Blog
Screens, Distractability & ADHD
"Children surrounded by fast-paced visual stimuli at the expense of face-to-face adult modeling, interactive language, reflective problem- solving, creative play, and sustained attention may be expected to arrive at school unprepared for academic learning—and to fall...
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...
My Interview With James Redford on #Dyslexia
Understanding dyslexia is challenging, primarily because of the deeply embedded mythologies that we hold, chief among them is what I call “the reversal thing.” You know, try my experiment this holiday season. With any friend or relative ask them, “Hey, Uncle George,...
Interview With James Redford – Director: “The Big Picture – Rethinking Dyslexia”
[podcast_episode episode="5349" content="player"] The Big Picture - Rethinking Dyslexia provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts and iconic leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson and financier Charles Schwab. Directed by...
Turning Down the “PNQ” – Parent Nag Quotient – Part I.
If you’re a parent with kids still under your roof or you are a parent with grown children, let me ask you this. When you make comments or ask questions like the following, what kind of response do you get? "Why haven’t you started your homework?" "How come you...
“But, I Have ‘FOMO'”
Mitchell, a 16 year old boy I work with was recently found by his parents to be using their credit card, let’s just say, a bit inappropriately. In other words, he took their card without asking for permission, deciding he wanted to buy a video game to play with his...
“What’s the Ratio?”
One of the biggest challenges in this business of struggling children is deciding what’s the ratio between a legitimate disorder of some kind or another and a child's choice. For example, homework or chore avoidance is frequently explained due to a disorder not...
Part II: Gina, The Inefficient Reader
Last week we discussed Gina, a frustrated 17 year old who was not getting the results she had hoped on tests like the SATs, in spite of her putting in a great deal of effort prepping for the test (Gina, Part I). Gina had been previously evaluated by the school’s...