4 Reasons BookShark Is Perfect for My ASD Child

When my youngest son was three years old, he was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This turned my whole life upside down. I felt like a first time mother all over again because everything was different this time around. My weeks filled up with therapy sessions before I knew what hit me. I had some really hard decisions to make.

Shortly after my son was diagnosed with ASD, I received a letter in the mail about preschool registration. Up to this point I had never considered homeschooling. In fact, two years prior when my family and I were preparing to move, I actually laughed when one of the moving crew asked me if I homeschooled my children. Apparently, even back then, I had way more books and learning supplies than the average mom.

Long story short, I knew deep down that public school was not the right fit for my son. It was time to make another big decision—public school or homeschool?

I jumped right into homeschooling, which opened the door to a number of other challenges. Finding the right curriculum was my biggest hurdle. After several failed attempts, I purchased BookShark and I couldn't be happier. I finally feel as though I have found the perfect fit for my son.

Why I Love BookShark for My ASD Child

Here are just a few of the reasons why I love using BookShark for my son who has ASD. The bonus is that all of these traits make it a good fit for my other children, too!

1. BookShark Provides Gentle Learning

BookShark is a complete, literature-based, homeschool curriculum. Unlike some of the curriculums we used in the past, BookShark does not include a bunch of tests and boring textbooks. My son is learning through reading wonderful novels that encourage him to use his imagination and thrive in his own way.

Similar to many other special needs children, my son has a hard time sitting for long periods of time. With BookShark's gentle approach, he is able to get his wiggles out and still learn while I read aloud to him. Now that he is no longer learning simply to take a test, a lot of his anxieties over school have gone away.

2. BookShark's IG Provides Organization

In years past, I spent a lot of time worrying that I was missing key components to my son's education, but BookShark has put that fear to rest. Everything I need for the school year is included in BookShark’s All Subjects Package. Yes, even the materials for science experiments.

Additionally, this program follows a 36-week, 4-day schedule. This allows my son to not be overwhelmed with his school workload. We are able to use the fifth day to attend field trips, co-op classes, and appointments. This is the first program we have used that follows this type of schedule. It is amazing how much smoother our weeks go now that we have a free day to fill as we choose.

3. BookShark Gives Me Confidence

When my son was younger I never worried about the grade level printed on the front cover of his books. However, now that he is older he cares. He cares a lot. He is embarrassed when he has to use materials designed for children younger than him.

I saw his confidence soar when his BookShark Level 3 All-Subject Package arrived. Level 3 is not Grade 3; it is designed for ages 8-11. He is currently ten years old, so he was thrilled to see these ages on the front of the Instructor's Guide.

4. BookShark Lets Me Customize

When you purchase one of BookShark's All-Subject Packages, you can customize the materials to create the perfect package for your child. There are a number of different selections for reading, spelling, math, and handwriting levels. Being able to customize my son's package was really important since he has a fairly large range of abilities. I even elected to add the optional supplemental materials for him to try.

Furthermore, I have found that I am able to customize our BookShark curriculum on a daily basis. The Instructor's Guide lists various assignments for each day. If my son is having a bad day I simply skip over some of the provided work. Even when we skip a few of the assignments, I know my son is still learning so much from all the great books we are reading.

Curriculum That Works for Both Me and Him

Parenting and homeschooling an ASD child can be very difficult at times, but switching to BookShark has made it a little easier. I am so thankful that I finally found something that works for both of us. Owning so many great new books is pretty amazing too! The next time we move, the movers will know without a doubt that we are a homeschooling family!

About the Author

Roxanne Raiche is a book hoarding, coffee loving, homeschooling mama of three in Iron Mountain, Michigan. She is the voice behind Blushing Bibliophile.