Blog
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...
Layered Skills & Compound Interest
Since the Shut-Down Learner came out some time ago, I have tried to write a blog once a week and have largely stayed in that rhythm. At this point, I believe there are some 400 blog posts on www.shutdownlearner.com. Even though it is self-imposed, by Wednesday of...
Trying to Get Rid of the Clutter
One of the things about this time of year is my annual ritual of trying to beat back the clutter and piles surrounding me. Admittedly over the years I have been plagued with SHD, aka "Sentimental Hoarding Disorder." For example, if a magazine had anything about the...
Finger Pointing
In Struggling Kidland There’s often a lot of finger pointing taking place. Played out ritualistically on a near daily basis, there’s the classic parent finger-pointing dance. It’s the, “You’re too soft on him – You’re too tough on him" ballet. While the parents...
Skill Thinking vs. Disorder Thinking
When I assess a child my focus often centers on where skills (and the skills can range from cognitive/academic to emotional/social) are breaking down for the child, which then guides goals and "next-step thinking." The skills can range from those in the cognitive,...
Back in the Anger River
I’ve said it to parents many times over the years - “Below the ADD/School Struggling Swamp, lies the “Anger River.” The Anger River results in much school resistance, avoidance and lowered motivation Parents will do various back flips to address meltdowns and school...
Doing the FAPE Dance – “FAPING”
Let’s say you have a 7 year old child who struggles greatly with reading, spelling and writing and has been diagnosed with a learning disability (e.g., dyslexia). The school has classified the child for special education and an IEP (Individual Education Plan) is being...
“I’m Not the Lead Actor…I Play a Supporting Role”
Let’s say you have one of those 14 year old boys who shows signs of what is now commonly being referred to as “executive function deficits,” or EFD. You probably know some of the signs of EFD – poorly organized, poor planning, little task initiation, weak...
“Spelling Doesn’t Matter Anyway”
Let’s say your 6th grade 12-year-old child, of average to above average intelligence spelled the following words: bref (brief) susess (success) edcccate (educate) resolt (result) kicten (kitchen Then he wrote the following story to a picture prompt “Once a o pon a...
A Case of the “Didja’s”
Modern parenting is plagued by a bad case of the “Didja’s.” You know. While the content may vary somewhat, here is a sample of some common Didja’s: “Didja (i.e., “Did you”) start your homework?” “Didja finish your homework. “Didja put your stuff away?” “Didja brush...
Parent Outrage Quotient
Outrage is an emotion parents often feel when it comes to how they perceive their struggling child is ultimately handled/managed by the school. Part of the outrage stems from a lack of understanding in terms of how the school operates when it comes to the issues of...