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.

Come on in and explore.If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Selznick at rselznick615@gmail.com.

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Dyslexia/Reading & Learning Disabilities

“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

TWO MINUTE+ TIDBIT TIPS: STAGES OF READING PART II

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

“‘Spelling. That’s So Yesterday'”

Let’s say your 12-year-old sixth grader spells the following words: (brief) bref (success) susess (educate) edcccate (result) resolt (kitchen) kicten Then writes the following story to a prompt: “Once a o pon a time there was a kid that was a million...

“The Tooth Ache Comes Back”

Beside the fact that I am having root canal done later today, I find myself having a throbbing toothache all too often. Behind the toothache, let's look at Joanna, an 8-year-old third grader. Increasingly, frustrated by her school challenges, Joanna is prone to...

Sibling Rising

Jacob is an endearing 8-year-old child, well-liked by teachers and other kids. Playing a variety of sports, he is frequently seen as a team leader by coaches and peers. There is one problem, though, eating at Jacob. Even though he is now in third grade, he still...

Why Ask ‘Why?'” (Part II)

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 21, 2022 | ADHD/ADD, Assessment | 0 Comments

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

“Why Ask ”Why?” (Part I)

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 13, 2022 | ADHD/ADD | 4 Comments

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)

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | September 22, 2022 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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…”’

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | July 19, 2022 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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

Feeling the Twinge

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | September 9, 2021 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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?”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | August 27, 2021 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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

“Got My Kid On Medication”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | April 16, 2021 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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

“Is ADHD a Valid Disorder?”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | January 15, 2021 | ADHD/ADD | 6 Comments

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

Rushing As a Style

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 30, 2020 | ADHD/ADD | 0 Comments

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

“The Diagnosis,” Medication and Knowing the Limits

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | July 10, 2020 | ADHD/ADD | 4 Comments

If you have followed this blog a while, you know there are emerging themes that reoccur. One of...

“Tipping the Scales”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | December 8, 2022 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

Why Ask ‘Why?'” (Part II)

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 21, 2022 | ADHD/ADD, Assessment | 0 Comments

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

“Pie Chart Revisited”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | March 11, 2022 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

Our Explanations & Theories of Struggling Children

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 29, 2021 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

Getting a Roadmap

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | September 16, 2021 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

Bewildering Treatment Options

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | May 7, 2021 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

“We Got the Diagnosis”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | February 26, 2021 | Assessment | 2 Comments

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

Our Theories & Explanations: #Child

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | February 19, 2021 | Assessment | 0 Comments

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

Wrestling With My “Underself”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | February 5, 2021 | Assessment | 4 Comments

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

“A ‘Tin Ear’ for Music”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | October 23, 2020 | Assessment, Dyslexia/Reading & Learning Disabilities | 0 Comments

Years ago I had the privilege of being in an audience of about 500 participants listening to a...

“Rolling the Dice”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | January 6, 2023 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

“Rudderless”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | December 23, 2022 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

“Stamina” (Part II)

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | June 10, 2022 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

“Stamina?”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | June 3, 2022 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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?

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | April 1, 2022 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | November 12, 2021 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

Executive Functioning & the Goldilocks Standard

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | August 20, 2021 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | February 14, 2021 | Executive Functioning | 2 Comments

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

“What’s the Ratio?”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | February 12, 2021 | Executive Functioning | 0 Comments

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

“But, I Have ‘FOMO'”

by Richard Selznick Ph.D. | December 4, 2020 | Executive Functioning | 2 Comments

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

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