Stowell Learning Center Blog

Parent Teacher Conference Tips

October 23, 2017

  Parent Teacher Conference Tips Conference time can create all kinds of anxiety for parents. It’s not your turf. You’re not sure what to expect. Here are a few tips: Go in prepared. Have your questions or concerns written down. Build rapport from the start by sharing something your child likes about the teacher or the class. Assume the teacher is on your side. Approach the teacher like an enthusiastic partner in helping your child. Think like a problem-solver. If you’re feeling defensive because the teacher is sharing challenges, steer the conversation towards solving the problem by saying, “If he’s…

Read More

From Struggle to Flight

September 11, 2017

From Struggle to Flight Dragon’s Teeth in Maui is one of my favorite places in the world.  Here in the coves created by lava flow, you can see sea turtles battling the currents and undertow as the waves pound in and out.  They are incredibly resilient and just keep going no matter how much they are tossed around. I am reminded of our students.  They battle daily to stay afloat in school in spite of the constant struggle created by their learning and attention challenges. This morning, I saw something amazing:  A young sea turtle was swimming by in calm…

Read More

Maui Moments Anytime, Anyplace

September 4, 2017

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 More

Can You Hear Me Now?

August 29, 2017

Can you hear me now?? Wait…What?…You’re cutting in and out. Recognize this conversation?  Of course you do.  We’ve ALL experienced a bad cell phone connection. And it’s incredibly irritating, anxiety-provoking, attention-destroying, and short-lived.  We lose our comprehension as we unsuccessfully try to connect the dots, so we hang up and try the call again. But what if that’s what life were like for you ALL the time?  Can you imagine how lost and anxious you would feel?  Thankfully, a call back on a cell phone usually solves the problem.  But for children and adults with auditory processing problems, this may…

Read More

Help Your Child Feel CONFIDENT and LOVE School Again!

August 28, 2017

Parents: There is Hope and Real Solutions for Learning and Attention Challenges, Including Dyslexia   What Makes Us Different? We do what schools and tutoring don’t. We specialize in treating the root problem of learning & attention challenges by developing the weak, underlying processing & learning skills. No More Band-Aid approaches—get to the root of the problem so that you can get your confident, independent student back! Research Based Strategies We work one to one with children and adults with various learning and attention challenges including: Dyslexia                                                          Executive Function Auditory Processing Disorders           Processing Skills Learning Disabilities                                Comprehension Attention Deficit                                         Reading, Writing, Spelling, Math…

Read More

END The Homework Battle, Permanently

August 24, 2017

Parents: END The Homework Battle, Permanently If you HOPED this year would be better, and it’s not . . . If you just want your child to LOVE school again . . . There is hope . . . and REAL solutions. We specialize in ending Learning and Attention Challenges, including Dyslexia, by developing the weak, underlying processing and learning skills. In other words, we work at the ROOT of the problem. Get your confident, independent student back. Find Out: Why some smart children struggle in school. Why schools and tutoring don’t fix the challenges. What you can do to make…

Read More

Pediatrician of the Month- Sept. 2017

August 24, 2017

PARENTS:  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 More

Why Does the School Say He’s Fine When He’s Failing 2 Classes and Barely Passing the Rest?

July 12, 2017

Good 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 More

What if “Try Harder” isn’t the Answer?

June 29, 2017

Ashley 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 More

Hooray For Dads!

June 21, 2017

Last 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 More

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives