Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas on Dec 10th, 2017 3 Comments »
One of the more controversial education conversations I hear and have been a part of concerns labeling kids. Over the years I’ve met lots of parents and teachers who argue that labeling is a negative thing. I’ve been to lots of dinner parties where, as soon as someone discovers my profession, the subject comes up, […]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, Reading, Writing, and Math on Feb 12th, 2015 5 Comments »
Whole Foods- great. Whole Wheat- for some, great. Whole Language (as a reading strategy for kids with dyslexia)- sounds good, right? If it’s “whole” it must be good. Wrong! Well-done post from Dyslexia Training Institute For Those with Dyslexia, Whole Language is a Coping Mechanism, Not a Strategy The moral of the story is that […]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News on Jan 6th, 2015 No Comments »
From NPR’s series, Fifty Great Teachers This piece, Among Dartmouth’s Lathes And Saws, Lessons In Creativity focuses on a woodworking teacher at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. I love how he seems unaware, or unconcerned (and hence, unencumbered with “trying”) of how what he does works. And just is the type of teacher who has […]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas, News on Nov 20th, 2014 3 Comments »
A study was recently published that claims learning to read and improvement in reading ability has a positive effect on intelligence overall. Where to begin? First, getting past sensational science related headlines takes effort. I have an educated and beginners mind when it comes to reading research. I read through this study slowly, and appears […]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, Personal Stories on Jun 25th, 2014 No Comments »
“Dr. Collin Diedrich has a Ph.D in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a 2nd year postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. His research focuses on how HIV increases individuals susceptibility to tuberculosis. Collin has aspirations to become an advocate for people with learning […]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas on Jun 13th, 2014 No Comments »
I came across this piece written by someone with Asperger’s Syndrome. She makes some important points to consider concerning the judgmental implications of terms such as “high functioning and low functioning.” I’m a fan of precise and descriptive diagnostic work, but the writer points out the subtle and unspoken judgements that accompany some of our […]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas on May 5th, 2014 No Comments »
In this recent opinion piece in the NY Times, “The Upside of Dyslexia” science writer Annie Murphy Paul cites a few experiments that causes her to wonder about the positive attributes and cognitive abilities that may occur naturally in people who have dyslexia, and could in theory lead to better performance in certain artistic and […]
Posted in Colleges, Education Issues and Ideas, News on Mar 5th, 2014 No Comments »
Glad they’re thinking “changes” and updating. Call me skeptical however, but I’m not convinced. Changes to SAT in 2016
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health on Feb 17th, 2014 2 Comments »
Slide above: Adapted from Exploring the Neurocircuitry of the Brain and Its Impact on Treatment Selections in ADHD, PRAKASH S. MASAND, MD; PETER S. JENSEN, MD; STEPHEN STAHL, MD, PHD There’s been a certain amount of press and attention on the intense marketing of medications for people with ADHD, and the perceived over-medication. Representing the […]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas on Nov 2nd, 2013 No Comments »
I love finding schools and school cultures that consider and engage with emotional development practices, creative arts and vocational options. More often than not I come across these at programs for teens who are “at-risk.” Hollywood arts school gives struggling teens a second chance I wish these were the rule of thumb and for education […]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News on Oct 21st, 2013 No Comments »
Well-done piece in NY Times about teacher preparation. There are widespread holes in teacher preparation programs, including how reading is still taught with an emphasis on guessing instead of a more analytic and systematic approach. How America prepares its teachers has been a subject of dismay for many years. In 2005 Arthur Levine, then the […]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News, Reading, Writing, and Math on Sep 18th, 2013 3 Comments »
Vision Therapy to Address Learning Disabilities? One L.A. School Official Says ‘Scam’ I know there are well-meaning people who advocate for vision therapy as an effective way to treat certain aspects of learing disorders. As with most enterprises there are scams and a risk of over-selling. Certain kids need vision training. Most kids with reading […]