From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
It’s September. Your child is starting to struggle with reading. How long should you wait to get help? Should you wait until November, December, January? After all, his teacher needs a chance to help him. Will it pass if you just show patience and encourage him to do better?
Our Response
Usually, it won’t pass, so don’t wait. Make a formal request to the school to evaluate his reading and related needs and to provide whatever services he needs to become a successful reader. A good evaluation, supported by quality resources, should help your child and his teacher. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, reading diagnosis, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading evaluation, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
If you’d like to help children achieve their potential, in easy, practical ways:
Tonight (9/12/2011), learn about RIIFF – an easy, practical way to help children at home.
creativity, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intelligence, IQ, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, potential, pre-school, reading, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, resilience, Resiliency, self-efficacy. Maximizing potential, self-esteem, Special Needs Talk Radio, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
For an insightful and sensitive podcast about inclusion by Kathern Burke (Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta, Canada) and parent of children with special needs, download the podcast from http://www.blogtalkradio.com/specialneedstalkradio/2011/09/09/inclusive-classroom. Below is Inclusion: Why Can’t We Be Friends?, a post that she let us reprint.
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
Guest Post by Kathryn Burke
Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta
Alberta, Canada
Some memories are so vivid it almost seems like a DVD is being played in your brain when they are being recalled. The memory I want to share is like that for me – so vivid I am still able to recall everything from the smell of the room to the buzz of the fluorescent lights. Read more...
conflict, Dyslexia, dyslexic, IDEA, IDEA 2004, inclusion, inclusion ideology, inclusionist, inclusionists, Kathern Burke, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, parent, parents, research, research on inclusion, SNTR, special education rights, Special Needs Talk Radio, struggling reader
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Cheri wrote
This morning, Cheri wrote: “Is there anything for Adults with LD? I hear so much about children, children, children, but those children with LD are going to grow up to Adults with LD and in my opinion it gets harder as an adult with LD. By no means am I saying it’s not hard for children/teens/college students with LD I’ve been there, but now it’s EVEN harder, and there is really less support (if any at all) support for ADULTS with LD.” Read more...
adult literacy, adult services, adults, adults with learning disabilities, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, resilience, Resiliency, self-efficacy, self-esteem, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
The Press of Atlantic City headlined, in bold font, “State task force says teachers aren’t doing enough to identify kids who can’t read.” The article blamed lower grade teachers for failing to identify children with reading problems and for failing to use the right methods to teach reading. (To me, the not so subtle, unscientific subtext was to keep banging the ideological drum to purchase and use the Wilson method and its commercial materials to teach reading.) Below is the comment I submitted. Read more...
Advocacy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, Reading Materials, reading methods, reading problem, reading problems, reading research, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teachers
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
On Tuesday, September 6, the new Special Needs Talk Radio network (http://specialneedstalkradio.com/ ) will launch six new radio shows. Each show is dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth with special needs and their families.
On Monday evenings, September 12, Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and I will host Maximizing Your Child’s Potential (9 PM – 9:30 PM EST, http://specialneedstalkradio.com/maximizing-your-childs-potential).
Future guests on our show will include: Read more...
- Dr. Steven Lange, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Helping Children Overcome Sleep Problems
blogtalkradio, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Maximizing Your Child’s Potential, Parenting, radio, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, Special Needs Talk Radio, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
For children with reading and other learning disabilities to succeed in school, they need quality schools that create and nurture legitimate opportunities for all children to excel. In thinking about whether we, as a nation, are really trying to achieve this, consider the quotes below. Ask yourself: Without major, sustained efforts to rid the U.S. of poverty and violence, to provide quality health care to all children, and to develop the talents of all children, can we really prepare the majority of children with disabilities to lead productive and satisfying lives? If we don’t help their peers without disabilities, how can we help them? Is inclusion likely to succeed in underfunded schools with lots of hungry, highly stressed children? Are we really trying? Or is “reform” talk just a way to corner votes, $$$, and power? Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, economics, education budgets, educational policy, inclusion, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Homework difficulties are often caused by work that requires struggling learners to read or write beyond their independent levels. Difficulties are also caused by work that’s too complex or abstract and by learning characteristics that interfere with starting, organizing, monitoring, and finishing work. As Bryant and her colleagues (2001) so aptly asserted:
Children with learning disabilities are at-risk for a variety of problems that are likely to interfere with doing homework. These risks include deficits in reading and math, poor communication and organizational skills, difficulty with tasks that demand voluntary, selective, and sustained attention . . . poor memory . . . and poor self-monitoring. (p. 171) Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, frustration, frustration level, homework, homework policy, IEP, IEPs resiliency, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading levels, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, resilience, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Unless you have plenty of money to send your child to top-tier private schools, his educational future is in immediate danger. Budget cuts, budget cuts, budget cuts. Shorter school weeks, fewer services, overloaded and depressed teachers. In his business column, Joe Nocera explained why: Unemployment.
What are the latest unemployment figures? Some 25 million people — more than 16 percent of the work force — are looking for full-time work. Companies are hoarding cash while reporting record profits. Read more...
budget cuts, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, political action, politics, public education, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, unemployment
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Why is music important for people of all ages and for all children in school?
Just take a dose of rock ‘n’ roll—it keeps you going. Just like the caffeine in your coffee, rock ‘n’ roll is good for the soul, for the well-being, for the psyche, for your everything. I love it. I can’t even picture being without rock ‘n’roll. (Hank Ballard) Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, mood, Motivation, music, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading levels, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, resilience, Resiliency, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
