Learning disability

Balancing Children’s Learning With Learning Disabilities

December 31, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

When dealing with K-12 students the basic role of teachers is to make sure that every kid they are in charge of is learning to the best of their individual abilities. Of course some teachers are more able to diagnose learning disabilities easier than others and the difficulty in the diagnosis is what makes teaching a diverse section of kids so difficult. For whatever reason, children in today’s society seem to be getting diagnosed with various learning disabilities at a far higher rate than they were in the past and still even more children are never diagnosed and the administration at their respective schools tend to simply dismiss these kids as stubborn or uninterested.

Finding the right kind of guidance for students who have a learning disability like dyslexia or hyperactivity can be extremely difficult, especially when you talking about an overtaxed school system that may see each classroom containing upwards of 35 to 40 students per teacher. The main thing that teachers, students and parents need to keep in mind is that quite a few of the problems and disabilities out there can be worked around.

The first step in dealing with a learning disability is diagnosing which of the many problems it could be. There are several different tests that can be done to determine exactly what sort of disability they might have. Pinpointing the problem is the first step in battling the disease or disability and it can indeed be all downhill after that fact if the teachers, the parents and the student all work together to solve the problem.

Whether talking about teachers who are working with learning disabled kids or the parents, the best way to deal with such problems is to always stay abreast of the latest treatments in dealing with the disorders. Education and medical professionals are always working overtime in developing treatment and solutions.

Filed Under: Learning Theories & Development Tagged With: Disability, Learning disability, Student

Helping Children Affected With ADD To Suceed In The Classroom

November 28, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The classroom environment can provide many challenges for every student, depending on their unique skills. For a student who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD as it is more commonly known, these challenges can seem extreme. For parents, it is especially important to seek guidance for students as soon as a problem is suspected.

If ADD is mentioned as the final diagnosis, early meetings with your child’s physicians are of paramount importance. There are many options for treating the disorder, and since every child is different, there is no “one size fits all” sort of solution.

Although pharmacological treatments can be very beneficial, it is important to stay alert for any symptoms that your child is experiencing. Sometimes the treatment results can counteract the benefits that it was supposed to provide.

More important than drug-related treatments however, is the need to foster a constant and dynamic relationship with your child’s teachers and administrative staff members. Make them aware of any specific strengths and weaknesses that are present, so that school assignments can be altered if necessary. Remember, a learning disability does not necessarily show that a child is incapable of learning. Rather, they learn differently than most of their classmates.

If you feel your child could benefit from increased personalized attention, it may be worthwhile to hire a tutor to capitalize upon those certain subjects that your child finds to be particularly challenges. Most areas have tutoring centers that are easily accessible, and many of these have teachers that are specially qualified to provide guidance for students who are affected by ADD symptoms.

It is important to keep yourself aware of your child’s successes, as well as their setbacks. If necessary, you may need to be an advocate for your child in the event that you notice that current learning techniques are not effective. You can act as your child’s best ally for conquering the challenges of the classroom for a lifetime.

Filed Under: Teacher Tips Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Child, Learning disability

Helping Your Learning Disabled Child Suceed in School

November 24, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Although a learning disability can present an increased number of challenges for a child placed into a traditional schooling environment, with the right approach they too, can succeed and gain concepts that will be valuable for a lifetime.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that learning disabled students simply learn in a different way than their peers. The presence of their disability should not lead to an automatic assumption that they have less intellectual capacity.

It is equally important that parents take steps to seek professional assistance from those who are qualified to diagnose learning disabilities as soon as a problem is suspected. Although it may seem logical to wait and see if apparent difficulties resolve themselves as time goes on, it is very important to seek a diagnosis as soon as possible. This will ensure that your child has access to any necessary remediation techniques so that they will not fall behind in relation to their classmates who are learning from the same curriculum.

Many learning disabled students learn best when taught with a curriculum that incorporates both visual and auditory aids. Discuss your child’s learning style preferences with teachers and school administrators, so that they are aware of how best to help your child retain learning concepts.

Parental involvement is also very important. Make a point to ask your child about their school day and offer help with homework. If you notice mistakes, mention them in a gentle, supportive way. Constant parental interaction within the learning process not only helps you stay informed about what your child is learning, but it also helps you become more aware of accomplishments and potential problem areas.

Remember that the diagnosis of a learning disability merely means that your child needs additional support for their unique style of acquiring information. With the proper assistance, your child can have a successful learning experience from start to finish.

Filed Under: Education, Students, Teacher Tips Tagged With: Disability, Education, Learning, Learning disability

Diagnosing and Treating a Learning Disability

November 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Learning disabilities can be difficult to accurately diagnose, because even experts in the field disagree about the best ways to determine if a learning disability is present. However, one consistency is that most experts feel that a diagnosis cannot be properly reached until the child has spent time within a formal classroom environment, and been taught by qualified teachers. Therefore, experts usually wait to diagnose learning disabilities until the child has reached school age.

Keep in mind that any testing done at your child’s school may differ from the techniques used by private offices. Therefore, it may be useful to acquire multiple opinions about your child’s educational development before coming to any final conclusions. Fortunately, there is adequate support for overcoming the disabilities, so they can certainly be worked through with the proper approach.

Once a diagnosis has been reached, parents may find it useful to seek out parental support groups in the area so that they can receive advice from other parents about support for overcoming the disabilities. Every child is different, so there is no universally effective treatment option. However, support from parents who are helping their children through similar struggles is invaluable even if just to provide a listening ear and a word of wisdom.

Also, it is important to participate in frank discussions with your child’s teachers about abilities and weaker areas that may need to be focused on. Many children benefit greatly from additional private tutoring given by individuals who are experienced in teaching children who have learning disabilities.

Early and constant interaction with both your child, and those individuals who are responsible for overseeing their education should be very instrumental to ensure that your child has every opportunity to succeed along with their classroom peers. Finally, always adopt a positive attitude towards education in the household so that your child’s mindset is molded from that influence.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Disability, Education, Learning disability

The Challenges Of A College Environment For Students with ADD

November 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

A student who is beginning their time at a university is confronted with many challenges that require them to prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively. Additionally, possible distractions and social events are competing with a student’s schedule that is often already filled with tests, assignments and presentations. These realities are worsened for any student who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD.

Although many students outgrow the condition before they leave their teen years, it is still a common problem for students who are older and proper planning is certainly required to provide guidance for students as they prepare to enter the college environment.

If your child is currently taking medication for the condition, meet with their current physician to work out a plan to ensure that they can still receive their required medication even if they are attending an out-of-state university.

Encourage your child to be proactive about any particular academic needs that they may need inside the college classroom. Although your student may be leaving a familiar support network of family and friends that they have grown up with, they need to take steps to create a similar support structure at the university level as well.

Most college campuses have a disability support office, and it is wise to seek out a strong relationship with them as soon as your student decides which college to attend. Often, they will ask the student to meet with them before classes begin to determine what services and accommodations might be needed to ensure an equal opportunity to succeed. Additionally, your student needs to be forthcoming about their learning disability to their professors, especially during exams or timed assignments that might otherwise pose a disadvantage.

Filed Under: Learning Theories & Development, Teacher Tips Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Learning disability, Student

The Importance of a Guidance Counselor For The Education of a Learning-Disabled Child

November 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The guidance department in your child’s school can be a valuable resource throughout the entire educational experience, but especially so if your child is diagnosed with a learning disability. Most schools have counselors who are specifically trained to provide guidance for students in this situation, and may be able to offer advice for treatment strategies not previously considered. Although guidance counselors do not usually have the measurable expertise to make decisions about medical aspects such as medication type and dosage, they often have extensive insight into the differences in learning styles for students who have learning disabilities, and those who do not.

If you notice that your child does not seem to be retaining information as readily as other peers in the classroom, it may be a simple case of meeting with the guidance counselor to explain that other learning aids may need to be considered to ensure that your child has an equal opportunity to succeed. Many children with learning disabilities function better when presented with alternative learning tools such as audio and visual aids. Guidance counselors are usually sensitive to this fact and can often meet with your child’s teachers to suggest other teaching methods.

Guidance counselors are also a great resource for helping your child succeed in the realm of standardized testing. The guidance office is the best place to inquire about accommodations for testing day, including time extensions, or the need to take the test in a private area.

Although guidance counselors are a great resource, thanks to their field expertise and formal education, they are no substitute for parental involvement. As a parent, it is up to you to continually monitor your child’s educational experience, even if that means something as simple as asking them what they learned each day, or assisting with homework. A parent can often be the best advocate for their learning-disabled child, and a close relationship with a guidance counselor ensures that needs are met quickly.

Filed Under: Education, Students, Teacher Tips Tagged With: Education, Learning disability, School counselor