Blog
Parenting at the Root of the Problem (Not So Fast)
In addition to the myriad of labels and diagnoses offered as explanations for a child's behavior, it is often assumed that parenting is a significant variable, if not the sole reason for a child's behavior. As proof of this, when we see a child who appears to be...
Explaining #Dyslexia at Dinner
My wife and I were out for dinner with another couple, both of whom were in the medical field with lots of years of experience. They were curious about my recently presenting as a keynote speaker at the Decoding Dyslexia conference in Utah. “So, Rich, what percentage...
Just Do Your ‘Personal Best’
Kids are frequently told a lot that they need to be doing their “personal best.” Doesn’t that seem like an unfair standard? Are you doing your “personal best?” If I were honest about it (and I would like not to be), I think I have failed at my personal best every...
‘What’s My Address? Where do I Live?’
As part of an assessment I always ask kids to write their name and address. Lately, I’ve been noticing a troubling trend. Increasingly, kids look at me blankly when it comes to the address part. They don’t know where they live. Look, I understand that for kids...
Dyslexia – Labeling or Describing
“Identifying a label for student’s type of learning disability is not the key issue. Use of the label dyslexia may not even be necessary. Describing the phenomena observed in the child should be the goal of the diagnostic assessment, especially in an area as muddled...
Parenting Styles
As part of my constellation of professional activities, I often talk to parents about their child’s behavior. Frequently, I find myself highlighting two fundamentally different styles of parenting. With “Reactive Parenting,” as the name implies when a negative...
Comprehension – Sometimes Forgotten in #Dyslexia Land
Those of you who have followed this blog or any of my stuff over the years, know the importance I place on the development of decoding skills and reading fluency. In fact, I have viewed the mastering of decoding as a possibly the central task or hurdle for a child to...
Screen Junkies?
Here are a couple of things to consider from an informal survey I have conducted with kids and the parents regarding the children they know in their social circle and at school: 95-99% of the kids starting at age 12 have cell phones. 95-99% of kids age 4 – 7 are...
The Curriculum Ship Leaves Port
It’s early September. The “Curriculum Ship” is leaving the dock. This ship moves full steam ahead with its goal of getting to the distant shore on the other side by about June 1st. About 70% of the kids can ride the ship pretty well. While there may be a few ups...
The Billionaire & the Gift of Dyslexia
This week on my Twitter feed, I came upon an article that talked about a billionaire who felt that his dyslexia was a "gift." In his mind, it was the primary reason for his success as a businessman. Many businessmen and women get their inspiration to start their own...
Hooks in the Mental Closet
As part of an assessment I recently asked 17- year-old near senior, Bethany, “Who wrote Hamlet?” Looking bewildered, she said, “I have no idea.” Then, when asked to define the word “tranquil,” she could not further no guess. Bethany had no association to the word....