Blog
“10-Year-Old Boy Truths”
10 year old Boy Truths Since I was once a 10-year-old boy (in the far recess of time), here are some age-old truths that apply to most (not all) of those on the boy side of the equation: We don’t care about homework, and we don’t like to write. 2) We mature...
“Gradations from the Middle” (#Dyslexia #ADHD #Other Stuff)
Parents commonly come in with common questions such as, “Does their child have ADHD?” or “Is my child dyslexic?” Difficulty with reading and attention occur on a continuum or a spectrum from below the mid-point of average (see bell-curve picture above), to more...
“Double Check Your Hypotheses & Theories” (#Child Behavior)
While meeting with parents to discuss the concerns they have regarding their children’s struggling, numerous hypotheses and theories are often offered as to why children do what they do. Typically, the theories are linked to medical explanations, in other words...
“The Power of Nonchalance” (#ADHD; #Executive Function Disorder)
Synonyms for “nonchalance:” apathy, complacence, indifference, unconcern, torpor Antonyms for “nonchalance:” concerned, interested, motivated A parent came to talk to me about her 14-year-old-son, Brett. Previously “diagnosed” with ADHD of the inattentive variety,...
My Interview with Documentary Film Director, Jamie Redford (#Dyslexia)
(***This blog is a revision of an earlier post.) Understanding dyslexia is challenging, primarily because of the deeply embedded mythologies that we hold. Chief among them is “the reversal thing.” To illustrate, try this experiment. With any friend or relative ask...
“Not Reading the Signals”
An issue often overlooked with children diagnosed as ADHD is a frequently occurring underlying variable of social judgment and difficulty with “reading” cause and effect. Difficulty with reading cause and effect impacts both social and academic functioning, such as...
Join the Fun: “Empowered Parents Summit”
I am honored to be a part of this Empowered Parents Summit. So many great speakers are presenting their view of parenting in the modern era. I will be talking about issues related to my latest book, "Beyond the Power Struggle: A Guide for Parents of Challenging...
Interview with Betty B. Osman, Author: “No One to Play With: The Social Side of Learning Disabilities”
A number of years ago - time does fly by - I was the host of a podcast show that was a part of The Coffee Klatch Network, Special Needs Talk Radio. In that role, I had the honor of interviewing some of the top names in the field. I thought it would be fun to revisit...
“Ongoing Themes: #Dyslexia #ADHD #LD Discrepancy #504 #Parenting”
Those of you following this blog for some time know there are some recurring themes in these posts (that mostly irritate me). For others newer to these posts, I will help to bring you up to speed with some of the predominant ones. The LD-Discrepancy Model: Easily the...
“Ineffective, Inefficient, Irrational, Immoral and Indefensible”
Most of you understand the concept of standard error of measurement (SEM). In a nutshell, SEM tells us that on any given day that you can be within an interval of confidence that an obtained score is accurate. For example, if the obtained IQ score is 100, you can have...
“Homework??? That’s So Yesterday.”
More and more, parents tell me that their children never get homework. When there is homework, it is often a battleground. Refrains such as, “It’s stupid,” “I hate it,” “It’s not fun,” and variations on these themes occur across the country starting in the...