Attention Deficit Disorder Drugs

I just finished reading an article from Sunday Dec 15, 2013 in the New York Times, The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder by Alan Schwarz.  I was blown away by rates of ADHD.  We have gone from 600,000 in 1990 to 3.5 million children on medication.  Of course the pharmaceutical companies have been running a 20 year publicity campaign to teach doctors, parents and teachers.

Yikes, what is going on?  Of douse I understand that about 5 % of children do have this legitimate disability that stops a child from succeeding at school.  It can also affect home life.  But right now we are giving too many children stimulants.

Of course I don't see too much news about the addiction problems of adderall or the children who have committed suicide.  The drug companies had sales of 9 billion dollars in 2012 just on stimulant medications. Did you know that overdosing can cause heart problems and psychotic behavior?

• If you think your child has problems with ADD research your child.  Make detailed observations-
• Does your child focus on a video game?
• If your child exercises hard can they focus more on homework?
• Set your child up to work on homework for just 15 minutes and then reward them with 15 minutes of free time. (Adjust as needed to a low of 10 and a high of one hour) Observe them to see if they can focus.
• If you give your child a caffeinated soda like Mt. Dew can they focus on their homework better?
• Fresh air, lots of time for physical activity, and eating fruits and vegetables and eliminating sugar can help a child focus.

If you are trying to obtain a prescription just to help your child have an education edge be careful.  There are many parents out their who are sad they had their child on these medications.

Check out and read the whole article if you want more detail.

A Memory Trick to use When Memorizing for a Test

This tip is from Self Magazine 9/13 p 26

When you are helping your child study for a test prompt them to squeeze their right hand just before memorizing a fact.  (a study was done at Montclair State University)  Then they need to squeeze their left hand before trying to remember it.

The squeezing of the right hand just before memorizing may help activate the areas of the brain that encodes information.  The squeezing of the left hand before trying to recall the fact may activate the part of the brain that retrieves information.

I also recomment Quizlet http://quizlet.com  This helps a student learn because they type the information in and then practice taking a variety of tests.   Also say the words and answers out loud. Learning various ways to retrieve the answers helps prepare them for the test their teacher may give them.

Good luck and let me know if it helps!!

First Grade reports are in

Parents are calling and setting up tutoring appointments almost every day. Math is the biggest draw. Some students just need help because all the work their teachers are piling on is making them overwhelmed.

Academic coaching takes time and energy from the students to improve their performance.  A student can't have two coaching sessions and become a great golfer.  It takes commitment from both the student and the coach.

Sometimes a student can understand the current material they are learning but the lack of a background of the subject matter can hurt their grades.  I like to find out where the student is weak and build them up from that point.

If fractions were a problem in fourth grade, they will continue to haunt the student in pre-calculus.

From NYTimes The Brain Trainers

This summary from the article written by Dan Hurley published 11/3/2012.

I have not heard of them yet in San Diego but there are "brain training franchises".  Their goal is 'to improve cognitive skills'. This is a different than tutoring because their goal is " to enhance comprehension and the ability to analyze and mentally manipulate concepts, images, sounds and instructions".

The one error I saw right away was, "We measure every student pre- and post-training with a version of the Woodcock Johnson general intelligence test".   I was taught to administer this test every two years.  If students take it more regularly they can memorize some of the questions and the correct answer.  This leads to a imaginary cognitive gain.

The LearningRx fees are $80 to $90 per hour which is more than I am charging now.  I teach or tutor so the student learns the necessary material and how to succeed at taking a test on that material.

I do like the comparison of hiring a personal coach to improve a child's sports ability to hiring a academic coach to help with the child's success with school.  Sometimes, the word tutor, makes a student feel like they are unsuccessful but the word coach, implies the student is receiving a benefit to be the best that they can be.

I do feel they find success with their model because the more exercises you do to improve your mind will help.  They will help you perform faster and with more success.  The brain can improve but many of us don't take the time or the energy to help it along.

Math Troubles

Reading the Wall Street Journal on September 25, 2013, I came across an article written by Sue Shellenbarger called, "Pop Quiz: Why Are Fractions Key to Future Math Success?"  She found that students seem to do fine with math until they are in fourth grade and meet fractions.

