Whenever 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…
Read MoreLast night, in Uniondale, New York, Ringling Brothers Circus performed its last show. After 146 years, is has closed forever. Regardless of what side of the animal rights issue you’re on, you have to appreciate the incredible talent of the performers. When I think of creative, talented people, my mind always goes to our students. In spite of the struggles that they have with reading, or other aspects of school, I am continually amazed by the creative brilliance many of them exhibit. Children with learning disabilities often have what seem like extreme strengths and weaknesses. They may excel in sports…
Read MoreHave you ever sat in a long meeting or seminar and found yourself getting sleepy, antsy, and dying for a break so you could get up and move around? Research shows that physical movement can enhance clarity, attention, and readiness for learning. Physical movement increases oxygen flow to the brain, improving alertness, concentration, and receptivity. Adding movement or physical action to a learning activity increases recall. At the Learning Center, we find that integrative movements that cross the midline of the body are extremely helpful in bringing students to a calm, alert, and mentally and emotionally ready state for learning.…
Read MoreLast week I attended a media training event and was interviewed by Mike Koenigs. He asked me about the root of my passion for correcting learning and attention challenges. And I remembered a student, a 12-year-old boy… Thirty-five years ago, I was teaching special education in a public school when Frankie slouched through my door. He was very bright and kind of charming, but belligerent and a little scary at the same time. At 12, he was already entrenched in a gang and everyone in the school, including the teachers, knew not to mess with Frankie. Frankie was coming to…
Read MoreThe bell rings. Eleven-year-old Kasey explodes from her desk and races out the door, knocking into a few desks, trampling a few toes, and elbowing several classmates out of the way. She is SO ready for recess and trots off to grab a ball before anyone else does. Kasey has no idea that there is a problem. After all, the bell rang and all she’s doing is going outside for recess! But once again, she is in trouble and her parents are going to get a call because she knocked a classmate down as she jettisoned out the door. Kasey…
Read MoreI HATE shrimp – especially the tiny ones used to make shrimp cocktail. I hate how they look, how they smell, how they feel in my mouth, and how they taste. I have a visceral reaction to shrimp, and needless-to-say, as an adult, I NEVER eat them. At our Parent Information Night last week, a parent shared that her smart, athletic, social 10 year old has a visceral reaction to learning. He HATES anything related to reading, writing, math, or schoolwork. So what is it all about when an otherwise capable, accomplished child or adult responds this way? Is this…
Read MoreI think everyone has times when they just wish someone could step into their shoes and really understand how they feel. I have a feeling our students with learning and attention challenges may feel this way a lot. When they are told to try harder, and they’re already trying as hard as they can, it’s got to be frustrating. Because the end product takes so long to complete or has so many more errors than expected, it may seem like they are not trying their best. Often, nothing could be further from the truth. Kids with learning challenges often put…
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