The Today show aired a fun piece today about a little girl who opted to wear a hotdog costume to her dance class on Princess Day!
Now that’s confidence! I love the individuality of little kids and I love it when people aren’t afraid to be themselves.
Being Different Because You Can’t Help It
Being different because you choose to be is often something to be admired. But being different because you can’t help it, can be painful.
Over and over, I hear parents of struggling students say, “I just don’t want him to feel different.”
When you are the student who’s always being told to, “Pay attention,” or the one who has to stay in at recess to finish your work, or leave the classroom for special help, being different doesn’t feel so great.
Students with average to above average intelligence that struggle with dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, or academic struggles, can look around the classroom and know that they are different.
They didn’t choose it. They don’t like it. And they can’t help it. They know that other other students study less and get better grades; get more awards; have more friends; and can read, write, spell, or do math easily. And because these struggling students are intelligent and can see the differences, they often come to the conclusion that they just aren’t that smart. They come home saying,
“ I’m just stupid.”
“I’m the dumbest kid in the class.”
It’s untrue, but it feels true. And it’s no fun to be different in this way.
Learning Challenges Can Change
The great news is, that learning challenges like this can change. There are numerous underlying learning/processing skills that need to be in place in order for students to learn easily at their potential in school. When any of these underlying skills are weak, it can cause even very bright students to struggle.
By identifying the weak underlying skills and developing them through intensive, targeted brain training, the foundation for comfortable, efficient learning can be established and the academic skills can be brought up to par.
Brett’s Story
Brett was a 5th grade student who came to Stowell Learning Center very unhappily. He hated being different in school. He hated needing help. Here’s what he said at the end of his program of cognitive training and academic remediation:
“Coming to Stowell has helped me in math, reading, and all the rest. It has also made me a better person. I am now a more thoughtful person. Before I came to Stowell I got bad grades. Now that I come to Stowell I improved in all subjects. My grades before were Ds. Now they raised to As and Bs. It makes me feel special to be known as a smart kid to other people.”
Is your bright child feeling not so bright? Are you ready for a change?
Quick Answers
How does a child feel when learning is hard?
Students who struggle can look around the classroom and know that they are different. Because they are intelligent and can see the differences, they often come to the conclusion that they just aren’t that smart.
Can learning challenges change?
Yes. By identifying the weak underlying skills and developing them through intensive, targeted brain training, the foundation for comfortable, efficient learning can be established and the academic skills can be brought up to par.
Jill Stowell, M.S.
Founder and Executive Director of Stowell Learning Centers and bestselling author of At Wit's End and Take the Stone Out of the Shoe. For more than 40 years, Stowell Learning Centers has helped children and adults correct the root causes of dyslexia, learning, and attention challenges. More about Jill
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