Blog
Uncomplicating
When a child is school struggling, 99.9% of the time the parents get it. They know there’s something up. They are looking for validation. This is where it gets murky. When the parents raise the question of dyslexia with the school, typically they are told that the...
“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...
Gina, The Inefficient 17-Year-Old-Reader
Gina is a frustrated 17 year old junior in high school. Feeling that she’s done everything people have asked of her and more to prepare for the SAT’s, have left her frustrated with not great results. Putting in practically an hour a day studying for the SAT’s (in...
Rushing As a Style
In these more clinical times where most child behavior is ascribed to a “diagnosis” of one sort or another, we don’t often think about rushing as a style. I know…I know…in modern parlance the word “impulsive” is much more acceptable, as opposed to “rushing through...
Writing Deficits on the Rough Road (Part One) – Two Minute Tidbit Tips
In today's Two Minute Tidbit Tip, part one of his series on writing for struggling kids, Dr. Selznick focuses on writing deficits. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=265159591580774
“A ‘Tin Ear’ for Music”
Years ago I had the privilege of being in an audience of about 500 participants listening to a lecture on learning disorders from the renowned neurologist, Dr. Martha Denckla. As Dr. Denckla noted, “It’s like these kids who are struggling with reading, spelling and...
Landscape of Childhood – 17,885 Hours Logged
Let’s say you’re north of age 50 or 55. Unless there is a boy who is about 8 years or older in and around your world, chances are the word “Fortnite,” doesn’t mean that much to you. Part of what I do in working with kids is to try and understand their personal...
Disorder or Immaturity? A Confession
Sometimes this blog serves as a bit of a confessional, providing a forum to voice some concerns regarding the issues that emerge while working with struggling children and their parents. So, with that in mind here’s a confession. Sometimes I honestly don’t know when...
“Letters, We Get Letters”
In the 500 or so blog posts that have been posted on the site, many of them receive comments. As a change of pace, we offer some of the comments. In later blogs we will continue to share comments with you to get other voices – other perspectives on the issues To a...
“Tell It To Me Straight, Doc…”
With about 500 blog posts under our belt, we look for inspiration where we can find it. Those of you who follow this blog, know that we strive to talk in “down-to-earth, plain language,” which is the overriding, mission of the website (www.shutdownlearner.com), the...