One of the skills we teach is for the learner to be able to apply what they learn in different ways. For example when a learner sees the letter A in one font and then again in a different font, they know that both of those letters are the letter A. A great way to teach this skill is by using supplemental materials for the same concept. This gives the learner lots of practice. When they learn it in different ways, they will then be able to apply it in different situations. I love the supplements from The Autism Helper, but I like to introduce different types of materials to give the boys lots of variety.

Here are some of my favorite supplements to use for homeschooling.

Reading

Every unit of the reading comprehension curriculum has skills to work on. The units work on things like book skills, listening comprehension, letter sounds, sight words, reading and more. So for the reading comprehension units, I like to find books that work on book skills that have added benefits in these other areas.

• Bob Books by Scholastic I love Bob Books. They offer a slow progression for reading that my learners need.

• Lakeshore English Language Development Reading Comprehension Center– this has different leveled activities as your learner grows. It is really a handy resource to keep around.

Language Arts

Language arts has so many components, the big four are reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The Autism Helper’s language arts curriculum includes vocabulary, categories, attributes, sequencing, and more! There is so much to cover in this area, so I want to ensure the boys have lots of practice. Here are some of my favorites for language arts.

• Lakeshore’s Magnetic Learning Rods are great for working on sequencing, categories, adjectives, size, etc.
• Lakeshore File Folder Games for language are perfect for language arts. These align perfectly with The Autism Helper Curriculum to give the boys extra practice in language arts, from vocabulary to phonemic awareness to phonics.
• Lakeshore English Language Development Activity Cards– these come in different levels and cover reading, speaking, listening, and writing.

Math

I love teaching math and I may have a mild addiction to math games, toys, and learning manipulatives. I could make a list of 100 that I cannot live without, but I narrowed it down a bit.

• Peg number boards- I love these for learning to count. These are a great fine motor activity too.
• Learning Resources Counting Cans– These are my favorite for teaching counting, following directions, cleaning up, and waiting. I have never met a child who did not love these.
• Lakeshore Touch and Match Math– these are great for tactile stimulation while counting. My boys love these.
• Learning Resources Skill Builders- these sets are grade based, but I love the learning manipulatives in these. After the boys master them, I give them as independent work tasks.

• • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • First Grade
    • Addition and subtraction
    • Geometry

The Autism Helper are always my go to supplements, but for additional skill-building these supplements are worth checking out!