cynthiaherenION2021_2

Welcome to our Normal!

I’m Cynthia, normal at our house includes 2 trampolines, 5 sizes of pencils and indoor and outdoor swings and a whole room full of LEGOs.

Neurodiverse Kids don’t fit the standard, “one size fits all” box. They are a little extra, more intense. They play harder and ask more questions. They may carry a special toy longer and hate change. Their brains are wired differently, often due to a learning difference or a disability. I know because I have 3 of my own!

Our special kids challenge us as their parents to seek out of the box parenting solutions. I learned to be a student of my children and learn their cues. I have learned to listen to their behavior and actions as well as their verbal communication. As Charlotte Mason says, “Children are born persons.” They think, act and feel. Honoring a child’s behavior as a method of communicating their feelings and needs validates them as people. 

Around here you will find help for homeschool journey as we teach these unique learners.  Video Workshops, Curriculum reviews of what is working at our house, and other helps and resources you request.  

My Gift for You:

As the parent to out of the box kids you are uniquely equipped as their parent to be their teacher. I’ve compiled some of the things we learned during those hard early years of homeschool and the tricks we still use today with Outside the Box Kids. you will find ways to adapt curriculum to work for you, encouragement for the hard days and resource suggestions for your homeschool.

Sign up below and I’ll send you a coupon to get the book for 50% off! ($5 value)

Available in the Shop

Latest Articles on the Blog

STEM Learning in Your Homeschool with Sonlight Science

As homeschoolers, we are not immune from the education trends, and right now everywhere you look there is STEM education being promoted.  A lot of it looks great but uses expensive tools like 3-D printers which aren’t as accessible to most homeschool families. But there are ways we can include STEM learning in our homeschool without expensive tools.   Sonlight has been a part of our homeschool since the beginning and the 2023 updates to their science programs include new STEM learning projects in their experiment book.   What is STEM learning? STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  STEM learning methods include

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MUSyogaball-ION

Welcome to our Neurodivergent Homeschool

Since the beginning we have been using the term Outside the Box to describe our homeschool and how we learn differently than most. Today, I’m introducing you to a new term and making a little announcement about our Outside the Box family. Neurodivergent is Another Word for Outside the Box When Inside Our Normal started, there wasn’t really a word to describe our Outside the Box kids and why learning differently was so important for them. Since then there has been a growing movement for better terminology. Neurodivergent is an exciting new word meant to represent all of the different ways our

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Reading Through Time: a Charlotte Mason Homeschool History Curriculum

A Middle School History Curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books For years I was dreading teaching American History in our homeschool because I want to teach my kids the rich variety of cultures that make America the great melting pot that it is and not just a European centric perspective.  When we studied American History a few years ago, I pulled books from a variety of places and put my own reading lists together to make it work.   I’m really excited to get my hands on the updated Beautiful Feet Books Early American History for 7th-9th graders.  They do a great job

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Homeschooling a Child who struggles in Math & Dyscalculia

With your oldest child, it’s always hard to know what is normal because you are both learning together how children develop and learn.  My oldest was ahead in many ways which led us to homeschool them.  But as time passed their math skills didn’t keep pace with their advanced writing skills.   When we had the opportunity to pursue testing for learning disabilities and giftedness, we discovered there was a name for these struggles, dyscalculia.  Now they had their own learning disability to fit in with their siblings, who are dyslexic and autistic. What I can say is everyone is a little

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Which Math Program: An Honest Look at Homeschool Math Curriculum

I have received several questions recently about homeschool math curriculum.  Math is a hard subject because it’s so important and there are so many options.  We have tried a few different programs over the years and have a few favorites.   We also have one student with a learning disability in math which affects which programs suit their learning.   There are times when each of my students is using a different program for math, because different ones suit their individual needs and strengths. I also find having children close in age on different programs eliminate any competition they may have about who is

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My Favorite Hack for Science in Our Homeschool

I have a secret to share, I’m the co-op science teacher, even earning the name Mrs. Science Teacher, but at home, I have a horrible track record for doing science experiments with my kids.  It can be a lot of work to set up an experiment only for it to go wrong.  It’s not how I want to spend our homeschool days.  The latest updates to the Sonlight Science curriculum make it easy to follow through on the doing which is just the help I need.   We have loved Sonlight for a long time.  Their elementary readers are one of the few

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Empowering Mathy Minds: Preparing for Pre-Algebra with Mr. D Math

Is my child ready for Pre-Algebra? As my child flies through their last year of elementary math, I wonder to myself what math level they should do next.   This kid is very mathy and has a strong number sense.  We have joked for years they are destined to be an engineer.  I find myself asking the question: how soon can I put them in Pre-Algebra? A friend told me about Mr. D Math a while back and I discovered Mr. D Math has a Preparing for Pre-Algebra class, which is exactly what I was looking for!   This child is so different than

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