Comments on: Nothing to Hide https://simplehomeschool.net/nothing-to-hide/ Never let your schooling interrupt your education. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:19:15 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Kari Patterson https://simplehomeschool.net/nothing-to-hide/#comment-816021 https://simplehomeschool.net/?p=64806#comment-816021 In reply to Jamie C. Martin.

Yes, that’s incredible! What a gift that you are pouring into your grandson like that!!!

]]> By: Jamie C. Martin https://simplehomeschool.net/nothing-to-hide/#comment-816006 https://simplehomeschool.net/?p=64806#comment-816006 In reply to Elaine Fepuleai.

Shaun is blessed to have you as his grandmother, Elaine! Thanks for sharing your beautiful approach to teaching him.

]]> By: Elaine Fepuleai https://simplehomeschool.net/nothing-to-hide/#comment-815990 https://simplehomeschool.net/?p=64806#comment-815990 Hi Kari, loved your article. I have been homeschooling my grandson Shaun for the last four years. He is 16 years old. He wrote me a letter a couple of years ago saying, Grandma thank you for homeschooling me because I know it is the best thing for me. If Shaun is willing, I want to continue teaching him until he is 20 years old then we will see where his future lies. No rush! He is behind in some topics that he has less interest in, but way beyond in others he loves like Science, especially Biology. I stopped following any mainstream school curriculum a couple of years ago. Teaching him advanced complicated maths will only stress him out so I stick to maths relevant to real life and encourage him to use his calculator as we all do. Let the equipment do the working out. I teach him topics relevant to real life and link them to each other. Eg, the Industrial Revolution – burning of fossil fuels- huge factories spewing out daily toxic gases-pollution- global warming. He gets to know the various processes around and why they are important and what happens if they break down. I did the same with the body, taught him all the processes and why each one must function smoothly to give a healthy body so a person can carry out functions to survive so the species survives, plant or animal. We have had numerous conversations throughout the years, so he understands his issues as an Aspergers and how to deal with them. We practice him talking to someone else because it doesn’t come naturally. Taught him how to small talk. Talked to him about not taking everything so literally when someone may be joking. Loves to crack his own jokes now. Explained he is prone to reacting emotionally and should take deep breaths and relax because it is never the end of the world. I keep things spontaneous and unstructured. He hates changes, but can deal with them because he is used to it. Life is unpredictable and he has had to learn to deal with whatever comes long. Lots of talking, love, patience and understanding! We still have a long journey of learning ahead, but we have a strong bond, great rapport and he trusts me. He never lies so it is very much what you see is what you get. What others think is not important, but he has to learn to live and interact with others. He is a confident, smart boy, a deep thinker, very considerate, well- spoken and polite, but of course a straight talker. His siblings admire his intelligence and respect him which wasn’t always the case. My main teaching tool starting from when he was 14 is researching. I give him topics like famous people and historical events. Right now Shaun is researching William Shakespeare and one of his great plays, Romeo & Juliet. After the research, he will write IN HIS OWN WORDS about his topic, giving his opinion if he wants and he certainly does. Then we go over it checking grammar, spelling, etc. Then we discuss the topic. Topics cover a wide spectrum, anything historical, geographical, like I said famous people so he is learning so much and not just by me telling him, but through his own research because the information is out there. Make the learning experience relevant and interesting! I have no doubt if I had left my grandson in the mainstream education system, he would have come out feeling stupid, a failure and insecure, the opposite of what he is. One of my granddaughters, Shaun’s younger sister is a straight A student academically and in sports. The system is ok for her and Shaun’s other two siblings. His other brother is very smart too and doing well at school. The oldest sister is so creative and an artist. She won the cup this year, her last year in college, for the best actress! Be alert and always do what is best for the child so they will thrive and love life.
Elaine

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