Dyslexia (aka “Voldemort”) – “He Who Must Not Be Named”

Parents  frequently raise questions of dyslexia with their child’s school. When they report back to me how the conversation went, I get the feeling that the school goes into a sort of quiet hush mode, like they are talking about Voldemort – “He Who Must Not Be Named.”...
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Reading Comprehension & School Bus Problems: Common Themes

When Kids struggle with reading comprehension, often there is an overlap in "real life” and the way the child interacts in their personal world. In this era of  automatically labeling and pathologizing an unwanted behavior  as “ADHD,” this overlap is something rarely...
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Addressing Writing Disability

I am continually struck by the challenges struggling children face when it comes to their writing.  At a very basic level, they have little to no idea what goes into the writing of a sentence, no less a paragraph or a typical three-paragraph essay. For children who...
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Brief Tip: Know What You Are Targeting

Many children referred for assessments are related to struggles with reading, spelling and writing. Not knowing what direction to go, parents feel a sense of desperation and need guidance on appropriate next steps. Once the issues are identified, the remediation,...
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Compound Interest Mentality

Change does not come easily for any of us. Think about how deeply ingrained our personalities, habits and proclivities are. Fundamentally, we are who we are. Parents spend a lot of time trying to change children and I sometimes find that their efforts may be a bit too...
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IEPs & 504s: A Brief Primer

Parents frequently ask about 504 Plans and IEP’s. Before getting too far into the weeds, I will respectfully ask the parents if they know the difference between them and what they even are. A majority of the time, I get a half shrug, coupled with a “not really.”...
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ADHD…Maybe!

Practically every week I hear an array of  concerns regarding distractibility and inattentiveness. There's always the question lurking of, "Does my child have ADHD/ADD?" While talking to parents I try and  broaden the narrative,  reviewing other factors that may be...
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Trusting Your Mom Intuition

As part of the assessment process I always conduct an interview  to get an overview of the issues of concern. When a child is struggling, typically there will be suggestions of disorders that have been raised by different professionals along with opinions offered from...
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Parenting at the Root of the Problem (Not So Fast)

In addition to the myriad of labels and diagnoses offered as explanations for a child's behavior, it is often assumed that parenting is a significant variable, if not the sole reason for a child's behavior. As proof of this, when we see a child who appears to be...
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Understanding & Enhancing Comprehension – (Part II)

Last week's post introduced concepts related to reading comprehension.  (Enhancing Reading Comprehension: Part I) As previously noted, comprehension is an interactive process. The interaction involves ideas, concepts, images, background experience, fund of knowledge,...
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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 drselz@shutdownlearner.com.

My Books

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My Blog Topics

DYSLEXIA/READING DISABILITY

READING COMPREHENSION

ADHD

WRITING CHALLENGES

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

MODERN CHILDHOOD

PARENTING & BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES

SCHOOL/SPECIAL EDUCATION MISC

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.

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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