Family Support

Using the Hands-on Approach for Kids with ADHD

July 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

playdoh

Image by zalo via Flickr

If you’ve ever taught a child with ADHD, then you know how their hands never stop. They’re touching their neighbor, they’re moving all around, and they can’t sit still. That’s why using a hands-on approach to learning can be very beneficial.

The Play dough Technique

Play dough is a fun toy because it allows the user to create and mold and then mold and create something new. If you’re in a classroom teaching something that doesn’t lend itself to a hands-on lesson plan, consider giving the children some play dough. Let anyone who wants some to have some not singling any one child out. You’ll likely find that everyone will take a container, but the interesting thing is that most kids are done with it after about 10 or 15 minutes. Kids with ADHD, however, will continue to play with the play dough throughout the whole lesson.

Hands-on Lesson Plan

The better choice, however, is to use lessons that are hands on. You can use apples to represent fractions, have the students draw pictures to represent what they’re reading, or have the students act out scenes from history. Whatever your lesson is, look for ways into involve the students instead of just talking to them while they sit in their seats. Engaged learning is more effective than disengaged learning.

The main thing to remember when teaching kids with ADHD is to be understanding. Although it may seem like the kids are acting out on purpose, most of the time they really want to “be good,” but can’t seem to control themselves.

Filed Under: Family Support, Teaching Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Learning disability, Parent

Teaching Dyslexic Child Using a Multi-Sensory Approach

July 2, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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The thing about children with dyslexia is even though they may have perfect hearing and perfect vision, they aren’t always able to process the information that is given visually or auditory. Each child differs, so you may not always know what isn’t getting through. The best approach is to use all five senses, if possible, to teach students with dyslexia. And really, it’s better for all children to learn this way, so it’s good for all students.

At the beginning of the lesson, briefly go over what the lesson will cover in small, easy-to-digest chunks. This will help alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed felt by those with dyslexia. Just remember that dyslexic children have a hard time reading the board or an overhead. If possible, make an individual copy for each student, or at least the child with dyslexia.

When you do write on the board, use a different color of marker or chalk for each point. This will help your dyslexic students distinguish the different points instead of just seeing a chunk of text. Also, leave the information on the board for as long as possible, so the students have plenty of time to write the information down.

When you’re evaluating a dyslexic student for information comprehension and retention, consider giving the student a verbal quiz on the information rather than written. This will decrease test anxiety and help the student to more likely be successful. The best thing you can do is help your students feel confident and intelligent.

Filed Under: Family Support, Teaching Tips & Tricks Tagged With: Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, University of Twente

Helping Your Child Succeed

June 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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If your child is diagnosed with a learning disability, you may feel apprehensive about ensuring they receive the education they need and deserve. The way you act and react has the greatest affect on your child. Parenting children with disabilities can be frustrating at times, but if you approach the situation with understanding and a sense of humor, your child is not likely to view their disability as an insurmountable obstacle either.

Take Charge
Do your own research. Learn about new developments as well as programs or techniques that could help your child. Don’t necessarily rely on schools or doctors for all the solutions. You need to become an expert for yourself to help your child learn.

Advocate for Your Child
Likewise, you may have to speak up constantly to get the special help your child needs. Be proactive when it comes to your child’s education. Your voice might be the difference in getting the services your child deserves.

Gain Perspective
Although it’s easy to be intimidated by parenting a child with a disability, keep in mind that everyone learns differently. Remember that challenges can always be conquered. Be there to support your child, and don’t let tests and paperwork keep you away from this important task.

Remember Your Influence
Your child is going to pick up on how you deal with the challenges he or she faces. If you don’t look at the learning disability as a barrier to success, your child isn’t likely to look at it that way either. Keep up your optimism and instill a sense of hard work. Your child will follow your lead.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Disability, Learning disability, Parent

Hiring A Tutor For Your Child

May 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 03: Tutor Sadie Ho...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Children learn in different ways, and this is especially true for those with learning disabilities. When searching for a tutor for your child, you will want to keep this in mind.

If you are familiar with the teaching method that works best with your child, you can use Canada 411 to find tutors who specialize in that particular method. If you don’t know or aren’t sure, you can look for tutors who have knowledge of different teaching methods. If you’re not sure which teaching method works best for your child, you may have to interview tutors who do not specialize or adhere to one particular method. Even if they have been trained in one specific type, if a tutor is willing to adjust his or her methods to your child’s needs, the tutor may still work out.