Some students who were having troubles with math received tutoring and then began to understand fractions. This is a sad statistic "A child's knowledge of fractions in fifth grade predicts performance in high-school math classes..."

Dr. Bob Stiegler, a professor of cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, is quoted, "If you don't understand fractions, it's literally impossible for you to understand algebra, geometry, physics, statistics, chemistry..."

So if your child is having troubles in math in 4th or 5th grade, tutoring now might save options for math classes in the future.

School Has Started, Now What?

Let your child enjoy a honeymoon period in the classroom.  Do not follow up if he/she does or doesn't complete their homework.  Learn how their teacher responds to their work ethic.  See if he/she observes your child's lack of effort, total lack of understanding of the material or the excellent work ethic.

Write down the comments you would like to ask your child and or his/her teacher.  Now after the second week of school, their teacher should know who they are and how they are doing.  See if you have communication coming home with your student.  See if you make a comment and send it back if the teacher responds.

Now you are ready to make an appointment to meet with their teacher.  Be ready to listen for her observations.  Have your list so you can respond with your observations.  Now you are ready to compliment the teacher's teaching style.  If you feel the need for a tutor to supplement the learning for your child that is your right.  Find someone who is willing to meet your child's teacher and work with them.

Remember learning is a team sport.  A class with 30 different students and one teacher means that each students is obtaining very little one on one time with the teacher.  Sometimes this is just fine and your child will continue to learn and blossom.  Other times intervention is needed.  You may find your teacher is able to meet your child's needs and that is great.  Otherwise find a good tutor and help your child develop or learn to their greatest potential.

Working full time while raising my children meant I did much of this (Teacher communication) online so I liked teachers who responded to my emails.  Email also means the note is not lost in my child's backpack.

I love back to school days, fall is coming, football starts, another year.  May this be the year your child enjoys learning.

Improving Reading Fluidity

Many students who are having trouble reading have trouble with reading aloud. The student is using all their brain power to think about letters and the sounds they make. They are still at the point where reading means saying the words aloud. 

So to improve this so when the student reads I tell them we are creating a video about this book to share with students who are younger. I practice and let the student film me. We watch the film. We practice. We do one or two pages and watch the film and evaluate it together. Slowly the reading improves as the student should have the book almost memorized. I hope to post a sample soon. But this week I am on vacation.

'Mainstreaming' Special-Ed Students Needs Debate

Miriam Kurtzig Freedman wrote an interested article in the Wall Street Journal last week that I believe is important for parents to think about.

I have subbed in the San Diego Unified School District for the past year in various classrooms from K - 8.  Many of these classrooms include mainstreamed Special Education Students.  What the district does to meet the education needs of these students it to include a special education teacher in the classroom.

What I have observed is the district pays me to sit and watch another teacher teach.  Yes I do help students when they need help but I don't get to share a lesson with them and watch them learn.  I can understand why many parents have wanted their special needs student mainstreamed but I question the outcome for all students.

I have observed over 30 students sitting in the classroom and two teachers.  I think the education for all students would increase if we had two classrooms of 15 students and a teacher.

I thought this quote is important for parents to understand, "Teachers may tell you (privately) that inclusion often leads them to slow down and simplify classroom teaching. Yet the system is entrenched and politically correct.  Many parents remain silent.  Some quietly remove their kids from public schools."

I taught in a resource classroom for a middle school.  I had classes from 6 to 18 students.  I taught with an aide.  I used the same textbooks as mainstreamed students.  I pushed my students to enter the mainstream classrooms as soon as they were ready.  I made my classes interesting and engaging.  Test scores improved for special education students at my school.  I don't feel my students would have been successful in a regular classroom with me watching the other teacher teach.

Again something to think about...

Trouble with Reading?

Dyslexia simply means one has trouble reading.  It rarely has anything to do with intelligence.  The article written by Melinda Beck in the WSJ on April 1, 2013, "Dyslexia Workarounds: Creativity Without a Lot of Reading", explains this problem.

