Cheryl Swope's Blog, page 16

Open & Go, at last! — “Step-by-Step Writing” — new program for Special Needs

Does your struggling student need reminders to capitalize the first letter of his sentences? Does he find it difficult to know where a sentence ends? Does he need instructions in the types of sentences (telling, asking, exclaiming)? Does he know how to identify a proper noun in his writing? Would … Continue reading →

Step-by-Step Writing: New Program for Special Needs

Does your struggling student need reminders to capitalize the first letter of his sentences? Does he find it difficult to know where a sentence ends? Does he need instructions in the types of sentences (telling, asking, exclaiming)? Does he know how to identify a proper noun? Would you like to … Continue reading →

New Cursive Handwriting Program for Special Needs!

In conjunction with handwriting expert Iris Hatfield, we now have a beautiful, no-nonsense Intro to Cursive program for children with special needs: Simply Classical lessons for New American Cursive. You need only three things: 1) NAC 1 2) NAC Cursive Practice Sheets 3) Simply Classical Cursive lesson plans (scroll nearly … Continue reading →

$4 Webinars (3 for $10)

Thanks to the original WTM hosting and now to the online accessibility of MP, these webinars remain available for anyone who wants to listen. Slides accompany the audio. Titles include 1) Finding & Teaching in the “Sweet Spot” for Your Child, 2) Classical Education & Special Needs: Why & How, … Continue reading →

Prayer for Our Duties – help with procrastination

As I began to procrastinate this morning, I turned to a little gem of a book recently given me by an aging family member. This was exactly the prayer I needed. What an excellent prayer to post on the school board and memorize with children before the beginning of each … Continue reading →

Welcome to Simply Classical – the book & new full-year curriculum for special needs!

For new visitors to this site, you can find everything you need for the Simply Classical Curriculum at ClassicalSpecialNeeds.com, or keep reading here for reviews & more: Unique in special education, the Simply Classical Curriculum teaches necessary skills within the context of beautiful books, poetry, music and the liberal arts … Continue reading →

Series to Help the Struggling Reader LOVE Books!

This timely topic is from my friend Sarah Mackenzie who writes, “Not all of our kids become voracious readers on their own. In fact, if your child is a struggling reader who hasn’t yet gained fluency, reading is likely far down the list of things he’d like to do with … Continue reading →

Series to Help the Struggling Reader LOVE Books

This timely topic is from my friend Sarah Mackenzie who writes, “Not all of our kids become voracious readers on their own. In fact, if your child is a struggling reader who hasn’t yet gained fluency, reading is likely far down the list of things he’d like to do with … Continue reading →

Education and the Individual

Here is a succinct description of what we must do today: We must “…deny the claim that “progressive” education fosters individualism. It may have the specious look of doing so because it advocates personal experience as a teacher and the release of the natural tendencies of the person. Yet it … Continue reading →

“SaladToss” (that is, Sodalitas) photos

Here is the beginning of photos rolling in from our very enjoyable, edifying, refreshing Sodalitas gathering in Louisville the past week. I’m speaking in the larger far left photo of the collection posted in the attached link. We had conversations about children, shared and received teaching tips, and heard elevating … Continue reading →