“Jargon & Phonemic Awareness”

There are many terms within education and dyslexia that don't translate well. My criteria for determining whether something translates well is the person-on-the-street standard. That is, if you stop the average person on the street and asked them what a term means and...

“Dazed & Confused”

"What is meant by the phrase, "Italy was a quilt of city states?" "The government was like a blanket covering city-states of Italy." "The two spaceships, Eagle and Columbia, separate.  They orbit in sight of each other one last time.  Then the Eagle begins to...

Opposite & Challenging

In many households there are temperamentally rigid and inflexible children who cause a great deal of distress. With their limited coping skills, such children become quite volatile and reactive to frustration. Jeff and Rose are the bleary eyed parents of three...

From the Archives: 12-Year-Old Boy Truths

(***Had thought about answering some emails regaring  the last few posts, but life got in the way. So I thought I would pull one out from the archives.) -------------------------------------------------------------- Since I was once a 12 year old boy (in the far...

Uncomplicating

When a child is school struggling, 99.9% of the time the parents get it.  They know there’s something up.  They are looking for validation. This is where it gets murky. When the parents raise the question of dyslexia with the school, typically they are told that the...

Screens, Distractability & ADHD

"Children surrounded by fast-paced visual stimuli  at the expense of face-to-face adult modeling, interactive language, reflective problem- solving, creative play, and sustained attention may be expected to arrive at school unprepared for academic learning—and to fall...

“Is ADHD a Valid Disorder?”

“‘I think the current diagnosis of ADHD is a mess and has been wildly overdone.  It blames a variety of symptoms entirely on the child’s brain, and ignores the child’s environment and the interaction with it."  (Dr. William B. Carey, pediatrician, researcher, and...

Must See the Neurologist

Even though schools will tell parents that they need to see a neurologist to diagnose dyslexia, the following are essentials that must be considered in an assessment: Reading aloud from a graded word list to determine word identification skills and how automatically...

“Getting ‘Dissed'”

Without turning this into a confessional, when I look back on my schooling here are a few things I know: Math was far my strong suit. I probably needed tutoring, particularly as I had to suffer through geometry, algebra and calculus.  So, did that make me...

Cutting Through the Delusions

Many of the kids I talk to seem to be fairly delusional about school. Somehow they have gotten the notion that school should be this fun, Candyland-type of experience and when it is not, they are, well,…outraged. 13-year-old Liam offers a litany of complaints about...

Hi, I’m Dr. Richard Selznick

You can call me Dr. Selz. Welcome to The Shut-Down Learner, my website where I share down-to-earth, no-nonsense perspectives on raising children with challenges in school and at home.

I strive to talk to parents in plain language about the concerns they have for their children, which you can see in the hundreds of blog posts I’ve published here, as well as in my books. You can also sign up for my newsletter to get new posts and other announcements weekly.

If you ever have questions or concerns about your family’s unique situation, I’m also available for virtual consultations, both individualized and for groups. Reach out at any time to shutdownlearner1@gmail.com.

Virtual Consultations

Have particular questions about your family situation you want to discuss? Need a second opinion from someone willing to offer candid advice?

I offer virtual consultations with individuals or groups to help deliver more specific counseling. We will go over any existing information, and can meet once or on a recurring basis.

Learn more about what else a virtual consultation entails, and reach out to schedule.

Dr. Selznick changed my daughter’s life. We met Dr. Selznick when she was in 8th grade, after advocating for her since 2nd grade. Dr. Selznick took a thorough history, evaluated her abilities, and spoke to Brooke with a kindness and understanding that was poorly missing on our educational journey. The resulting diagnosis, along with his academic recommendations, were pivotal in placing her appropriately in high school. She is now a junior in college and thriving. I know, for sure, without his intervention her story would have been different, and I’m forever grateful.

Dena Blizzard

One Funny Mother