I woke up this morning in one of my favorite places in the whole world – Maui. In fact, as we speak, I can see giant sea turtles popping up and down in the surf just feet away from the deck where I’m sitting. (I know, it’s pretty pathetic to be working on my computer in a place like Maui, but I’m an early riser, so I get to talk to you before the rest of the family is up and about). This spot on the deck, where I can hear and see the waves rolling in and out is…
Read MorePARENTS: Here’s Someone You Need to Know Dr. Raimel Perez-Pasiliano When we meet an amazing professional who works with kids, we want you to know about it! Dr. Rai has been a favorite pediatrician of our families for many years. She … Puts children at ease Listens to parents Goes out of her way to help families get the help they need We are thrilled to have Dr. Rai in our community! 12574 Central Ave Chino, CA 91710 (909) 627-7433
Read MoreGood question! Is it because as a teenager, he looks mature and like he should have the skills to be doing better? Is it because he’s now so discouraged that he acts like he doesn’t care? Is it because his work doesn’t reflect his intelligence, making it look like the issue is just a lack of effort? A therapist in our Learning Center Network brought this student to my attention. He’s not one of our students, but he could be. Because this incongruity comes up all the time: Poor grades, poor test scores, but the parent is told that the…
Read MoreAshley was a bright, popular, engaging 11th grader who was failing History and barely scraping by in her other classes. Her parents and teachers were extremely frustrated with her underachievement and were adamant that if she would just try harder, she would get better grades. Her parents were fearful for her future as her apparent lack of effort was going to impact her chances of getting into college. When we tested Ashley, we found that she could read, write, spell, and do math, but her auditory processing, processing speed, working memory, and reasoning skills were weak and inconsistent. As a…
Read MoreLast weekend was Father’s Day, and so, naturally, I was thinking about my dad. Good memories. When I was growing up, my dad was very supportive, but was never really involved with my homework because homework was done and dinner ready by the time he got home from work. For many years after I started the Learning Center, I dealt almost exclusively with moms. Dads didn’t seem as involved in their children’s schooling and homework, and in fact, they notoriously felt that if their struggling students would just try harder, they would do just fine. These days, I get…
Read MoreWhenever I stand on the edge of a lake or river, I find myself picking up small, flat rocks to skip across the water. I have a very special memory of my dad teaching me to skip rocks at Yellowstone Lake when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. Father’s Day is coming up, so first and foremost, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads! Dads Like FUN! Many dads kid that they are just little boys at heart. They need their toys and play time. There are some lessons to be learned there for students, especially those who…
Read MoreI’m writing this on Memorial Day, a holiday that many of us value as a day off we get to spend with our families, but also a day to remember, with tremendous gratitude, the soldiers who have given their lives for their country and freedom. I got to thinking about what it takes to be a soldier – the physical and mental toughness, the ability to follow orders, the quick visual awareness, the bravery and stamina. It takes a special kind of person. In reality, it takes all kinds of minds, all kinds of personalities and talents to make the world…
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