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Being "Normal" : The Hidden Side
2007-11-13 15:44:00
A lot of my work is focused on helping children with learning problems. One of the things that continually impresses me is the energy, time and devotion the parents give to helping their youngsters. It is awe inspiring. At the same time, there is often another component in the situation that tends to receive far less attention. It concerns the other siblings in the family. As one child told me, "I lose because I am normal. My sister gets all the attention and I get almost none of it." Fortunately, the situation often leads to some wonderful things. For example, the sibs commonly become more mature and caring than other "normal" children. As you might imagine, those traits serve them, and others, well. The issues in this very understudied area are incredibly intricate. As with so much of life, there are no easy answers. But there is a lot to be gained by starting to think and talk about the complexities. So jf you, or someone you know, is in this situation, you might find it help...
More About: Tips , Side , Hidden , Normal

"I'm Listening, But I Don't Understand" (1)
2007-11-11 18:34:00
A dedicated teacher had set aside some invaluable, individual tutoring time with one of her junior high students who was struggling with social studies. She structured the session by presenting relatively short segments of information and then immediately checking by asking the student some questions aimed at seeing if he understood what she had said. The teenager always responded but his answers were variable. At times, they were correct; at other times, they were totally off the mark. Finally, the teacher said, "You have to listen!" At that point, the student looked up and plaintively said, "I'm listening but I don't understand." With those seven words, this youngster summed up the days and lives of so many, many students. They are not resisting the system; they are trying the best they know how --only to find their efforts resulting in total confusion. What can we do to help?
More About: Achievement , Understand , Listening

Developing the Vital, But Neglected Precursor Skills for Reading
2007-11-04 17:21:00
A parent recently wrote to me with the following query: I would like to use your Phonics Plus Five program for my daughter who is seven and has some serious developmental delays. She can recognize shapes but she has difficulty with sequencing and also with orientation when she "writes.". Can you advise me on what I can do to help her with these skills? Thanks, R L. The issues that the parent has raised are extremely important. Visual sequencing and letter orientation are vital skills that, whenever possible, should be developed before a child learns to read. Phonics Plus Five has been set up to develop them via the Sequences in Sight and Letters to Write components of the program. For some children, these components can seem to be beyond their capabilities. Fortunately, it is relatively simple to modify each so that it achieves the goals for which it was designed.. Let's start with Sequences in Sight.
More About: Reading , Questions , Parents , Vital , Skills

Making Bedtime Reading Even Better
2007-11-01 19:49:00
A favorite pastime for parents and children is bedtime reading. It's a true win-win situation. Not only is it enjoyable to sit back and experience a good tale, but it can be a major help in expanding a child's language and reading. In my experience, most children and parents select stories as the books of choice. By that I mean, fiction as opposed to fact. There are many benefits to this type of reading and it, in no way, should be discouraged. At the same time, there is no reason to restrict the choices to these types of books. There are tremendous benefits to be had by expanding the selection. There is, of course, the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Since bedtime reading seems so great, you might be wondering why the suggestion for any modifications at all? The answer rests with something parents and children are very concerned about--namely, school achievement.
More About: Reading , Tips

Comprehension Problems: A Neglected But Vital Issue
2007-10-26 00:27:00
A parent recently wrote to me with the following question: My 9 yr old son has been tested by a psychologist and I have been told he has some huge comprehension problems which are affecting him socially. I have your phonics kit. What do you suggest to help him ? In response, I said that the question was an excellent one since comprehension problems are widespread in children who have reading problems and it is very important that they be addressed. At the same time, they do not receive nearly the attention they deserve. The bulk of the teaching effort goes into decoding (that is, teaching children how to analyze letters and turn them into words) with the result that comprehension problems are shunted into the background. The issue of comprehension is, of course, vast and a range of diverse activities is required if children are to develop the skills they need. However, there are some techniques that are relatively easy to try and well-worth attempting when a child needs help in t...
More About: Problems , Vital , Issue

Knowledge Can Be Upsetting--But It Can Also Be Empowering
2007-10-22 20:12:00
A major issue in modern day life is the growing number of serious health problems besieging children and their families. Asthma, autism, attention deficit disorder are only a few of the worrisome syndromes that are on the rise. Health professionals and environmentalists are trying to determine the reasons for the increase. One area that is increasingly in the spotlight involves industrial chemicals. They include chemicals used in clothing, cleaning products, furniture--to name just a few. These substances are so inextricably woven into our lives that we are generally not aware of them. But, in line with a recent CNN headline, it is clear that we ought to be. The headline read Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies It showed not simply that the chemicals are accumulating in our bodies. It also showed that children often have chemical exposure levels that are massively higher than those of their parents. This news is particularly disturbing since children up to six ye...
More About: News , Knowledge , Upset , Erin