Yale research has found that "as many as one in five Americans has some degree of dyslexia". Wow, and one of those could be your child.  What they need is support from teachers and parents as well as some outside support.  Dyslexia runs in families.  My husband does not like reading and was put in the 'slow' reading groups as a child.  Then I discovered my son could not read well as well.  As a devoted reader I could not understand this.

Tools for coping with this condition include:

• accessing information in another method than reading - audio books, computer programs,
• spend more time studying
• learn by doing
• find something you love and do it
• watch videos on subjects in class (ie: studying Egyptians find a video on that subject) 
• remedial programs - help learn sequential sound-letter relationships
• asking for more time on tests

 Remember when you become an adult there are not many timed reading tests.  Today with iphones, tablets, etc., technology is helping people with dyslexia.  Remember many people have this condition and work around it.

Helping Your Child Read - Use their story!

I had two boys who did not want to read.  When we went to the library to pick out books, they always picked nonfiction like electricity or magnets.  Why did they not like to read stories.  Reading for me was an escape.  It was travel.  It was a way to meet interesting people.

Now that most people have technology - ie computers at home.  Writing a story that your child can read to others is a great way to get your child reading.  If you tell your child to write a story about their birthday party or a vacation,  you will probably not have much.  You need to type their story on the computer.  I usually have the student sit next to me.

Step 1 - Decide what you are going to write about.  Have a set topic that is not too open.  For example - write about three things you liked about your week of summer camp and the three things you did not like about your week of summer camp. Versus - what you did for summer vacation.  This is too broad.

Step 2 - Brainstorm about the topic.  I do this on a piece of paper.  I try to have the student answer the "W" questions.  Who was there?  Why did this event happen? Where was this taking place?  What was taking place.

Step 3 - Start writing.  They younger the child the smaller the writing.  I let the student dictate to me and I type as fast as I can.  We read what I have typed and make some corrections as we go along.  I try to use a three paragraph template when students are in third or fourth grade.

• Paragraph 1 is the introduction.  What are you writing about.  What do you plan to write about. Example:  My week at summer camp was in June.  I had a great time because I was in the woods.
• Paragraph 2 is the body.  Now you would include details about the event.  I always try to include at least three.
• Paragraph 3 is the conclusion.  Example: I had a great time at summer camp.  I hope I can go again but this time bring a friend.  I think it will be even a better experience because I know what to expect.  I will be able to share what is going to happen with my friend.

Step 4 - Use vocabulary.  If you know your child has some trouble with a few words.  Try to use those words in your story.  I like to use 'sight' words based on the student's grade.

Step 5 - Add pictures.  It is great to use your personal pictures for their story.

Step 6 - Print. Reread. Edit. Repeat as needed.

Step 7 - Have your child read their story to interested parties.  Use facetime to read it to out of town family.

Let me know if this works for you or if you need more details on how to do this.

Times Are Changing

This blog was started as an outreach to overworked parents who want their child to became well educated.  Schools in California are over crowded.  Students with weak English skills, students with special educational needs, and students with disciplinary needs are all put into one classroom.  There might be two teachers in a room with over 35 students.  The classrooms are crowded, loud, undiciplined, and  can overwhelm a students.   Even if your child wants to learn, the educational 'system' has made it more difficult.  In other words, if your child is respectful and quiet in the classroom they are easily ignored and overlooked by most teachers today.

When you notice that your child is struggling to learn but you don't know what to do.  This blog is for you.

I run a small tutoring business in my home.  I also can go to the public library for sessions or to the student's home.  Each week I will review several papers, magazines, and professional articles to share with parents.  If both parents are working, it is hard to find the time to research new ways for your child to learn.  I will offer helpful hints.  You can ask questions through my blog and I will try to find answers.

I believe all children can learn.  Sometimes the environment at school can make it too difficult for  a child to succeed.  There are other options available.  When it is time to leave the public school situation for private school?  When is it time to hire a tutor?  What are somethings I can do for my child?  What are specific questions I need to ask my student's teacher?

I also believe that not every child should be taking classes to advance them for college.  Many children are not aware of their passion yet.  Learning should continue until you reach something you love.  Then the job of education is to provide you the tools so you can follow your passion.