If you are interviewing a tutor and it is apparent that her or she uses only one teaching method for all the children he or she tutors, and is resistant to any change or adjustment in the method, you will most likely want to look further. If the teaching method simply does not work with your child, you will be wasting your money and your child’s time by trying to make the situation work.

If this is the case, you can use an online directory to find other sources for tutors. As you continue looking, you should be able to find one who can respond to your child’s needs and is willing to make adjustments or changes.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Canada, Child, Tutor

There is More to Life: Extracurricular Activities

March 7, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Parenting children with learning disabilities can be daunting. So much of a child’s self-esteem is wrapped up in school – what kind of grades he gets and how he relates to his peers. And when school isn’t going well, no matter how hard your child works, his stress and frustration can make him feel like a failure.

To help your child see that there is more to life than school and grade points, direct him toward activities that he can excel at and help him see himself as a success. Since no one knows your child as well as you do, you know is strengths and weaknesses and understand his interests, us this information to help him choose activities. This may mean he will not be doing what everyone else in the neighborhood is doing but the point is that he is not like everyone else in the neighborhood.

When looking for activities your child can excel at, make sure they are right for his age, abilities and maturity level. It is important to keep in mind his comfort zone, whether that be with kids older or younger than he is.

Extracurricular Activities

Find clubs, sports, arts and music opportunities outside of school
Join forces with group leaders, explaining your child’s learning disabilities so that the leader can be more effective with your child
Check whether a group is based on interest or aptitude. If it is based on an ability your child doesn’t yet have, it could spell disaster for his feelings of success and enjoyment.
Explore whether the activities matches your child’s energy level. A slow-paced class could be frustrating for an active child.

Home-based Activities

Children can find success with regular chores which can give them a sense of responsibility and the knowledge that they are contributing members of their family.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Extracurricular activity, School, United States

A Look at the Groundbreaking Victorian Deaf Education Institute

January 19, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

A new institute is set to open in Victoria, Australia, in 2011. As the name suggests, the Victorian Deaf Education Institute will focus on educating students with hearing disabilities. The main ambitions of this $9.2 million institute are to be innovative in its education and ahead of the pack in its teacher training. The institute will be established in the same location as the Victorian College for the Deaf. Some of the special provisions and resources offered to students at the institute will include the following:

The institute will be the technology center for educators and parents throughout Victoria. Workshops and lessons can be sent to the outer limits of the state, allowing for deaf students near and far to receive a quality and well-suited education.
The institute promises to employ some of the best educators and researchers in the field to aid in creating a forward-thinking community with a common goal.
The latest and most advanced digital equipment will be available to the students.

The Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand, recently provided all 85 of the enrolled Victorian College for the Deaf students brand-new iPads. This gift was part of the Brumby Labor Government’s iPads for Learning initiative, which provides iPads to students with special needs. The iPads represent a movement toward more technology in the classroom. With the iPad, students, and especially students with disabilities such as deafness, can benefit from the device in several ways. Some examples of uses for the iPad include the following:

Viewing interactive books
Downloading games catered to deaf children
Watching video with the option of closed captioning

Although the institute has not yet opened — it’s schedule to break ground in March 2011 — it’s clear that the motives are in place, the goals are high, and the kids are ready to learn. The word is becoming more and more digital; institutes like Victoria’s is only the beginning of the progression.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Education, Hearing impairment

Support for the Learning Disabled

January 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

In many states, there are programs that will help those with learning disabilities make in the competitive job market. Of course, there are laws against discrimination as well, but sometimes a learning disabled person needs a little extra help to make their way and become independent in today’s society. Here is a description of one such program and some of the services they offer, many states have similar services.

In Washington State there is a program with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) that helps learning disabled make their way in the job market. One of the services offered is to set up that person with the tools to equalize their opportunities. For instance, some people will by having additional software installed on their computer that can help them. An example of this is a software program that can translate spoken words into text or text into spoken words. With the addition of these aids a person is better prepared, either as a student or as a member of the workforce to perform the functions of their job.

In many states, there are laws that require reasonable support in the workplace for those people that are labeled as “learning disabled”. The state programs can help the person get the testing completed so that they receive the benefit of the law. At times these tests and reviews can cost too much for a person without the means.