Adding Some Spice to Bedtime Reading
2007-10-22 03:12:00
Among the many magical properties of The Wizard of Oz is its power to reach everyone--regardless of age. That sort of experience is rare and it is to treasured. Fortunately it can found in the work of a number of artists. One is Maira Kalman who has written many delightful books that appeal both through words and pictures. Penguin has just released her latest which is titled The Principles of Uncertainty. If you want to bring something new, appealing and quite special into your nightly reading time with your child, this is a great book to include.
More About: Reading , Tips , Spice , Some

The Invulnerable Child and the Nobel Prize--Where's the Connection?
2007-10-17 00:40:00
Parents today are keenly aware of how important early environment is determining a child's future development. They rightly put in lots of time and effort into providing the caring environment that children need if they are to flourish. But, as always, there are exceptions to the rule. A few decades back, James Anthony, a child psychiatrist, focused on the exceptions when he proposed the idea of the "invulnerable child." Here he was referring to the small, but amazing group of children who are raised by mentally ill mothers. While most of their peers in comparable situations suffer greatly, these children end up as super-competent. Their resilience is remarkable and like the Cinderella story, it gives hope that we can overcome what appears to be an awful destiny. Last week, we saw a real life version of the story in one of the men who are awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. His name is Mario Capecchi.
More About: News , Connection , Child , Nobel Prize

Laptops Can Sometimes Be a Pain
2007-10-15 01:51:00
Laptops are a fabulous tool. But precisely because they are so useful, students rely on them more and more. A recent report from the Guardian newspaper in England shows that this is leading to some problems. Specifically, students who regularly use laptops are being found to have persistent neck, back, shoulder and wrist pain.
More About: News , Laptops , Pain , Some

How Do I Get My Child To Pay Attention?
2007-10-11 19:50:00
A parent recently wrote to me with a question that, in my experience, many others share. She said, My child is about to turn five and I am starting her on your program. We're working on the Sequences in Sight and Handwriting sections. I'm finding it hard to get my daughter to pay attention. When she pays attention she learns easily. However, after three or four steps in a lesson, her mind wanders and it is a struggle to get her to look at the page, even if she is doing the steps correctly. I don't want to reward her behavior by ending the lesson early, but I don't want to perpetuate a negative feedback loop that starts to happen when her attention lapses. What should I do?
More About: Questions , Parents , Child , Attention , Tent

A Chance for Self-Expression
2007-10-08 21:00:00
The Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) announced an art contest that is open to students nationwide from preK to grade 12. The contest theme is ?Education and My Future? and the goal is to give children the opportunity to let us see education through their eyes. The deadline for entries is November 1, 2007. You can get additional information at http://www.sedl.org/artcontest/SEDL_ArtCo ntest.pdf. Questions about the contest may be emailed to contest@sedl.org.
More About: News , Chance , Expression , Chan

A Test Your Child Can Enjoy
2007-10-05 20:26:00
One of the unfortunate outcomes of all the testing that goes on in life is that we come to dread exams. But when used in a less than traditional manner, tests can be enjoyable--and even get you to think about words from a fresh (if, at times, silly) perspective. For example, what's the answer to "How many birthdays does the average person have?"
More About: Enjoy , Child , Test

The Answer Is "You Can?t." But What Is The Question?
2007-10-04 04:14:00
When Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight show, one of his routines involved playing Carnac, the Magnificent---a psychic who picked up a sealed envelope and divined the answer to the question inside. Then, when the envelope was opened and the question was revealed, the "answer" proved to be prescient --and funny. Here is a sample: (Carnac holds the sealed envelope up to his turban) Carnac: The American condor, the American eagle and the American car industry. (Carnac rips the envelope open and removes the card) CARNAC (reading): Name three things on the endangered species list. Now, when the answer is "You can't," what might the question be? Although not humorous, it is "How can I get my child to love reading?"
More About: Reading , Question , Answer

It's All About Love
2007-09-30 05:46:00
The love affair humans have with dogs is among the oldest of stories. It dates back some 15,000 years ago when our ancestral cavemen recognized the special relationship they had with gray wolves and chose to domesticate them. And now through genetics research, we know that the friendship is more than skin deep. Studies of the DNA sequence aimed at determining what makes a dog a dog have shown that it is amazingly close to what makes a person a person. So it?s not surprising that dogs share many of the same gene-related health conditions as humans, including cancer and obesity. But for dog owners, that is hardly the issue. For them, it's all about love. And like all lovers, they are keen to share their feelings. That's why dog-lovers have been writing about their relationships for years--and in the process, giving us some interesting insights into the human condition. Here are some you might enjoy:
More About: Love

