Welcome to The Shut-Down Learner, where we strive to talk to parents in down-to-earth, plain language about the concerns they have for their children. This website has over 500 blog posts organized in categories as well as podcasts, “Two Minute Tidbit” tips, and information about Dr. Selznick’s books.

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POPULAR POSTS

Dyslexia/Reading & Learning Disabilities

Blog #1 from 2009

Started in 2009 upon the release of my first book, The Shut-Down Learner, there have been nearly 600 blog posts completed on a weekly basis over those years.. I thought it would be fun to look back on some of the earliest ones (slightly edited), to see what I was...

“Hemming & Hawing”

OK… Among other disorders that I seem to have, readers of this blog know I have confessed to my  “PBD” or “Pushback Disorder.” PBD usually manifests whenever parents tell me something that has a hypothesis (i.e., an opinion) as to why their child is doing or not doing...

“Common Sense & ‘Passing the Smell Test'”

Last Sunday there was a feature article in the New York Times on the science of reading emphasizing that “science” has confirmed the need to teach children phonics. (Science of Reading - New York Times) While this comes after decades of debate, the article notes that...

“Scattershot”

IIn last week’s post, I made the following statement as part of the primer on reading: "Whether in the classroom or in tutoring for struggling children scattershot remediation will not be effective for either Type I or Type II categories." A parent contacted me who...

“Part I: A Reading Primer”

As we discussed last week (https://shutdownlearner.com/a-primer/) the next few weeks will be primers in major categories of parental concern. This week, in 400 words or less, we offer a primer on reading. Here we go. When you boil it all down, there are essentially...

“No One to Play With: The Social Side of Learning Disabilities”

A book that always stayed with me reminding me of my early days as a psychologist at the Hill Top Preparatory School, a private school in the Philadelphia Suburbs for high schoolers with learning disabilities,  is Betty Osman's, "No One to Play With:  The Social Side...

“Relational Component of Tutoring – the ‘Secret Sauce’ of Success”

One of the “go to“ recommendations I often make following an assessment is for the child to see a tutor if it is at all possible. When done well, tutoring provides many benefits.  One often overlooked is the  intangible - that is, the relational benefit. Working on...

“The Plight of Leora – A Play in Four Acts”

Leora a 10-year-old fourth grader has been struggling since kindergarten. Every year the parents have raised their concerns with the teachers.  The answers are variations on a theme. Act I:  In first grade it was, “She’s still young and it’s probably developmental.”...

“Shannon , Shannon, bo Bannon”

Anxiety  over a child's development starts early. Recently a mom said to me, “My son is drowning in school. Do you think he has a learning disability?” What was particularly striking about this question was the fact that the child in question was only just five and in...

Two Minute+ Tidbit Tip: “Mythologies of Dyslexia”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNmOHYMCdyo

ADHD

“Hemming & Hawing”

OK… Among other disorders that I seem to have, readers of this blog know I have confessed to my ...

Why Ask ‘Why?'” (Part II)

app Frequently, I hear from parents that they just want to know "why" something  is taking place...

“Why Ask ”Why?” (Part I)

Brett, age 8, has difficulty behaving in his third grade class.  Frequently calling out, pushing...

“My Kid Can’t Pay Attention – Must Be ADHD” (Not So Fast)

Every week I hear an array of concerns regarding distractibility and inattentiveness. Beyond the...

“‘When I Was Born There Something Wrong With My Brain, So I Took This Pill…”’

Jacob is an endearing,  extremely verbal 7-year-old. Whenever asked a question, Jacob talks with...

Feeling the Twinge

Sometimes I can feel the twinge coming on.  It usually occurs when I hear the misinformation...

“My Child Doesn’t Pay Attention – Do You Think He Has ADHD?”

Practically every week I hear an array of  concerns regarding distractibility and inattentiveness....

“Got My Kid On Medication”

Once parents have gotten the “diagnosis” of ADHD, typically medication is offered as the next...

“Is ADHD a Valid Disorder?”

“‘I think the current diagnosis of ADHD is a mess and has been wildly overdone.  It blames a...

Rushing As a Style

In these more clinical times where most child behavior is ascribed to a “diagnosis” of one sort or...

Assessment

“Hemming & Hawing”

OK… Among other disorders that I seem to have, readers of this blog know I have confessed to my ...

“Tipping the Scales”

  Some of you have been loyal followers of this blog for over 10 years, while others have...

Why Ask ‘Why?'” (Part II)

app Frequently, I hear from parents that they just want to know "why" something  is taking place...

“Pie Chart Revisited”

As those of you who follow this blog knows there are two overriding missions that drive everything...

Our Explanations & Theories of Struggling Children

While meeting with parents to discuss the concerns they have regarding their  children’s...

Getting a Roadmap

When it comes to their  children struggling with reading, parents could use some road maps. An...

Bewildering Treatment Options

Treatment options and the range of professional recommendations can be bewildering, not to mention...

“We Got the Diagnosis”

Most struggling children that I know have what I have refer to as a “soup pot of variables"...

Our Theories & Explanations: #Child

When you are in “Child Land,” there are all kinds of theories and explanations as to why children...

Wrestling With My “Underself”

There’s always that point  in the assessment process  that I know is coming that frequently gives...

Executive Functioning

“Rolling the Dice”

“Oh, my, my, my, I’m the lone crap shooter, playin the field every night.”  ‘Tumblin Dice,’ the...

“Rudderless”

13-year-old Liam comes in trudging behind his mother, staring at his phone. While I think I have a...

“Stamina” (Part II)

Last week we talked about the idea that “stamina” is not a word  parents reference much to when...

“Stamina?”

It’s always interesting to me how words or terms come in and out of favor. When parents come in to...

“Executive Functioning” – Are You Too Hot or Too Cold?

For those of you who follow this blog or read my other “stuff,” you know that my overall is to...

“P.A.D. – ‘Pain Avoidance Disorder’ & the Reality of School”

In the landscape of modern childhood there is something that I have come to call, “P.A.D.” or...

Executive Functioning & the Goldilocks Standard

My overall mission on www.shutdownlearner.com is to present to parents in down-to-earth,...

Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up: My interview with Dr. Ellen Braaten

Processing speed isn’t a one-dimensional concept. It’s not just about how fast received, or how...

“What’s the Ratio?”

In the consulting done with parents regarding their children’s school issues, I often talk about...

“But, I Have ‘FOMO'”

Mitchell, a 16 year old boy I work with was recently found by his parents to be using their credit...