In order to help people become independent there is also help to get them the physical items needed to do their job. Maybe a person needs new glasses or hearing aids. A state program can help the person purchase these items. The program may even help the person repair a car so they can make it to their job or interviews. There is a need for balance in our society and there are state programs that help the learning disabled.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Learning disability

Living with Another That Has A Learning Disability

January 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

For most of the world, one can walk through life and not be able to pick out which people have dyslexia, and which people don’t. Dyslexia is not painted on a person’s face and in fact, people with dyslexia do not have a lower intelligence than people without dyslexia. Some people live with people that do have dyslexia and at times they can see them struggle, not just with spelling, but with the emotions that surround being labeled as dyslexic.

It is important when you live with someone with dyslexia not to limit yourself by what the world labels people. The easy way out is to figure that a person with dyslexia is different and needs extra help. One may find themselves wanting to just pick up the slack and fill in the gaps for an individual with dyslexia. It is important asa parent, friend or spouse not to become an enabler. It is important not to become an enabler by treating that person as not good enough to do something on their own. By treating an individual like they always need extra help, you reinforce the label that they are not good enough. If you are told each and every day that you are not good enough and need extra help, most people will end up believing it. So, don’t be an enabler, not because of how it can make you feel, but because of the message you are sending to your love one. The truth is that a person with dyslexia is capable regardless of whether or not every word is spelled correctly in their essay.

It is also important to take care of yourself and not find yourself feeling burdened like you always have to take care of your child, friend, or loved one. Feeling burdened by your love one can lead to feelings of anger and resentment. None of this is necesary. Remember that everyone with dyslexia is a capable human being.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Education, Learning Disabilities

The Motor Concerns: Learning Difficulty

December 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s a sudden stumble, the impending crash of skin to concrete — you watch as your child falls (again), limbs sprawled out to absorb the impact, a cry startled from his lips. It’s an all too familiar sight; and you’re already running, prepared to battle the tears and bruises. They come as they always do. They’re familiar in their pain.

Your son is… clumsy, forever losing his footing, finding corners to collide with. He has no sense of balance, just as he has no talent for tying his shoes or riding his bike (an activity you no longer allow him to even attempt. You can’t bear the panic). His motor skills border on the non-existent.

You believe this to be just a phase, though. He’ll eventually grow into his equilibrium. He just needs time.

This assumption may not be correct, however. Your child may instead be suffering from an Output Disability — and this is far more serious than a simple bout of awkwardness.

An Output Disability is a disorder that disrupts the externalization of information. The mind can give a command for a movement, but the body will fail to carry it out. Instead youths will offer stilted speech patterns and disjointed gaits — with motor functions impaired.

For many parents (and teachers) such impairments are considered common, thought to be nothing more than simple childhood enthusiasm. But certain individuals may experience exaggerated symptoms — unable to walk, run, write or use tools as their peers do. Gestures are instead strange. And they must be recognized early to help establish aid.

Those who suffer from an Output Disability will require patience. All educators must understand that students will have difficulty with tasks as simple as mastering their pencils. Extra time and attention will be needed to help re-teach these functions, as well as taming any teasing that may be given from peers. Be prepared to repeat actions again and again until they are learned.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Health, Mental Health, Motor skill

The Parental Need: Disabilities

December 8, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

A revelation is sadly offered. A truth is finally learned. Your child suffers from a disability, his thoughts all shaped uncommon. It was always a worry, a suspicion you couldn’t refuse (even as you tried) — his words were too peculiar; his comprehension wavered; and mimicking even the most basic of skills posed a challenge for him. He was never lacking intellect. He was simply lacking the way to prove it. And now you have a diagnosis, a validation of what you already knew: your son is not the same as his peers. He is instead unique.

And you must now discover everything you can to help him face this.

A learning difficulty is not meant to be offered only to a child. It is instead to extend to his family. Parents must become aware of a disorder and what it means. All symptoms must be understood. All teaching methods must be charted. A problem isn’t simply to be found within the classroom. It affects all elements of all days — and changes therefore will have to be implemented at home.

Be certain that you note the depths of a disability. Research all you can, becoming aware of the causes and recommended treatments. Consider all support centers and alternative education methods (such as at home care or after school tutoring). Read about potential aids, such as talking calculators and word processors. And seek out tips and testimonials from parents like yourself — a necessity when first receiving a diagnosis. You will need help.

Knowledge may be difficult for your child to earn; but you have no such limitation. You must look for all facts relating to a disability, ensuring that you are prepared for the years to come. This is not a simple problem, certain to disappear as your son matures. It is instead a life-long battle and you will be needed to provide the essential support.

Learn all you can. Offer what you must.

Filed Under: Family Support Tagged With: Child, Disability, Learning, Learning disability