My Child Has Motor Difficulties and Cannot Handwrite...
2007-09-26 20:16:00
A parent recently wrote to me saying, "My 8 year old daughter has motor difficulties and cannot handwrite. She can use a specialized keyboard to write on a computer. I saw that Phonics Plus Five involves a lot of writing activities. Can I use the program with her?" Happily, the answer is "Yes." It will require that the parent modify some of the materials, but the changes are readily achievable. For example, one of the writing activities involves showing words with missing letters and the child has to enter the correct letters to complete the word. So a word such as some might appear as _o_e. In adapting this sort of activity, a parent might:
More About: Questions , Motor , Parents , Child , Anno

Having Fun with Language
2007-09-21 18:39:00
We steadily hear the message that kids must build up their language skills if they want to go to a good college; if they want to get a good job; if they want to be successful in life. All true. But "good language" is also a tremendous source of fun. Where would jokes be without it? And, as the following one-liners show us, a remarkably few words have the power to make us smile: Why is "abbreviation" such a long word? We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "Smart"? He who laughs last thinks slowest. Borrow money from a pessimist -- they don't expect it back. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Campers: Nature's way of feeding mosquitoes. I don't find it hard to meet expenses. They're everywhere.
More About: Language

Something New for the Soul: A Website for Parents of Children with Learning
2007-09-17 23:36:00
Some years ago, a bestselling book appeared with the priceless title Chicken Soup for the Soul Since the inevitable problems of life leave all of us hungry for this type of nourishment, a whole range of materials has subsequently appeared using this theme. Now, an appealing new resource has been added to the list. It is geared for parents of children with learning difficulties and it is available at a website called Soul Support: Connecting Lives One Click at a Time You can find it at www.soulsupporter.com. It offers a variety of resources including ways for parents to connect with other parents, lists of useful resources and a forum for posting ideas.
More About: Children , Website , Tips , Parents

Want to Share a Bit of Heaven with Your Child?
2007-09-13 23:47:00
Now that school has once again started, children and their parents face the pressure that comes with wanting to do well. That means completing homework, studying for tests, and all the related activities. These are necessary, but they can be somewhat joyless. In all the pressure, we should never forget that learning can provide some amazing experiences. So if you have a bit of time and want to share some fascinating material with your child, go to a site where you can see the "ten most amazing pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope." You can find it at: http://groups.msn.com/SailingWithDevious/ toptenhubblepictures.msnw How did these pictures come to be?
More About: Heaven , Share , Child , With You

Want to Share a Bit of Heaven with Your Child?
2007-09-13 23:47:00
Now that school has once again started, children and their parents face the pressure that comes with wanting to do well. That means completing homework, studying for tests, and all the related activities. These are necessary, but they can be somewhat joyless. In all the pressure, we should never forget that learning can provide some phenomenal experiences. So if you have a bit of time and want to share some fascinating material with your child, material like this: You can go to a site where you can see the "ten most amazing pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope." You can find it at: http://groups.msn.com/SailingWithDevious/ toptenhubblepictures.msnw How did these pictures come to be?
More About: Heaven , Share , Child , With You

Does My Child Need "Training in Phonological Awareness"
2007-09-10 17:03:00
A parent recently asked me the following question. My six year old son had educational testing. I was told that he has an "auditory processing disorder and weak phonological awareness." It was suggested that I start him on some pre-reading programs that are designed to address these problems. I was wondering if Phonics Plus Five would be appropriate for him and would it address these issues? The short answer is, Yes, Phonics Plus Five is ideal for helping children with these problems learn to read easily and effectively. There is also long answer for those who would like to understand what is meant by "auditory processing disorders and weak phonological awareness" and why these realms have come to play such a key role in reading education.
More About: Questions , Training , Awareness , Parents , Child

Danger to Children from Food and Drink Additives is Exposed
2007-09-07 00:28:00
The message you just read is, at the very least, disturbing. And coming, as it does, from a reliable newspaper, the Guardian in England, it's not one that can easily be dismissed. But knowledge is power. And the article offered lots of valuable information for parents on what is happening and what they--and you--might do. ·
More About: News , Children , Food , Drink , Food and Drink

You Can Make a Difference!
2007-09-01 20:37:00
These days, it?s common to hear people voicing a sense of hopelessness about their power to influence what is happening in our nation. At the same time, the complaints are somewhat ironic since so many of our fellow citizens do not use the power they do have. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, only sixty-four percent of the eligible population voted in the 2004 presidential election. You can see the importance of voting if you have been following the debate on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. NCLB was enacted in 2001 with overwhelming bipartisan support. It was designed to bring every student to proficiency by 2014. It did so by requiring states to administer standardized tests and by punishing schools where scores do not rise. It has led to an incredible number of problems.
More About: News , Make , Difference , Diff

