Author Archive
Live: The LD Screening Tool Has Arrived!
March 23rd, 2009 2015-11-30T19:29:17-08:00 2009-03-23T18:49:30-07:00Yes, it is here! Spring is here, the tulip tree is blooming as is the manzanita tree, daffodils, the wild violets…And the Learning Disability Screening Assessment has arrived! You will now be able to have your child or student assessed and find the underlying root cause of their learning problems. You will know the […]
Will Music Really Help Improve Reading Skills?
March 18th, 2009 2017-02-16T01:21:02-08:00 2009-03-18T16:53:52-07:00Learning to read is NOT rocket science, but it is more complex than most people think. Whether you have a learning disability, dyslexia, ADD/ADHD or not, every person is affected by their visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic processing systems. We all learn by seeing (visual processing), hearing (auditory processing), and doing (tactile/kinesthetic). Both visual processing and auditory processing are critical components to […]
How To Improve Reading Skills With a Non-verbal Autistic Student
March 17th, 2009 2015-02-04T23:58:09-08:00 2009-03-17T15:01:37-07:00This question just came in from Penny Ray: Hi Bonnie! I have a question about “Five Minutes to Better Reading”. Have you used that program with a non-speaking student? What do you recommend for non-speaking (non-verbal autistic) kids in terms of boosting reading skills? Am looking for anything that would help. Thanks, Penny Ray Hi […]
New study links Dyslexia to slower processing of sounds in the brain
March 16th, 2009 2015-01-23T23:18:05-08:00 2009-03-16T15:27:57-07:00I just read this article written by Tralee Pearce regarding recent research on dyslexia and thought you’d enjoy it. This study again shows the deep connection and impact that processing problems have with learning problems. TRALEE PEARCE From Friday’s Globe and Mail March 13, 2009 at 11:57 AM EDT While researchers and educators have come a […]
Reviews keep coming in…LD Dyslexia Screening Tool leads to more success in school
March 13th, 2009 2009-03-13T19:50:44-07:00 2009-03-13T19:50:44-07:00Another review just in… Parents and teachers alike need resources for children who are struggling in school. With today’s fast paced classrooms, many of our children are left behind because their learning difficulties have not been properly diagnosed. Often, children have to wait a long time to qualify for special education testing and by the […]
Review: The LD Assessment Tool…
March 11th, 2009 2009-03-11T18:55:38-07:00 2009-03-11T18:55:38-07:00I’m so excited to share this review that just came in. I sent out a few advance copies of the new LD Dyslexia Assessment Tool: Learning Difficulty/Disability Pre-Screening Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool to several professionals and The LINK magazine. Here it is: By Emerson Sandow of The LINK homeschool magazine In homeschooling, Bonnie […]
Do you have reliability data that you used to “test” the LD Screening Tool? And/or how have you validated it?
March 10th, 2009 2009-03-10T12:23:39-07:00 2009-03-10T12:23:39-07:00Laura Doto writes, “Also, do you have reliability data that you used to “test” the tool? And/or how have you validated it?” I have informally validated the Learning Difficulty/Disability Pre-Screening Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool over my 35+ years of assessing students by the correlation of it to the following formal testing that was […]
Is the Learning Difficulty/Disability Assessment Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool designed for school personnel?
March 5th, 2009 2009-03-05T15:05:37-08:00 2009-03-05T15:05:37-08:00Is the Learning Difficulty/Disability Pre-Screening Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool designed for school personnel, and if so, how would you recommend it get used as part of pursuing a more formal evaluation? Yes, teachers who use the informal assessment tool will get information on whether their student has visual, auditory, or tactile/kinesthetic processing areas […]
Is the informal LD dyslexia assessment tool designed for parents so that they in turn could arrive at a decision for formal evaluation?
March 2nd, 2009 2009-03-02T20:01:43-08:00 2009-03-02T20:01:43-08:00Laura Doto wrote me several questions regarding the Learning Difficulty/Disability Assessment Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool. I will be responding to them over the next several days. Hi Bonnie — Congratulations! — I have a few questions about the pre-screening tool: Is the informal assessment tool designed for parents so that they in turn […]
New Study Out: Only 1 in 4 First-Grade Classes Reach High Quality Standards
March 2nd, 2009 2017-02-16T01:21:02-08:00 2009-03-02T14:04:28-08:00Study: 1 in 4 first-grade classes reach high-quality standards Only 23% of first-grade classes were considered of high quality for their academic, social and emotional climate, according to a study of 820 classrooms published in the Elementary School Journal. An additional 31% were socially supportive but of low academic quality, while the rest were rated […]
12 Activities Address Two More Areas of Visual Processing
February 26th, 2009 2015-11-25T00:41:01-08:00 2009-02-26T16:28:12-08:00The last two areas of visual processing are visual language classification and visual integration. Strengths in visual language classification help to create good comprehension. Visual integration pulls together the tactile/kinesthetic with the vision system.
Visual Tracking – One of the Most Common Reading Problems + 8 Activities to Improve It
February 24th, 2009 2016-02-25T00:45:59-08:00 2009-02-24T16:50:44-08:00Visual Tracking: The ability to track one’s eyes from left to right in an efficient manner; it enables the task to be completed quickly. When your child skips or repeats words when they read aloud
they typically have visual tracking difficutles. Visual Tracking is critical to reading fluently with ease.
Over my 35+ years of teaching aproximately 95% of the students I worked with had visual tracking difficulties. It is a VERY common problem!
