During grades three through eight, children are no longer learning how to read, but rather are reading to learn. This is a major turning point in education—one that has big implications for children with reading-related learning disabilities, like dyslexia. Throughout this time, children are figuring out how they learn, and parents are figuring out how to support their child’s learning.
Your child has the right to a free and appropriate public school education. Getting involved in his or her education is among the most important things you can do as your child's advocate. As you'll see below, you have a right to be a part of every decision regarding your child's edu....More >
As young children, we develop what are known as “scripts,” or abstract descriptions of a series of actions or events that are necessary to achieve an objective. Typical scripts a child may have include:
The format for a birthday party (i.e., you arrive, play games with others, eat ....More >
For many children, both with and without learning disabilities (LD), self-esteem is a powerful predictor of success. Social or emotional problems are not the cause but rather the consequence of academic frustration and failure. Not all students with an LD like dyslexia have problems ....More >
Dyslexia is a language-based processing disorder that can hinder reading, writing, spelling, and speaking, as well as social interactions and self-esteem. Are you concerned that your child isn’t learning, communicating, or relating to others as successfully as his or her peers? Does y....More >
Recently, there's been a lot of research and discussion about early intervention and teaching basic reading skills to kids before the age of nine. But what happens to kids with delayed reading skills when they enter middle and high school? Are accommodations in the classroom enough? ....More >
While the preschool years are a time of triumphs for most children and families, approximately 8% of all young children are identified as having disabilities that may prevent their reaching important milestones as expected. It was with these children and their families in mind that Co....More >
My son Jay was identified with multiple learning disabilities when he was just a toddler. When he was admitted to a school in New York for special education students, no one knew whether he could ever learn to read. I do not know where in his soul he found the drive and motivation, ....More >
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing, which requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Is your child is having trouble with the physical act of writing or putting thoughts down on paper? If so, the following list of common warning signs of ....More >
Research tells us that kids who struggle with learning worry a lot about whether they are "not as smart" as other kids, and are more likely to attribute their successes to luck than to well-deserved grades that result from hard work.What's a parent to do? For starters, help your child....More >
Dyscalculia refers to a range of learning disabilities involving math. Dyscalculia affects people in different ways and may even vary over a person’s lifetime. Are you concerned that your child is struggling with math and math concepts? If so, the following list of common warning sign....More >
As a parent of a 12-year-old who's behaving very much like a teenager, I can personally relate. I started my teaching career working with junior high school kids who had emotional and behavioral reading difficulties. Parents can help in all kinds of ways.I think one fundamental way t....More >
Are you a college-bound teen who relies on assistive technology (AT) to compensate for your LD or AD/HD? As you prepare for college, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities regarding AT accommodations as a college student. Once on campus, it’ll be up to you to advocat....More >
Dyspraxia is a disorder that affects motor skill development and coordination. Most children experience occasional signs of dyspraxia as they grow and develop muscle strength, coordination and skills needed for daily living and independence, but such symptoms in children with dyspraxi....More >
In this Parent Perspective, Ilise, the mother of student with multiple learning disabilities discusses why she felt that her son Jay needed to attend every IEP meeting. She felt that If he was going to understand what was happening in his education, he had to be part of the process,....More >
Most parents are aware that reading with their early elementary school-age children at home reinforces emerging reading skills. But many parents may not know that playing number games and engaging in math activities at home can provide similar reinforcement when it comes to early math....More >
What Is Stress?Everyone is affected by stress and reacts to it in different ways. Stress is a way that our body responds to the demands made upon us by the environment, our relationships, and our perceptions and interpretations of those demands. We all experience both "good stress" an....More >
Learning to successfully interact with others is one of the most important parts of a child’s development. This can be yet another stumbling block for children with learning disabilities (LD): many struggle to develop the skills they need to be competent in social situations. But as a....More >
With increasing frequency, schools across the country are using a Response-to-Intervention (RTI) or multi-tiered system of instructional support. These instructional approaches rely on the use of progress monitoring tools to determine whether children are making adequate progress. Pro....More >
As I explained in an earlier post, elementary school students who are at risk for mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) often have trouble with even the most basic number processing skills. The good news is that researchers are developing remedial approaches to helping these childr....More >
As the debate over education reform continues in the United States, you’ve probably heard about the Common Core State Standards initiative. What is it exactly, and how will it affect your child’s education? In this introduction to Common Core State Standards (CCSS), we’ll cover the ba....More >
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