It’s mind-boggling for me to think about, but 33 years ago, when I was still in my twenties, I opened the learning center to help smart but struggling students become better readers. While our understanding and techniques have developed tremendously over the years, the joy of watching frustrated children and adults transform into confident learners is every bit as strong! No matter how many times I’ve seen it, I still get just as excited every time! We are now in our 7th year at the Irvine center and have just expanded to meet the needs of our growing population of…
Read MoreI’m sitting in Starbucks writing and sipping a hot cup of coffee, listening to a dad and young son enjoying doing homework. Did you get that? ENJOYING doing homework. The little boy needed a fair amount of guidance and Dad was very patient, but the instruction was received with smiles and understanding. I think that’s what all parents want. To be able to work with their child on homework in a stress-free way, moving through it without resistance or tears. When kids have learning challenges, homework is often more of a battle than a bonding experience. At my Parent Information…
Read MoreMoms are very astute when it comes to their children, so when something is not right, moms usually know. Typical children feel overwhelmed or unhappy about homework at times. They may even come home saying they feel stupid or hate school once in a while. But when an otherwise happy, energized child routinely whines, sobs, and wilts at the thought of homework or school, or berates himself for his stupidity, it is very likely that learning is harder than it should be. While doing homework with their children, parents often notice things that don’t seem quite right and wonder if…
Read MoreI was at the ice rink to watch a hockey game, but a 4-year-old girl and her 2-year-old brother totally upstaged the game as they exuberantly raced up and down in front of the bleachers! Aren’t little kids great! They embrace life with gusto and pull everyone around them into their adventure. As kids grow, we expect them to lose some of their 4-year old recklessness, but we hope that the unbridled self-esteem will stick with them. More than anything else, I think it is confidence and self-esteem that gets lost when kids get into school and find that it…
Read MoreCould Your Child’s “ADHD” actually be an Auditory Processing Disorder? Does this describe your child? Struggles to focus in a noisy environment Trouble paying attention in class Zones out in conversations Has difficulty following directions Fidgety and easily distracted Delayed response to questions Social, emotional, or behavioral problems Lower academic performance Sounds like ADHD, right? But what if it’s not? Auditory processing is one of the many underlying learning/processing skills that are critical to learning and functioning efficiently at one’s potential. When any of these underlying skills are weak, it can stress the attention system, mimicking ADHD. This is particularly…
Read MoreI am continually astounded when I hear from many speech/language therapists and reading specialists that they know little to nothing about auditory processing. How can that be when auditory processing is the very foundation of language and reading? Skills like speaking, reading, and other academic skills are like the branches and leaves of a tree. They are the most obvious, noticeable part. But a tree will not survive without a good root system and trunk to carry the nutrients. Learning of any kind also needs a “root system” and truck. The information coming in through the senses has to be…
Read MorePinterest has the cutest ideas for Valentine’s Day cards! When I was in elementary school, my mom always made sure that I took a Valentine’s card (you know, the silly little cards you buy in a box) for every child in the class. I think that’s the rule now in most classrooms, but back then, there were always some kids who got tons of Valentines and others who got only one or two. Of course, the kids with overflowing Valentine’s pouches hanging on their desks felt very special (and a little smug??), but those who had only a few felt…
Read MoreYep! We all do it! Every January, adults the world over make resolutions to eat better, get more exercise, and appreciate themselves and others more. We seem to inherently know that these things are important to our health. Did you know these things are exactly what kids need, too? What is frequently overlooked is the tremendous impact that diet, movement, and feelings of appreciation have on attention, and learning. As a parent or teacher, it isn’t too late to think about adding these things to your student’s daily routine. Some small changes today could bring about major changes in your…
Read MoreThe holiday season is a time of transformation. The landscape turns into a winter wonderland (more naturally in some parts of the country than others)! Attitudes and outlook are transformed. My living room has been transformed into a display case for a miniature winter village. Transformation is a hopeful idea. It means that things that are difficult can change. At SLC, we get to see transformation everyday. I am so grateful to the dedicated staff and parents that make this possible, and to all of the clinical researchers in the field of learning that contributed to our understanding of learning…
Read MoreIt’s the holidays, and along with the fun comes a whole other set of stressors that may cause already inflexible children (and their families) to miss the magic. Why Does My Child Act This Way? A big snowstorm near one airport can cause flight delays and cancellations all over the country. While people got to their destinations eventually, this causes a great deal of anxiety and disruption to people’s lives, especially during the holidays. Just as air travel is dependent upon an organized system of flight patterns, our nervous system is organized around a system of reflexes. Primitive reflexes support…
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