From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities

A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis

What’s wrong with him? In most cases, nothing. Lots of struggling readers resist reading. After years of failure, they expect to fail; they’ve given up, they’re protecting themselves from more failure and embarrassment. From their perspective, resistance is rational. Here’s Dr. Sebastian Wren’s explanation:

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If a struggling reader’s motivation is blocking her reading progress, her motivation must be systematically and knowledgeably evaluated, which tests cannot do. Evaluating motivation and its components shouldn’t be sidestepped, but often is. As Robert Sternberg, a leading expert on intelligence and motivation, so aptly noted, “Motivation is perhaps the indispensable element needed for school success. Without it, the student never even tries to learn.”

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