13 Activities to Improve Visual Processing in LD & Dyslexic Children
February 20th, 2009 2016-02-25T00:45:59-08:00 2009-02-20T21:05:05-08:00Today’s post is covering 2 more areas of visual processing: Visual Closure and Visual Memory. These areas impact not only success in reading, they also impact success in math.
Visual Closure: The ability to identify a visual stimulus from an incomplete visual presentation.
Visual Memory: The ability to store and retrieve information that has been given with a visual stimulus.
20 Activities: Improve Visual Processing in LD & Dyslexic Children
February 19th, 2009 2009-02-19T21:41:26-08:00 2009-02-19T21:41:26-08:0020 quick and easy activities to help your child improve their visual processing.
Is Reading and Writing Critical to Learning Anymore?
February 17th, 2009 2009-02-17T15:19:50-08:00 2009-02-17T15:19:50-08:00I just started reading a book that was written in 1940 about reading. One of the very interesting comments it makes is “there is some feeling nowadays that reading is not as necessary as it once was.” This statement was made in 1940! How many of us think that is the current situation? After all, we have video, ipods, computers, and televisions that have taken over many of the functions of books, newspapers, and journals. What often happens then is that people don’t have to actually ‘make up their minds’ about anything, instead they can just take the opinions of others without having to actually think…
What Do I Do? I Know There Is a Learning Problem & the School Says No
February 11th, 2009 2009-02-11T18:49:58-08:00 2009-02-11T18:49:58-08:00A few years ago a parent called me. She was distraught. She didn’t know what to do. She had just gotten off the phone with her daughter’s school. She was informed again that her 9th grade daughter did not qualify for any help within the school system. She had been trying to get help for […]
Laziness, Learning Difficulty, LD, or Dyslexia?
February 5th, 2009 2016-02-25T00:44:31-08:00 2009-02-05T15:34:12-08:00I haven’t posted for a few days due to flying down to Boca Raton, FL for a conference. I’ll be in meetings the next few days and wanted to be sure and touch base though. This question recently came up from a parent (Kathy P) wondering, “Does my son have a learning disability or is […]
3 Simple Steps Done Regularly = Success in Reading
January 29th, 2009 2015-01-24T01:21:42-08:00 2009-01-29T20:23:01-08:00I was in a business class yesterday and this quote was discussed regarding business. The conduct of successful business merely consists in doing things in a very simple way, doing them regularly, and never neglecting to do them. Quoted by: William Lever of Lever Brothers Think about this. Isn’t this also true of reading, whether […]
10 Steps to Easier Learning Even If You Have LD or Dyslexia
January 28th, 2009 2015-01-24T00:58:25-08:00 2009-01-28T18:14:16-08:00Here are 10 easy steps or suggestions for you to make learning easier for your student. These suggestions work whether you have learning problems such as LD, dyslexia, ADD, autism, or gifted. These ideas will help every student because they are based on sound principles of brain-based learning. Teach with associations e.g. Instead of underlining nouns […]
My 13 yr Old Wants To Just Read and Not Write, How Can I Help?
January 27th, 2009 2009-01-27T17:57:19-08:00 2009-01-27T17:57:19-08:00My children are 11 and 13. My 11 yr old has processing problems and my 13 yr old wants to just read and not write. Thank you, Theresa Today I’ll address the writing problem. Children are often fearful of writing. They think that their writing won’t be any good. This happens to most children at […]
What do I do? My Child’s Teacher Just Told Me My Child has ADHD
January 22nd, 2009 2017-02-16T01:22:49-08:00 2009-01-22T17:24:35-08:00Dear What do I do… You do NOT want to jump to conclusions when a teacher or school suggests that your child is ADHD. Instead, take a breath, and remember the following. ADD and ADHD are NOT life threatening. Then realize that a school cannot actually diagnose ADHD. There are several checklists that you can […]
How do I help a kindergartener improve in reading?
January 21st, 2009 2015-01-24T00:59:06-08:00 2009-01-21T18:08:08-08:00Sandi P. wrote: I have a friend whose kindergartener (just turned 6) is having trouble reading. She hasn’t obtained EL and EL4 is the goal for the year and the year is ½ over in Kentucky.Would “Five Minutes to Better Reading Skills” be a good place to start? Thanks for the question. Yes, Five Minutes […]
New Review – 5 Minutes to Better Reading Skills Really Works!
January 21st, 2009 2009-01-21T18:02:01-08:00 2009-01-21T18:02:01-08:00Five Minutes To Better Reading Skills is presented as a fast, fun approach to improve reading skills. The program includes a Teacher’s Manual, Mastery Charts, and a Student Booklet. The Mastery Charts are included in the Teacher’s Manual, so that the components include the two spiral bound books. The Student Booklet is 45 pages, while […]
My son was just diagnosed with CAPD. How can I help him?
January 7th, 2009 2016-02-25T00:49:34-08:00 2009-01-07T18:57:18-08:00Bonnie, My 8 yr old son was just diagnosed with CAPD. I would like to know if the Reading Pack is appropriate for him? Or if there are other more appropriate materials better suited to his specific disability. Thank you. Maricela A Hi Maricela, When your son or daughter is diagnosed with CAPD, ADD, ADHD, […]
Can You Improve Reading Speed & Fluency in 5 Minutes a Day?
December 18th, 2008 2008-12-18T15:43:19-08:00 2008-12-18T15:43:19-08:00Miriam writes: This child knows how to read. The problem is bringing him up to speed. He reads 23 words per minute and according to the teacher he should be at 43 words per minute! What do I do to help? Hi Miriam, Schools, teachers, parents, even homeschooling parents are becoming more concerned about reading fluency and […]