looks like. You'll also hear some better questions to ask when comparison hits—questions that turn your attention away from what everyone else is doing and back toward the strengths, needs, interests, and growth of the child right in front of you. Because your homeschool doesn't need to look impressive from the outside. It needs to work for the children living inside your home. Free Student Interest & Learning Style Inventory: [DOWNLOAD HERE] My book, No More School: Meeting the Educational Needs of Kids with Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Difficulties: [LEARN MORE / GET THE BOOK] Book a 1:1 consultation with Marianne here. Kids who learn differently need to be taught differently.

  8. Aug 11

    Back-to-school Expectations

    Every August, homeschool parents are filled with hope. This is going to be the year. The year your child finally loves reading.The year you stick to the schedule.The year every curriculum choice is perfect.The year everyone enjoys homeschooling. But what happens when reality doesn't match those expectations? In this encouraging episode, Marianne shares why unrealistic expectations can quietly steal our joy—and how embracing flexibility can actually make us better homeschool parents, especially when we're raising children with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning differences. Drawing from more than 30 years of homeschooling seven children with dyslexia, Marianne offers practical wisdom for approaching the new school year with confidence, grace, and realistic expectations. You'll learn: Why there is no such thing as the perfect homeschool yearHow to respond when a carefully chosen curriculum simply doesn't workWhy some classes are a poor fit for kids who learn differentlyWhat to do when your child resists your "perfect" homeschool planWhy children with dyslexia often develop reading skills on a very different timelineHow to avoid feeling behind by focusing on your family's true prioritiesWhy flexibility—not perfection—is one of the greatest strengths of homeschoolingDon't lower your expectations for your child. Adjust your expectations for the journey. Children with dyslexia and ADHD often reach the same destination by a different path. When we stop measuring our homeschool against an imaginary "perfect year," we create space for meaningful growth, individualized learning, and lasting success. As Marianne often says: "Kids who learn differently need to be taught differently." 📚 Homeschool Planning Week (Begins August 17) If you're feeling overwhelmed planning your homeschool year, join Marianne for four practical days of planning designed specifically for families homeschooling children with dyslexia and ADHD. During Planning Week you'll learn how to: Set priorities that actually matterChoose curriculum wiselyBuild a realistic daily scheduleCreate a homeschool plan that works for your unique child—not someone else's👉 Learn more and register here:https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/planning-week/ 📖 Explore more free articles and resources: https://HomeschoolingWithDyslexia.com If this episode encouraged you, please consider: Following the podcastLeaving a reviewSharing this episode with another homeschool parent who needs encouragement this back-to-school season Your support helps more families discover that kids who learn differently truly can thrive when they're taught differently.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Educating and encouraging parents and teachers of kids who learn differently, author, blogger, and veteran homeschool mom of seven of her own outside the box learners Marianne Sunderland teaches honestly from her many years educating her own kids with dyslexia and ADHD. Marianne asks the hard questions about what is really important as we educate our kids encouraging parents to step beyond the box of traditional education to meet the real needs of their kids. With a unique blend of research and practical experience, Marianne will help you gain the confidence you need to teach your kids.

Information

  • Creator
    Marianne Sunderland
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marianne Sunderland
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Box Learning

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