Your Cell Phone! Have You Been Wondering About How Safe It Is?
2007-08-30 15:53:00
My work with children brings me into steady contact with parents who are savvy about health issues and keen to provide the best for their families. So I have become accustomed to a scenario that often follows their answering a call on their cell phones. As they start to put the device away, they stop and ask, "By the way, do you know anything about the safety of these things? I've heard a lot of stuff but I just don't know." If you are one of those parents, there is a new website that you will find to be an invaluable resource--for understanding not only cell phones but the many other electrical devices that pervade our lives. It is http://www.bioinitiative.org and it offers the BioInitiative Report. Don't be put off by the title which has a lot of heavy sounding multi-syllable words ( A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields). It has been designed to contain a section specifically aimed at the general public. Here is some of th...
More About: News , Phone , Cell Phone , Cell , Safe

"Disastrous Consequences of No Child Left Behind"
2007-08-27 18:02:00
Those were the frightening words used by Susan Goodkin and David Gold in their Washington Post article describing the way No Child Left Behind--the new educational law of the land--is leaving gifted children behind. They document the steady bleeding of the best and the brightest students from public schools as their parents place them in private schools. Their actions are easy to understand. The new law essentially forces teachers to focus their efforts on bringing the lowest students to minimum proficiency. Just by itself, the ensuing neglect of the brightest students represents a massive problem. But things are even worse.
More About: News , No Child Left Behind , Consequences

"The Menace Everyone Loves To Hate"
2007-08-24 02:58:00
From its inception, television has been the subject of steady criticism. Now researchers from the University of Washington have provided evidence that the damage that has been alleged to happen actually does. They found that popular baby videos such as Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby not only fail to create the hoped-for geniuses; they actually appear to hinder development. In the first two years of life, more hours of watching videos are associated with lower vocabulary scores. Predictably, the report has provoked strong reactions from the producers of these programs. The Walt Disney Company has called on the university to retract their news release on the grounds that it is "misleading, irresponsible and derogatory." Inevitably, these fights will continue. As Paddy Chayevsky, the playwright, said, ?It's the menace that everyone loves to hate but can't seem to live without.?
More About: Hate

Are We Cutting Down the Tall Poppies?
2007-08-21 16:59:00
Unless you're from Australia, the question in the title above is, at the very least, puzzling. But as you will see, like many metaphors, it succinctly captures an important idea. The saying is one I heard regularly when I was teaching "down under" and the locals were trying to get me to understand some of their social dynamics. Basically, they used it to highlight the egalitarian streak in that society where it is not simply that everyone is equal, but that everyone should be equal. This is an admirable goal, but it does have implications that are often overlooked.
More About: News , Tall , Poppies , Poppi , Cutting

Is Wrting A Burden? Maybe You Need a Friendly Dragon
2007-08-16 05:28:00
For many children, and for many adults as well, the physical act of writing is quite onerous. The difficulties can stem from a number of sources. Problems in sustaining the fine motor movements that writing requires and problems in accurate spelling are just a few of the possibilities. Regardless of the cause, you might find that you can take advantage of a friendly dragon who has been designed to assist you.
More About: Tips , Friendly , Dragon , Drago

Teaching Reading: When Is The Right Time To Start?
2007-08-13 23:09:00
When should my child start to learn to read? it's a question I get asked several times a week-and it's a question you can see raised regularly in parents' magazines, newspaper articles, and the like. At first glance, it seems simple and straightforward. So it should be one that can easily be answered. Its steady re-appearance, however, is a sign that the issue is more intricate than you might expect.
More About: Reading , Time , Teaching , Start , Teac

Our Everlasting Affair with the "Wild Things"
2007-08-09 01:32:00
For decades now, children have been captivated by Where the Wild Things Are. In this remarkable story Maurice Sendak relates a small boy?s dreams of conquering the ?wild things? and becoming their king. As is often the case, the fantasy conveys a major truth. In this case, it captures the extent to which cultures across the ages have had the same goal?with the exception that in the world of reality, the monsters in our minds have been replaced by the animals in our midst. Indeed, much of human civilization can be told in terms of the efforts to bring the powers of animals under our control. Animals--large and small--have known what it is to be the "objects of our desires."
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Reading Protects the Brain! It Really IS Good For You
2007-08-04 20:30:00
Parents frequently try to get their children to read by telling them ?how good? that activity is for them. Of course, children aren?t much influenced by the message. They see it primarily as a ?sell job? to get them to do something they do not want to do. But now a study of lead smelter workers provides evidence that what the parents have been saying actually has merit.
More About: News , Reading , Good , Brain , Really