Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News on Mar 10th, 2012 No Comments »
photo by Jon Sullivan Wyoming is the latest of a small but growing number of states that will require schools to screen children for dyslexia. One state I read about this year will only “encourage” this practice, but these are steps in the right direction. It will be interesting to see how these laws play [...]
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News on Mar 3rd, 2012 2 Comments »
Researchers from Florida State University were award $8.5 million dollars for dyslexia research. I wish more of this much money would go towards innovative solutions and holistic teaching methods. It seems like the bulk of the research money goes to genetic research.
Posted in Education Issues and Ideas, News on Feb 28th, 2012 No Comments »
Researchers continue to find that exercise and fitter brains are correlated. When testing children, those that engaged in healthy fitness routines performed better on thinking and complex memory tasks. Surprised? Not me. Executive functions, the buzzword for educators thees days, are helped with exercise. Greater fitness= greater hippocampus.
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas, News, Reading, Writing, and Math on Feb 5th, 2012 2 Comments »
The Upside of Dyslexia This article from Sunday’s NYTimes, is I think, a continuation of a fascinating argument as to whether the learning disability called dyslexia is also a learning style that has built-in skills and attributes. I’ve heard many times over, some well-argued points against this notion that dyslexia carries its own set of [...]
Posted in LD Support Organizations, LD Support Sites, News, Personal Stories on Feb 2nd, 2012 No Comments »
. A Dyslexic Wonder This is about Jennifer Smith, a finalist in 2010 for an Ann and Allegra Ford Scholarship, and her story of growth and pain. Terribly and typically teased, she persevered through language training and to the growth of her self-confidence. She enters college in the fall, speaks to students about dyslexia, has [...]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas, Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, News on Jan 29th, 2012 No Comments »
In an opinion piece in the NY Times, Dr. Alan Sroufe, a psychologist and professor Ameritus from The University of Minnesota argues that we must reduce our reliance on medicating children with stimulants because there are no studies that indicate these medications have any long-term benefits. This is sure to create unrest and unease within [...]
Posted in Books and Videos, Computers and Software, Education Issues and Ideas, Learning Materials, News, Technology Issues and Ideas on Jan 19th, 2012 No Comments »
Apple’s Entrance into Digital Textbooks: revolutionary? Apple announced its entrance into digital textbooks, now selling through its iTunes and iBooks online. Though this has been somewhat expected, it’s exciting news. Believe me, this is not even the tip of the iceberg. I’ve already downloaded samples of the 8 textbooks listed in the iBooks store. While [...]
Posted in Discussion Topics, News on Jan 9th, 2012 No Comments »
Researchers continue to find that while intensive dietary modifications may help some small sub-groups, kids with ADHD need a overall healthy diet of low processed foods and high on quality proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality fats, such as Omega-3.
Posted in Discussion Topics, News on Jan 2nd, 2012 No Comments »
Back in November, I’d posted about reported shortages of medications for ADHD, and at the time I hadn’t heard enough about it nor had I heard of anyone who’s actually experienced this, so I wasn’t sure what to make of it. A couple of days ago, The New York Times reported further on these medication [...]
Posted in LD Support Organizations, News, Shapiro Looks at K-12 Schools on Nov 30th, 2011 1 Comment »
Ben Shifrin, Head of The Jemicy School, in Owings Mills, MD, has been inducted into the International Dyslexia Association’s Hall of Fame. Frankly, I had no idea there was such a Hall of Fame. For me, this is another chance to bring recognition to what I’ve always thought of as a great school for kids [...]
Posted in Discussion Topics, News on Nov 23rd, 2011 No Comments »
I haven’t seen or heard of this happening in the northwest, where I live, but this is potentially very concerning for lots of folks, especially if it spreads and gets worse. NPR did a story about this emerging shortage of ADHD meds, characterizing it as being part of a nationwide and increasing shortage of other [...]
Posted in Discussion Topics, Education Issues and Ideas, News on Oct 20th, 2011 1 Comment »
“The American Academy of Pediatrics this week issued new guidelines urging doctors to begin looking for signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD – in children as young as four years old. Before, the guidelines had set the minimum age at 6 years old.” These new guidelines, discussed here on NPR’s On Point Radio [...]