Tests Seem Scary But Don’t Panic We’d like to see a world without tests. We think certificates of mastery for various skills would be better. But as long as the tests are part of schooling, tutors will need to help students deal with them. Tutors often encounter test anxiety in students. When panic sets in, […]
Homework is Not a Test Tutors find they are often engaged for homework support. Homework frustrates both student and parent. Parents may find it encouraging to understand that homework is not a test; it is a chance to practice a skill. The skillful tutor devises a way for the student to practice the skill and […]
Dyslexia Affects Math Learning Obviously, dyslexia affects how a student learns to read. But it also affects how a student learns mathematics! Testing may diagnose “dyscalculia.” Thankfully, I discovered a terrific resource for parents and teachers working with bright students who just don’t learn math in the traditional mold. Take a look at this Mind’s […]
Dyslexia and ADHD Can Produce School Trauma When a student hates school, wise parents take notice. As an academic tutor, I find that most children who hate school exhibit dyslexia or ADHD. Both of these learning differences affect reading, writing, and math. This does NOT mean the children are defective! It does mean the classroom […]
The Third Grade Wall I’m a dyslexia tutor. I get most of my new students around third grade. Why? Because they hit the “third-grade wall.” The wall refers to what happens to bright curious kids with dyslexia when the learn-to-read stage of school ends and the read-to-learn expectations start. The wall shuts them out of […]
What is LARA? Listen and Read Along (LARA) proves to be an outstanding tool for teaching reading. LARA is a collection of YouTube videos consisting of text on a screen, with words highlighted as a reader says them. As a reading tutor, specializing in dyslexia, I find older students happy to read things with substance. […]
The Problem: High School Students Who Can’t Read These students sit in the back of every classroom, zoning out or mouthing off. They hide a secret and do whatever it takes to keep it under wraps. They can’t read. The Teacher’s Dilemma: No Training, No Time for Non-Readers High School teachers are neither trained nor […]
Kindle Fire + Dyslexia The new version of the Kindle Fire tablet comes with Immersion Reading. “Fire tablets can synchronize Kindle text with companion Audible audiobooks with real-time highlighting to create a more immersive reading experience, as well as deepen learning and comprehension. More than 60,000 Kindle books and companion Audible audiobooks are available across […]
How to Choose a School How can you choose a good school? Clear research exists on which indicators are most important. Here’s the quick list, with details below. School size Teacher/student ratio Parent Participation Appropriate accommodations for students with special needs School Size is Most Important First find out how many students attend the school. […]
Are students happy and excited about learning most of the time? Humans of all ages love to learn new things and master new skills. And yet, school choice remains daunting for many parents. If you seldom see the joy of learning on your student’s face, find out why. Start by spending time with the student, […]