Blog
“Missed Opportunities for Practicing ‘The Skill of…'”
So much of a child’s world can be framed in an ongoing series of different skills. For example, some kids have the “skill of” saying hello and greeting someone they meet for the first time. Others may have the “skill of” manners in social interactions by saying...
Writing – Throwing the Child in the Deep End of the Pool
Let’s say you have a little child, perhaps five or six years of age. He doesn’t know how to swim, so you decide it’s time to give him lessons. What if the swim instructor said something like, “You know we have strict standards for six year olds and we have...
The Work-Sheeting of Childhood
I recently met parents of a child named Cameron who is showing all of the signs of early school struggling. As parents will often do, they brought in sample of the child’s work. The picture attached to this blog represents all of the worksheets that...
Dyslexia and the Old Masters: A brief look back
About a month or so ago I had the honor to present to a group of parents of dyslexic children on Staten Island. The group, Wishes of Literacy, is doing great work in their advocacy for parents and they are joining forces with the burgeoning grassroots Decoding...
Giving the ADHD Kid Some Extra Time
In 504 Land, one of the classic (almost knee jerk) accommodations recommended is to give an ADHD child extra time. Let me ask you this, how many impulsive, hurry-let’s-get-it done, style kids that you know want extra time? The answer is none. ...
Walk for Familial Dysautonomia
I wanted to pass this along from my dear friend, Lloyd Stone: In less than 2 weeks, On Sunday, March 10th, our family will be participating in the Walk for Familial Dysautonomia) in support of our amazing nephew/cousin Gregory Brandt. FD is a Jewish-Ashkenazi...
On Zombie Pigs, Aliens & ADHD Boys
There are competing agendas out there within the professional realms that I operate. On one hand there are the parents and the schools trying to get a segment of the population (ADHD boys) to get on track and be connected to the mandated curriculum. Within that...
The Trouble With “Comprehension”
“Comprehension” is a word that is tossed around freely in educational and psychological circles. “If James paid attention more, he would comprehend better.” “It doesn’t matter...
Listen Up Moms: Trust Your Judgment
Over the last thirty years, research in education and psychology that is focused on reading disabilities produces one consistent truth—early identification and intervention trumps waiting and acting later. The title of Dr. Joseph Torgesen’s seminal...
Parent New Year’s Resolutions 2013
The more miles I have logged in working with children and their parents, the less definitive I find myself. There are few absolutes when dealing with kids and the complexity of variables affecting them. Variables such as the child’s...
There Will Be Rage
In light of the terrible tragedy in Newtown Connecticut, it is worth reminding ourselves of a few things. I talk to parents all of the time about the “smooth road” vs. the “rough road” that kids travel (see “School Struggles”...