These are ‘hot’ topics of interest

Something Is Wrong But I Don’t Know What

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Laura sits across the desk from me explaining that her seven year old son is struggling to learn to read despite being read to every night before bed, despite her working with at home, despite going to preschool since age three, and despite having a decent kindergarten teacher.  She knows something is wrong because learning to read should not be this hard. Furthermore, she has a five year old who is learning to read much easier than his older brother.

When she shared her concerns with the first grade teacher, the teacher did not believe it was critical to have testing but she did not think it would hurt either.  See, this boy was not the lowest reader in his class. Although she had concerns, the teacher thought it would all work out because, in her experience, boys can learn to read slower than girls.

Thankfully Laura trusted her motherly instincts and decided to have her son tested.  The school neuropsychological battery of tests showed this boy had a cognitive processing problem that interferes with his ability to learn to read.  Testing showed it was not the boy’s fault or Laura’s fault.  It was a wiring issue within the boy that showed this boy needed to be taught how to read differently than traditional instruction. The right instruction could fix this problem.  The testing provided relief for Laura because she knew something was wrong but did not know what. She went from feeling helpless to hopeful.

Laura’s son now works with a highly specialized reading tutor.  Laura reinforces what he learns in tutoring at home. Testing her son provided answers, confirmation, and direction for the future.  In Laura’s case, she did not waste a year of first grade instruction hoping her son matured.  This was not a maturity issue so he would still have the problems at the end of the year if she took a wait and see approach.

Testing can help you too. Call or email to discuss the concerns you have with your child’s learning. Through our unique battery of tests we can figure it out for you too.

Palm City dyslexia testing

Port St. Lucie and Palm City Dyslexia Testing

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Dyslexia testing for children in Port St. Lucie and Palm City dyslexia testing is as close as our Stuart office. Dyslexia is a type of a learning disability.   Up to twenty percent of individuals have dyslexia and dyslexia occurs from mild to severe.  All children with dyslexia can read some.  Many kids with dyslexia compensate because they are smart or have a strong memory.

Young children who struggle to read often feel they are not as smart as other children.  Many parents tell me they worry about their child’s self-esteem because their child makes comments like, “I’m bad at reading.” According to the International Dyslexia Association, a child’s feelings of inferiority develops by age ten and after this age it becomes extremely difficult to help the child develop positive self-esteem.

Children as young as age 5 ½ and half way through kindergarten can be evaluated for dyslexia.  Warning signs of dyslexia in elementary students include: family history, slow choppy reading, difficulty sounding out words quickly, and poor spelling in everyday writing.  Many dyslexics can pass school spelling tests but spell the same words wrong in daily writing.  Warning signs of dyslexia in older students include: disliking reading, poor reading comprehension, and slow reading speed.

If your child has dyslexia there are specific reading programs that can help your child overcome it.  You don’t want to simple give your child more practice.  You have to use a different reading program that is based on the work of Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham.  There is a huge difference in the way to teach a dyslexic reader.  The best reading programs to help children with dyslexia are Orton-Gillingham based and two of the most effective programs are the Wilson Reading System and the Barton Reading and Spelling System.  Contact us for Port St. Lucie and Palm City dyslexia testing. (561) 625-4125

Essential Summer Reads for Parents

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Many students have a required summer reading list. You can model good reading habits by having your own summer reading list. You can chose one of these quick read books and brush up on skills to help your child and family.

Start with the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. This book explains that success in life has a lot to do with the ability to stick with something until it’s finished even when it’s difficult. Many children lack grit and give up too easily so this book can help you learn how your child can develop grit.

Help reduce argumentative and defiance in your child by reading The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child. It is a guide for parents of kids in elementary and middle school. If you are consistent and apply this method, you’ll see results.

Help teach your child the right mindset with Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. You’ll learn how success in school, work, sports, or the arts can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. You’ll learn the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. This book shows how parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to get great results.

Avoid Grade Retention

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It’s the time of year when struggling students may be considered for being held back and to repeat a grade.  The National Association of School Psychologists 2011 position paper recommends parents and teachers do not retain students. They report, “The majority of studies conducted over the past four decades on the effectiveness of grade retention fail to support its efficacy in remediating academic deficits.” In other words, just repeating the same thing does not fix your child’s problem. I’ve found retention only works well when the child receives a substantially different and specialized curriculum designed to meet their needs. How do you know your child’s needs? Testing your child helps you learn what reading, writing, or math program can best help your child learn.

In the position paper researchers wrote, “When retained and promoted peers are compared at the same age, retained students achieve at a slower rate. When retained and promoted peers are compared in the same grade, retained students experience a short-term boost that dissipates within 4 years.” This implies that retaining your child is a quick short term solution but it the same problems will return when your child’s older. As the adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” You can be proactive now with testing and special instruction or spend a lifetime repairing your child’s low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.

The National Association of School Psychologists recommends, “Students whose performance is substantially below their grade level peers need an intensive individualized intervention plan with frequent progress monitoring and involvement with specialists and related services providers, in order to ensure the maximum benefit for the student.” You can start now before the school year ends. I can help you determine the root cause of your child’s struggles and help you prevent learning catastrophes (like dropping out of school) in the future.  Call our office and we are here to help.

3 Ways To Help Your Child Perform Better

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If you’re like many parents, you want your child to achieve to his or her potential. I recommend 3 ways to help your child perform better.  These are foundational principles that kids need to help them achieve well in school: plenty of sleep, healthy nutrition, and limits to screen time. How is your child doing in these areas?

Sleep

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children ages 6 through 12 receive 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Teens between 13 and 18 should receive 8 to 10 hours per night. A lack of sleep can cause your child to start the day in a mental fog, feeling lethargic, and may contribute to behavior problems. During the school week I recommend having a set bedtime with a consistent bedtime routine.

Nutrition

Children who start the day eating foods with only simple sugars or carbs quickly feel hungry again. Help your child start the day with a cheesy egg, peanut butter on toast, or a protein smoothie. Poor nutrition contributes to behavior problems, moodiness, and difficulty concentrating.

Limit Screen Time

Place reasonable limits on your child’s screen time because excessive screen time associates with aggressive behavior, inattention, and obesity. The average child gets 7 hours of screen time per day! Even if your child is nowhere close to that number, consider reducing screen time to the AAP recommended 1 to 2 hours per day. Use it a reward for completed homework or chores. ScreenfreeParenting.com can help you gradually reduce your child’s screen time.

As parents we do the best we can and the three above-mentioned principles underlie your child’s success. Consider discussing these principles with your family and optimize your child’s success. Need help? Call (561) 625-4125