Part 1: From Awareness to Action You practiced yesterday. Your child seemed to know the letter sounds. Today, some of them feel brand-new again. Working with student to build their skills, confidence and a love of learning is what I do at My Learning Farm As a parent, that can leave you wondering: Am I doing something wrong? Why isn’t this sticking? Persistent difficulty learning the connection between letters and sounds can be an early sign of dyslexia. It does not diagnose

I’m going to say something a little unpopular: I hate awareness months. I understand the intention. Getting people talking matters. But every October, I find myself thinking about the children who are still struggling to read, the parents searching for answers, and the families being told to give it more time. As a mama of children with learning differences and an educator who works with struggling learners, I want awareness to lead somewhere. Our children need something to

Sometimes the farm has a lesson ready before I even open our book. Yesterday in My Learning Farm READS!, we discovered not one, but two barn spiders—orb weavers! As we read Charlotte’s Web, we had the chance to observe real spiders and their webs right here on the farm. Suddenly, Charlotte’s world felt a little closer. We slowed down, looked carefully, and learned some fascinating spider facts: Spiders are arachnids, part of the same animal class as ticks, mites, and scorpion

What if your child could experience all the magic of a wonderful book without the pressure of having to read it independently? That is a big part of what makes My Learning Farm READS! so special. READS! is a small, engaging literacy class built around a great story—and Ms. Sara does ALL of the reading aloud.❤️ That makes READS! a wonderful fit for reluctant readers, students who find independent reading challenging, and kids who simply LOVE listening to a really good story. I

If you’re considering homeschooling in California, you may have heard someone say, “You need to file a PSA.” It’s one of those phrases that can make a big decision feel even more overwhelming. Let’s make it a little clearer. A Private School Affidavit, or PSA, is an annual filing with the California Department of Education. Some families who teach their children at home establish a home-based private school and file a PSA as part of that option. California also has other ways

There are moments when I look around My Learning Farm and think, how did I get this lucky? I get to wake up every day and do something I truly, deeply love. I get to work with kids and families, help children discover that learning can feel different, and remind them that hard things can become possible. I get to watch confidence grow and see that moment when a child realizes, “Hey, I CAN do this.” There really isn't anything better. THANK YOU to everyone who has poured thems

"I told my child five times it was time to start math." "Moving from reading to writing ends in tears." "Getting out the door feels harder than the schoolwork itself." If you've ever found yourself saying these things, you're not alone. Many parents assume their child is being stubborn, distracted, or unmotivated. But often, the real challenge is something called executive functioning. What Is Executive Functioning? Think of executive functioning as your brain's "air traffic

Where stories come alive, imaginations grow, and reluctant readers discover the joy of books. If your child has ever said, "I hate reading," my heart understands. As both an educator and a mom of children with learning differences, I know that those words rarely mean a child truly hates stories. More often, they mean reading has been frustrating, difficult, or overwhelming. That's exactly why I created My Learning Farm READS! This isn't a traditional literature class. It isn

If your child has ever struggled to memorize words like said, does, was, have, or because, there may be a better way than simply handing them another stack of flashcards. At My Learning Farm, I teach students to understand how and why words work. The High Frequency Word Projectis one of the resources I use to bring deeper word investigation into reading and spelling instruction. 🌻 What Are High-Frequency Words? High-frequency words are simply words that appear very frequentl

If you have ever sat in an IEP meeting listening to conversations about assessments, eligibility, goals, services, accommodations, and acronyms while quietly thinking, “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to ask,” I understand. I have been that parent. Long before I began helping other families navigate special education, I was navigating it for my own children. I remember the worry, the stacks of paperwork, and the feeling that everyone else at the table seemed to understand

“Let’s give it time.” Sometimes that is exactly what a child needs. Children grow and learn at different rates. But when a child consistently struggles with reading, spelling, writing, or math, parents are often left wondering: How much time should I actually give it? Then comes the assessment report: 18th percentile. Below benchmark. Approaching standard. One grade level behind. Those numbers can feel scary, but they don't tell the whole story. If your child scores at the 18

Only a Couple Spots Left! There is something pretty special about gathering together on the farm with a great book, new friends, animals nearby, and plenty of opportunities to learn, create, explore, and have FUN. ❤️ Spring registration for My Learning Farm READS! is now open—and we only have a couple of spots remaining! This spring, we’ll be diving into My Side of the Mountain and turning a wonderful story into a hands-on literacy adventure. 📚 And here’s one of the best par

Math confidence isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how a child feels when they sit down to learn. When a child feels confident in math, something powerful happens:they begin to trust themselves. They raise their hand more. They try harder problems. They take healthy risks.They bounce back faster when something feels tricky. But when math has been difficult for a long time—especially for children with dyscalculia—confidence can quietly fade. Many students start believin

Sometimes the best classroom doesn't have four walls—it has muddy boots, a wheelbarrow, and a horse waiting for breakfast. One of the reasons My Learning Farm exists is because of my own children. My son, Ryker at 9 years old, washing George and Harold for the fair-horse taught him problem-solving, hardworking, determination, empathy-so much! Like many children with learning differences, executive functioning didn't come naturally for them. Planning ahead, remembering multip

One of the questions I hear from parents again and again is, “How do I know if my child really needs help—or if I just need to give it more time?” Every child develops differently, and learning is rarely a perfectly straight path. But there is also a point when waiting to see isn't necessarily the best next step. Sometimes a child is working incredibly hard just to keep up. Sometimes good grades hide how much support is happening behind the scenes. And sometimes parents simpl

Five Paths to their own Future: Cameron, Ava, John, Mateo, Chloe I’m tired of hearing people say, “Kids these days are lazy.” Because that is not what I see. I see young people who are questioning the old playbook. I see kids looking at the traditional path laid out in front of them and asking, Is this actually the best way for me to get where I want to go? And sometimes the answer is no. So they’re bucking tradition. They’re removing pressures that don’t serve them. They’

One of my favorite things about this time of year is having young people stop by My Learning Farm with their buyer letters in hand, ready to tell me about their animals, their projects, and everything they have learned along the way. I love listening to them talk agriculture. I am grateful to sponsor kids in agriculture. I love hearing about the early mornings, the feeding, the cleaning, the training, the setbacks, and the goals. I love watching a young person stand a little

This week in My Learning Farm READS!, Charlotte’s Web jumped right off the page and onto the farm! 🌾❤️ We read Chapters 2–3, practiced writing about what we learned, took a deep dive into Roman numerals, learned some fascinating pig facts, and explored our vocabulary word manure—including all the useful things we do with it here on the farm. 💩😂 But the BIG highlight? Our students got to meet our very own Wilbur stand-in… MILLIE! 🐷 A HUGE thank you to the Berry Family for

At My Learning Farm, I believe some of the most important things we can give young people are opportunities—to learn, to work hard, to discover what they love, to belong to a community, and to become confident in who they are. That is why My Learning Farm is proud to invest in youth agriculture through organizations and community events like California High School Rodeo Association District 3, the Gold Country Fair, and local youth agricultural activities. I LOVE that so many

If your family is choosing the Private School Affidavit (PSA) route for homeschooling in California, October is an important month to have on your radar. The annual PSA filing period begins October 1, making September a great time to make sure you feel confident about your homeschool plan—not just the paperwork, but the learning happening around your kitchen table. And that is where My Learning Farm can help. ❤️ Before You File, Take a Look at the Bigger Picture Choosing to h