Blog
“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...
“We Live In a Decaying Age”
Most adults of a certain generation (let’s say north of 50 years) typically shake their collective head in bewilderment over children and the way they conduct themselves. There’s always an undercurrent of, “What’s the matter with kids these days?” I’ve been working on...
#Dyslexia #Dyslexia #Dyslexia
No matter how many times I’ve heard it over the years, I continue to be astounded by the core mythology of “dyslexia,” that it is a problem where someone reads upside down and backward. In spite of the workshops and trainings that have taken place around the country...
“We Got the Diagnosis”
Most struggling children that I know have what I have refer to as a “soup pot of variables" interacting to a greater or lesser degree depending upon a variety circumstances. You know what I mean with the “soup pot.” In the pot, there can be a helping of reading...
Our Theories & Explanations: #Child
When you are in “Child Land,” there are all kinds of theories and explanations as to why children do what they do. More than another generation, the explanations are tied into medical explanations or what I refer to as “disorder thinking." This type of...
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 fast we write or how fast we can process what we’ve heard. It’s really a combination of all those factors. In fact, processing speed deficits can be observed in visual...
“What’s the Ratio?”
In the consulting done with parents regarding their children’s school issues, I often talk about the “ratio,” that is the percentage of parent involvement with homework and other school work. Even though it goes counter to the approach often adopted by parents, I find...
Wrestling With My “Underself”
There’s always that point in the assessment process that I know is coming that frequently gives me an anticipatory, somewhat squeamish feeling. Let’s call it, “The final chapter.” (Underself immediately jumps in responding to Self: “Really? After, at least 9, 995...
“How Learning to Read a Book, Is Like Learning to Play the Piano”
As I continue to go through my piles of hoarded articles, I came across one of my favorites – "How Learning to Read a Book Is Like Learning to Play the Piano" (Brent Staples, New York Times, March, 2002). When the article was written there was a debate raging as to...
“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.’” (Philadelphia Inquirer, William B. Carey, pediatrician,...
Interview With Kelli Sandman Hurley – “Dyslexia Advocate: How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System”
[podcast_episode episode="5368" content="player"] In this latest installment, we talk with Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D. regarding her book, "Dyslexia Advocate: How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System." This straightforward guide...