Heads Up!! Helping
Author:  Melinda Boring 
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
For more information or to order: www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com (we are pleased to announce that we have added this resource to our catalog!) or  www.HeadsUpNow.com

"Teaching Tips and Techniques for Working with ADD, ADHD, and Other Children with Challenges."

The subtitle above describes this book so well!  Written by a homeschool mom who has "been there, done that", Heads Up Helping!! is destined to be a blessing to many homeschool families.  Melinda Boring is incredibly authentic as she shares her journey of homeschooling her three children, two with ADHD and sensory issues.  She not only draws from her experience as a homeschool mom, but also from her experiences as a professional speech/language pathologist.   Without looking through rose-colored glasses, Mrs. Boring encourages us to not only rejoice in each child's uniqueness but also gives us practical ways to tackle the day-to-day struggles these children face. Scattered throughout are illustrations by her children that add to the practical, down-to-earth quality of the book.

Though not diagnostic in nature, Heads Up Helping!! does include characteristics of various learning challenges and gives VERY practical advise for dealing with, and even overcoming, these issues.  Some of the topics covered are: auditory distractibility, visual distractibility, helping other caregivers/teachers to work WITH you and your child, sensory seeking and avoiding, the fidgeter, the hyperactive, the daydreamer, adapting and modifying curriculum and much, much more!  Because Melinda is passionate about helping families, she has developed a website with additional articles - she even has a question and answer section.

Even though I do not face many of the issues addressed in this book, I did take away an appreciation for those children with unique learning challenges AND I picked up a few ideas to implement in my home that have already made a difference.   I'm thankful to have "stumbled" onto this important resource and I believe this book is going to make a huge impact on the lives of countless families!

Making the Grade:  A+
Cost:  $15
Value for Your Homeschool Dollar:  10
Review provided by Cindy Prechtel, Editor