(Part 2) Special Needs Homeschooling 101: Creating a Learning Plan that Works

IV. Scheduling and Routine (Without Losing Your Mind… or Your Coffee)

Let’s be real: One of the biggest perks of homeschooling is ditching the morning chaos. No more worrying about being late for the bell that rings in five minutes! But with that freedom comes the temptation to float through the day like it’s a never-ending Saturday. Spoiler: That’s not sustainable. Especially when your child thrives on structure—and you thrive on knowing when you can finally go to the bathroom alone.

1. Build a Routine That Works for Your Family

Forget the color-coded Pinterest planners with 27 subjects and hourly blocks that would make a drill sergeant sweat. Your routine doesn’t have to be rigid—it just has to be consistent enough.

Try this instead:

• Morning warm-up: Breakfast, movement, a little music or sensory play
  
• Focused learning: Two or three core subjects while energy is high (Very important to tackle more difficult subjects when your child is the most focused).
  
• Midday break: Snacks, outdoor time, a calm-down corner—whatever resets the vibe
  
• Afternoon flexibility: Hands-on projects, life skills, therapy activities, or field trips (aka Target)
  

Even just two productive learning blocks a day can make a big difference. The magic is in consistency, not length. Pro-tip (If your having difficulty with a certain task or subject, move on and come back to it later that day or the next day!)

2. Visual Schedules Are Gold

Whether your child is a reader or not, visual schedules work wonders. Picture icons, checklists, or simple “First/Then” boards help:

• Reduce anxiety (they know what’s coming and a visual schedule helps with transitions)
  
• Encourage independence (fewer “What’s next?” questions)
  
• Build executive functioning (yay, planning skills!)
  

Pro tip: Laminate it. Add Velcro. First/Then and a Visual Schedule are great place to start.

3. Don’t Skip the Breaks (You Included)

Children with special needs often need more frequent, intentional breaks to reset their bodies and brains. That’s not slacking—it’s smart teaching. Build in:

• Movement breaks: Trampoline, jumping jacks, hallway races
  
• Sensory breaks: Weighted blankets, fidget toys, calming music
  
• Choice breaks: Let your child pick a preferred activity as a reward for completing a task
  

And you? Yes, you get a break too. Even if it’s just sitting silently in the laundry room with a granola bar. Take it.

4. Life Skills Count as Curriculum

Cooking lunch? That’s math, sequencing, and motor planning. Folding laundry? Sorting, matching, and executive function. Brushing teeth without 42 reminders? Major win.

If it builds independence or reduces future meltdowns in public, it counts as learning. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

V. Behavior Challenges: When the Wiggles Turn into Wipeouts

Let’s talk behavior. You know—the meltdowns, the refusals, the “I’m just going to scream into this couch cushion for 12 minutes” moments. And we’re not just talking about your child. (Hey, homeschooling is no joke.)

If you’ve ever wondered “Is it me?”—nope, it’s probably just Tuesday. The truth is, behavior challenges are common in homeschooling, especially when your child has special needs. But here’s the good news: it’s not about “bad behavior.” It’s about unmet needs, overwhelmed brains, and the occasional broken crayon conspiracy.

1. Behavior Is Communication (Even the Loud Kind)

Before you reach for the sticker chart or Google “boarding schools near me,” First, ask yourself:

• Is my child tired?
  
• Are they overstimulated?
  
• Was the expectation clear?
  
• Did I accidentally schedule algebra right after a dentist appointment and before lunch?
  

Behavior is often a signal, not a strategy. Get curious, not furious.

2. Prevent the Meltdown Before It Starts

The best behavior plan? A prevention plan. Set your child up for success by:

• Giving warnings before transitions (“In 5 minutes, we’ll put the LEGOs away.”)
  
• Offering choices (“Do you want to write with the blue marker or pencil?”)
  
• Breaking tasks down into bite-sized chunks (“Let’s just do the first three questions.”)
  
