From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
On Saturday, The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) reported:
The Upper Arlington school district failed several dyslexic students, and broke federal education laws, because it refused to test children for disabilities and help them learn to read, a state investigation found. District officials, however, deny the state’s findings.
…. According to the complaint, officials refused to acknowledge that students had dyslexia and put them in remedial reading classes that weren’t designed for those with the reading disability. Read more...
due process, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluation, evaluations, IDEIA, IEP, IEPs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, special education eligibility, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Finally, The Perfect Reading Test!!!!!
Is it perfect?
No.
No test is perfect, and test scores, without proper interpretation and without corroborating information, can damage children. Inaccurate scores can easily lead to a reading program, a class placement, or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that backfires.
To better understand test scores and help ensure that your child’s reading program is effective, read and save these quotes from a test manual I reviewed for the University of Nebraska’s Seventeenth Mental Measurements Yearbook. Read more...
Advocacy, Assessment, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluation, evaluations, IEP, IEPs, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, reading assessment, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading evaluation, reading problem, reading problems, reading test, reading test scores, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, test score, test scores, testing, tests
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
More than a 100 years ago, Frederick Douglas crystallized the importance of quality schools, schools that excel at teaching academics, cultivating curiosity, and building character: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
ASK: Does your child’s program give him a good chance of becoming “a strong child”? Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IEP, IEPs, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, program, program quality, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, 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
One simple way to motivate reluctant readers is to give them choices—acceptable to teachers—about what they read, where they read, when they read, with whom they discuss their reading, and what follow-up assignments they prefer. This statement is not armchair conjecture; it’s the result of clinical experience and research. In summarizing the research, John Guthrie and Nicole Humenick (2004) noted that “a substantial body of experimental evidence undergirds … beliefs about the power of choice to increase intrinsic motivations for reading” (p. 340). As such, choice should be built into the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) of all readers. Read more...
choice, IEP, IEPs, Motivation, motivation problems, reading, reluctant readers
Using IEPs to Solve Homework Problems
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Homework is part of schoolwork. In many schools, teachers collect and grade it. And if students fail to submit it on time, they’re penalized. Thus, most IEPs should address homework, especially if it creates frustration for students and causes friction, fighting, and tears at home.
If homework frustrates your child, answer these questions about his ability to handle typical homework assignments: Read more...
- Without help, can he accurately explain what his assignments require him to do?
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, frustration, frustration level, homework, homework difficulties, homework problems, IEP, IEP Team, IEP Teams, IEPs, Individualized Education Program, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading levels, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
In our previous post on reading disabilities and other learning disabilities, we said that we would soon give you links to Paired Reading, Read-Alouds, and homework support. Below are the links. We hope they help. (If, by some chance, the links don’t work on your computer, just paste the link into your browser’s addresses bar.)
In our next post, we’ll discuss how you can make homework policy and goals part of your child’s IEP.
Howard Margolis, Ed.D. © Reading2008 & Beyond www.reading2008.com Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, homework, IEP, IEPs, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, read-alouds, reading aloud, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, reading to children, resilience, Resiliency, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Last week, we discussed five evaluation and IEP traps that often harm children with reading disabilities. Today, we’ll discuss five more.
Agree or Disagree: It’s fair to ask a school to measure a child’s progress once or twice a year, but asking a school to objectively measure progress weekly is simply asking too much. It’s “overkill.” Read more...
Advocacy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluation, evaluations, IDEA, IDEIA, IEP, IEPs, Individualized Education Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, Special Education, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Last week, we presented ten statements to expose evaluation and IEP traps that often harm children with reading disabilities. Today, we’ll discuss the first five.
Agree or Disagree: For an evaluation to help a child, it should focus on testing the child with widely used standardized tests that compare him to other children of his age or grade. Read more...
Advocacy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluation, evaluations, IDEA, IDEIA, IEP, IEPs, Individualized Education Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, Special Education, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
Evaluation and IEP Traps
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
If your child is eligible for special education and you’re involved in developing his IEP, you may want to think about and respond to these statements. Next week we’ll post our responses. Read more...
- Agree or Disagree: For an evaluation to help a child, it should focus on testing the child with widely used standardized tests that compare him to other children of his age or grade.
- Agree or Disagree: Schools should use a child’s test scores to determine the method(s) most likely to help her.
Advocacy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluation, evaluations, IDEA, IDEIA, IEP, IEPs, Individualized Education Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, Special Education, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
A Guest Post by
Staci Greenwald, Esq.
Recently, I received this warning from Staci Greenwald, Esq., an outstanding special education attorney who has a child with special needs. Although the warning focuses on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in New Jersey, it contains a critical message for parents throughout the country: know the rules and regulations that govern special education in your state or territory, put your concerns and requests in writing, and act quickly. Here’s the warning: Read more...
Advocacy, budget cuts, disabilities, dispute, disputes, due process, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IEP, IEPs, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, mediation, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, Special Education, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
