Next year, struggling students will have more schoolwork than this year, and it will be more difficult. What can be done to prepare struggling students for the new challenges this fall? “What kinds of students make the greatest gains?” “Is it for everyone?” “Do some get greater gains than others?” Every summer we get students from all over the country (sometimes even from outside the U.S.) that attend our learning centers for summer intensive programs. **We do have limited space in each center so contact us immediately if you are interested. Doing anything for 40 or 60…
Dyslexia and Homework Just Don’t Mix “I hate homework!” shares the mom of a beautiful 10-year-old girl. “It takes hours of pulling and fighting. She cries and then I cry. We need help!” What is a parent supposed to think when their child’s best effort at a story after hours of tears looks like this: Wo ns apontime ther was a bog but he Was hot a otnary dog ne had poues. Sweet, smart kids who never give their teachers any attitude often fall to pieces when they have to do reading or writing at home. Parents get the brunt…
“Reading is a nightmare for my child! I need to get some tutoring, but there are so many learning centers out there, I don’t know where to turn.” Sound familiar? In our area, there are learning centers everywhere and more and more parents are asking us to explain the difference between Stowell Learning Center and Sylvan or Kumon. The Starting Point I think the biggest difference is the starting point. Most learning centers, large or small, provide tutoring, which typically focuses on academic skills or school subjects. This gives students more practice in areas such as reading and math in…
Rhythm and Timing May be a Factor in Reading, Attention, and Learning Problems Every week I take a Whole Body Workout class at the gym. I think it should be called Whole Body – Whole Brain Workout because it not only takes muscle power, but brainpower to coordinate all the simultaneous movements: Arms opening and closing, twisting hand weights towards the center and then out to the side while sitting and tightening the abs and alternately flexing and pointing the feet. Yikes! What I’ve noticed is that if I’m on the beat, everything seems to flow and work, but if…
As a competitive ice skater our daughter, Christy, could be quite hard on herself. We would say to her, “On your worst day, you skate circles around everyone else.” I don’t know if it made her feel any better, but it was true. She was (and still is) a stunning skater, even when she’s having a bad day. But what if, on your best day, you still fell far below your peers and your potential? Many parents share with me that their kids are so smart and try so hard, but in spite of all that effort, they fail tests…
Did you know that… Laughter releases endorphins (happy chemicals) into the bloodstream. Laughter supports your immune system. The vibrations from laughter shake the stress out of our organs. Laughter changes our mental state and it’s just plain fun! Laughter is an instant vacation. ~ Milton Berle Wishing you love and laughter in the New Year! “Helping smart but struggling students dramatically improve or completely correct their learning and attention challenges by developing the underlying learning skills that are not supporting the learner well enough.” We serve children and adults with diagnosed or undiagnosed learning and attention…
Recess is NOT just for school If you’re like me, you’re frantically trying to get presents wrapped and packages sent. Here’s a gift you can give yourself and your kids in this last week before Christmas, and going forward into the new year: a quick break to refresh and regroup. Learning to take a break improves health and productivity. Too much work and not enough time out can result in mental health problems, memory failure and even heart attack. The secret to managing stress is to build relaxation breaks into every day so that they become part of your lifestyle.…
Did you know that when you use the facial muscles to create a SMILE it stimulates a feel good party in your brain? Smiling distracts momentarily and allows positive energy to recharge. “Feel good neurotransmitters” are released when you smile! Dopamine (attention modulator), endorphins (pain reliever), and Seratonin (mood lifter) join the party when you smile! This is really powerful! Teach this to your child so that he or she always has this special way to help themselves feel better. Tip for Chasing Away Homework Grumpies: Pre-select a YouTube video that you and your child think is really hysterical. Watch…
You would be surprised how many parents are tearing their hair out and saying the very same thing about their child or teen. How can the student possibly put so much effort into getting the homework done and then just not turn it in? Mind-boggling! But it happens all the time! Josh, a freshman, was having that exact problem in most of his classes. He was never late to class, but he was typically a little late tuning-in to the teacher – catching the beginning of the lecture but missing the call for homework. Here’s how he solved the problem,…