• Using visuals to remind them what success looks like (finish math = play outside)           

3. The Power of Positive Reinforcement (a.k.a. Bribery With Dignity)

Let’s squash the myth: Positive reinforcement isn’t bribery—it’s just noticing what your kid is doing right and making it worth their while to keep doing it.

Use a Token Economy, simple point chart, or the old “one gummy worm per worksheet” method if that’s your jam. Try:

• Verbal praise (“You worked so hard on that—look at you go!”)
  
• Tangible rewards (stickers, screen time, small treats)
  
• Privileges (pick the next game, choose lunch, skip one chore)
  

Make the reward motivating but realistic—you’re not buying a pony every time someone writes their name. I have a full article on Token Economy and how to start and implement this strategy on this website.

4. When Things Go Sideways (Because Sometimes They Do)

If the day derails:

• Take a breath. Then another.
  
• Reassess the plan—was it too much, too fast, or too soon?
  
• Offer a reset: “Let’s take a break and try again in 10 minutes.”
  
• And sometimes… just call it a day. You won’t ruin your child’s future because today turned into an unscheduled life skills lesson involving cookies and cuddles.
  

You’re not failing. You’re adjusting. That’s what makes you awesome.

VI. Emotional Regulation, Burnout Survival, and Finding Support Beyond Your Group Chat and Coffee Mug

Let’s get honest for a minute. You’re not just the teacher. You’re the case manager, lunch lady, recess monitor, emotional support human, and probably also the one who has to find the missing tablet charger while someone melts down over math.

That’s a lot.

So while we’re doing our best to support our kids’ emotional regulation, we also need to make sure we’re not losing our marbles in the process.

1. Teaching Emotional Regulation (Hint: It’s Not Just Deep Breathing)

Helping your child learn to regulate their emotions isn’t about shutting down the meltdown. It’s about building skills—one dysregulated moment at a time.

Try:

• Co-regulation first: Sit near them. Offer a calm voice. Model breathing. Sometimes they borrow your calm before they can find their own. What I like to say is: “Calm Body” at the same time modeling a calm body and voice.
  
• Name it to tame it: “You’re feeling really frustrated that the tablet died, huh?” Labeling the emotion helps them understand what’s happening inside.
  
• Create a calm-down toolkit: Include things like sensory bottles, headphones, a weighted lap pad, stress balls, or a “break pass” they can hand you nonverbally.
  

Also, know this: a child yelling “I HATE THIS!” while holding a fidget is still learning emotional regulation. It’s a process, not a magic switch.

2. Your Burnout Is Real—and It’s Not a Sign of Failure

Homeschooling a child with special needs is incredibly rewarding—but also incredibly draining. And that’s okay. Feeling exhausted doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this. It means you’re human.

So let’s normalize:

• Taking breaks that aren’t “breaks” for everyone else—yes, we see you doing laundry during “free time.”
  
• Letting things go (like the 42-piece Pinterest craft that ends in tears and glitter all over your shirt)
  
• Ordering pizza and calling it a lesson in shapes, fractions, and economics
  

If you feel like crying in your car or locking yourself in the bathroom for three minutes of silence—you’re not alone. It’s called emotional recess. Take it.

3. Building a Support System That’s More Than Just Your Group Chat and Coffee Habit

Yes, your group chat is a must go to. And yes, coffee is practically a love language. But you need support that doesn’t vanish when everyone’s kid gets sick.

Build your team:

• Join a local or virtual homeschool co-op with special ed awareness
  
• Follow educators, therapists, and parents on Instagram who keep it real (not just curated classroom corners)
  
• Find a professional—a counselor, coach, or therapist—for you if burnout or anxiety is sticking around too long
  
• Say yes to help when offered. Even if it’s someone dropping off a meal, babysitting for an hour, or organizing your IEP notes (these are all blessings).
  

And if you don’t have anyone nearby, create your own micro-community. Message someone you admire. Start a group. Reach out. You deserve and should have connections.

Next up in the final part of the series: Celebrating progress, embracing joy in unexpected places, and reminding yourself why you chose this path in the first place (hint: it wasn’t for the retirement plan).