Mariaemma:
First of all, terms like ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia are overused and misused by our educational system. Homeschoolers are not immune to being caught in this system. But the fact is, when the Learning Style Model of Education is used, there is very little need for labels that refer to some kind of dysfunction.

• For example, in our model, the Thinking-Creating and Inventing Dispositions are often labeled ADD and the Performing Disposition is labeled ADHD or hyperactive. These dispositions are the most "at-risk" of being labeled because they simply don't fit the system we have defined as "school."
• The Performing Disposition needs to move in order to learn, needs variety, games, manipulatives, and so on.
• The Thinking-Creating and Inventing Disposition need quiet, alone time to think, wonder, doodle - it's not that they are unfocused, it's that they are very focused on the things that are of interest to them, the things they are busy creating and inventing in their minds. These students are the future Einsteins, Picassos, Marie Curies, Emily Dickinsons, etc.

The Learning Style Model acknowledges, encourages, and nurtures natural gifts and abilities, and works with each child's learning style. As Oliver DeMille says, "leaders are born through individualizition and mentoring - when the program is developed to fit the student, instead of fitting the student to the program."

This is not to say that we don't think it's important for our "dyslexic" students to learn to read, or our "ADD" students to learn to organize and plan; but it does mean that we need to respect and honor every single student's learning style, recognizing that every style is legitimate and equally as valuable as any other style. It means helping our students discover how they learn best, by providing the programs, strategies, and techniques that tap into these different learning styles. It means that students are not all ready to learn the same things at a particular age and they certainly don't all learn at the same rate. One student might be doing advanced science at age 7 but not yet reading or writing, and another might be reading advanced literature. Still another might be absorbed in music or drawing or making electronic gadgets.

Joe:
As you know the homeschooling movement has grown considerably over the past few years and has in many circles achieved an unprecedented mainstream status. In contrast, school systems are spending ever increasing budgets without necessarily reaping the rewards in terms of test scores and student/parent satisfaction. In your opinion to what do you attribute this trend? Also, what advice would you give to a parent who chooses not to homeschool in the strict sense, but wants to develop a good "afterschool" program that can be compatible with traditional school systems.