Blog
Dr. Selznick’s blogs are written to help parents navigate the difficult waters of raising children struggling with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, as well as ADHD and deficits of executive functioning. His overriding mission is to speak to parents in “down-to-earth terms free of jargon.”
Fillin’ the Cracks
Anxiety over your child’s school-based problems can start very early. A mom recently contacted me after reading The Shut-Down Learner.
“My son is drowning in school. Do you think he could be a shut-down learner?”
After asking a few more questions, I was struck by the fact that the child in question was only five and in kindergarten.
When I wrote the Shut-Down Learner I was largely envisioning a disconnected, shut-down adolescent.
However, as I gave more talks to the parents, so many of the concerns being raised involved young children.
To help explain things to parents I created a formula:
Early Cracks in the Foundation + Time + Lack of Understanding + Widening cracks + Family tensions increasing = Shut Down Learner
So, while the child of concern may only be in kindergarten there are cracks that can be identified. Time goes by quickly and with a lack of understanding how to address them, they widen with family tensions arising around the school issues.
Takeaway Point
There’s no gain in waiting. Do what you can to fill the cracks.
Feel free to make comment below. To receive future blog posts, register your email: http://www.shutdownlearner.com.
To Contact Dr. Richard Selznick for advice, consultation or other information, email – rselznick615@gmail.com.
Copyright, Richard Selznick, Ph.D. 2023, www.shutdownlearner.com.
Sharks & Minnows – Part II
Last week we talked about the law of the playground (and the jungle), that in spite of well meaning attempts to extinguish the phenomenon of “sharks” picking on the "minnows,” the law of the playground persists (Sharks & Minnows (Part I). Picking up on the...
“Sharks & Minnows”
Out in the playground, in the lunchroom and on the school bus – really in every possible school situation – group dynamics are always at work. There will be those in the group who are more assertive (sometimes aggressive), and those who are not. Many will be in the...
“Boy, You’re in Hot Water”
Recently, 8-year-old Marty showed some signs of misbehavior when his mom exclaimed, “Boy, you’re in hot water now.” Marty started having a meltdown, screaming and crying, “I don’t want to be in hot water!!!!!!! I It will hurt me!!!” Seven-year-old Marissa became...
“Brief Tip: Getting Clear on Remediation”
Most children referred for assessments are related to struggles with reading, spelling and writing. Parents feel a sense of desperation and don't know what direction to go. Once the issues are identified, the remediation, unfortunately, can be a bit scattershot. This...
All Aboard the Curriculum Ship
Is your child falling off the Curriculum Ship? The Curriculum Ship leaves dock in early September and starts steering its course until mid to late June, when it arrives at port somewhere on the other side of the ocean. Not slowing down even when some passengers are...
Green-Yellow-Red Zone
Liana's mom has seen a great deal of struggling in her 4th grade daughter. After I evaluated Liana, the mom asked me, “Was this a problem that could have been averted?” As I explained to her there are valid and reliable screening measures that can be given early on in...
“ADD-ing”
Over the last couple of decades ADHD (commonly referred to as “ADD") is frequently diagnosed with struggling children. Within the doctor's office, the child's history is reviewed along with the parent filling out a rating scale (typically the Vanderbilt Scale, which...
“‘Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less'”
A common complaint that parents bring to me is some variation on the theme of the child being poorly motivated. Parents will say things like, “He just doesn’t seem to care about anything (other than screens). We’ve tried everything and nothing seems to motivate...
“‘Every Picture Tells a Story (Don’t it)'”
Picking up on last week’s theme with Marla where we talked about her “anger issues (“Marla and Her ‘Anger Issues'”), there were other interactions with the world telling a similar story. A day or so ago, I was with our dog, Ella, in a pet store. Ella was on a pretty...
“Marla and Her ‘Anger Issues'”
One of my favorite kids, Marla, age 6, came in to see me. Nearly six and going into first grade in the fall, I had tracked Marla since she was three. As the mental health professionals like to call it, Marla’s had issues with, “behavioral self-regulation.” Marla’s...
“wuns a pon a time their was a boy…”
wuns a pon a time their was a boy wgo had no frends so he was always alon But than on day evry thing change His mom gave him a voilinto play it sounded horabel so he said I am never playing this again so one Day he went to in the stor and heard the guy play the...
“504 Realities (Part II) – Raising My ‘IQ'”
In last week’s post we talked about some of the basics involved with 504 Plans (504 Plans - The Reality : Part I ). Remember, that a 504 does not offer any interventions, but accommodations. It is intended to provide equal access to the mainstream to those identified...
504 Plans – The Reality: Part I
Parents will come to me loaded with terms only partially understood, like referring to "504 Plans.". I will hear things such as the following: “We just need to get him a 504. so he can start reading better.” "Yesterday, she had a meltdown in school and no one wants...
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...
“‘Barn Kids’ & the ‘Populars'”
In my ongoing education, this week I learned about the “Barn Kids” and the “Populars.” Mother of 12-year-old Marla explained to me that her 12-year-old daughter was one of the “Barn Kids" and not one of the "Populars." Instinctively, I sort of knew what she meant,...
“Low ‘Oomph'”
"oomph" noun Informal: energy; vitality; enthusiasm. I don’t know how to describe it in more clinical or scientific terms, but there are a bunch of kids I’ve assessed recently who seem to me to lack “oomph.” While “oomph” may be one of those words that are not...
“Nicholas & the ‘Child-to-Mother Sideways Glance'”
Over the last year or so, I’ve noted an interesting trend – I’ll call it the “Child-to-Mom- Sideways Glance.” Here’s how it goes. Take William, age 8, who comes in to meet with me for the first time accompanied by his mother. They sit next to each other perhaps two...
“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...
“And, So a New Chapter Begins”
With the arrival of newborn Emmett Gaetano Selznick last weekend, an official new chapter begins in our lives. As I said a while ago, in a previous blog on grandparenting, I’m going to try and do my best to do what grandparents are supposed to do – spoil and “zip it...
“‘What’s the Matter With Kids Today?'”
“The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think nothing but of themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is...
“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...
“A Primer”
In my corner of the universe most of the issues that are brought to me include some variation on the following: Struggling with reading (and writing) Difficulty with attention and what is commonly referred to as “sustained mental effort” Low level “executive...