How to Prevent Summer Slide

Great ideas from Good Housekeeping July 2018

1. Start a Collection.  Bottle caps, stamps, postcards, stickers  Show off their stash and let them talk about it.

2. Reading every day. After eating lunch read for 1/2 hour.  Read the same book yourself so you can discuss it with your child.

3.  Go to the local library.  Visit other libraries. What are their cool summer programs?

4. Follow a recipe.  Have your children cook with you.  Double the cookie recipes and ask for the correct fraction.

5. Read aloud.  When traveling ask children to read billboards, cereal boxes, maps, etc.

6.  Write in Google Docs each day while on a trip.  Ask them - What do you see?  Who are you with?  What is the weather like?  Are you having fun?  What is terrible?  Write a journal yourself and share with your child.

Enjoy I hope you have a great summer!

How Do You Feel About Class Dojo?

An article in the Wall Street Journal, dated October 4, 2017, titled "See if Your Child Is Listening in Class", by Anne Marie Chaker, made me wonder.  Do parents like feedback about how their child is doing every day in class?

I hear of teachers texting parents every day to let them know about their child's behavior.  This takes a lot of time if you have more than one student you have to keep up with.

The article states, "To some parents, notification throughout the day are intrusive.  So I wonder, what parents don't want the information?  Do you like to keep what happens at school separate from your home life?

"A big goal of ClasDojo, say teachers who use the app, is to keep parents better connected to what's going on in class."  Teachers can use Dojo points for independent rewards per students and/or as a whole class incentive.  The students are alerted by a 'sound' in our classrooms.  I don't like it when teachers take away points.  My thought is that the student earned that point.  It doesn't make sense to 'unearn' it.  I would rather everyone else get another point but that is the way I try to motivate.

As a special educator, we call that negative reinforcer.  At some point, a student won't do anything because when they do they lose it all later so it just does not matter.

Do let me know, as a parent, what do you think of this tool and do your teachers use it.  Thanks!

https://www.classdojo.com/

Motivation to Get Moving Younger

This is from an article published in the New York Times on Sept 5 by Gretchen Reynolds.   There is data that shows being active while a child  - "Changes the inner workings of brain cells much later in life and sharpens some types of thinking."

So one of the best things you can do as a parent is to be active with your child!  This will give them better brains as they age. Did you know that "exercise ..prompts the release of a variety of neurochemicals associated with brain health."

Now, this particular study was done with 'rats' but the results are amazing.

The article states there is something about young brains and exercise that cannot be replicated with workout later in life...  Wow, so when we made our 4-year-old do a 3-mile bike ride it helped his brain in the future?

So just from this evidence - get your kids outside and play hard!  My other son was on a swim team at 4 years old.  I used to call it the control drown.  The coach would call out while he was racing backstroke, "Don't use your arms!"  He swam faster that way.  My sons were on soccer teams, they were sledding and skiing as soon as they could walk.

I knew exercise was good for your body and health but now it may be good for your brain.  I think I will go take a bike ride.

Tackle Football Before Age 12 Raises Health Risk, Study Says

This article was published in the New York Times, September 2017 and was written by Ken Belson.  A new study showed that these students and more behavior and cognitive problems later in life.

So what is a parent to do?  Obviously, don't let your child play tackle football until after 12 years old.  Concentrate on the things a good football player needs.  Join a running club and work on sprints and endurance.  Perhaps your child might enjoy playing soccer for a few years before tackle football.  Many leagues play touch football so joining one of them can be an option.

Parents think of the health of your child and don't let them play tackle football before age 12!

A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.

An article written by Richard A. Freidman published in the New York Times on Sunday, November 2, 2014.  His opening statement, " The problem is not just your brain.  The problem is boredom,"  made me want to read more.  As a special education teacher I work with students who have been labeled with 'the most prevalent psychiatric illness'.

The author has a good point, "people with A.D.H.D. may not have a disease, so much as a set of behavioral traits that don't match the expectations of our contemporary culture."  The real problem may be the world they live in is not very interesting; a lack of focus and lack of attention and impulsive behavior are a way that they deal with 'our' world today.

It is interesting when a person with A.D.H.D. can maintain intense focus on something they find interesting.  You may wonder how adults grow out of this problem.  They may not but they choose to work in fields where things are constantly changing.  They might be salesmen, travel a lot, teach...

But back to students with A.D.H.D. - how can we help them learn better?  

1. small classes that use hands on learning

2. self-paced computer learning (Learning Upgrade?)

3. tasks that depend on specific skills

Teachers have to remember not to crush the 'energy, curiousity, novelty-seeking' behavior but try to have these students become an asset to the class.

Why Johnny (Still) Can't Read

This is a summary from an article published 1/11/17 in The Wall Street Journal by Michael Roth.  Many students have had trouble learning how to read.  Horace Mann started the swing by saying whole language was the way to learn to read in the 1800's. In the middle of the 1900's we were swinging the other way where phonics was the most important way to teach reading.

This book, Language at the Speed of Sight, by Mark Seidenberg claims people learn best to read well by connecting reading with speech and practicing.  We are teaching the brain the abstract symbols that produce writing and reading.  First students must learn the alphabet and this requires feedback and practice.

This book states, "the dyslexic brain has trouble recognizing commonalities among words because of a phonological impairment - a deficit in the ability to link sound to word to meaning."  He also states that overall America is "not doing a good enough job of teaching young people deep reading skills."

I like to use both whole language and phonics as an approach.  English has so many secret codes.  silent k's, tch endings, s or es or ies as endings,  (to, two, too), (there, their, they're) and many more. Using a program that can read books to students is good as long as  the student actually looks at the words while they are highlighted and being read to them.  The brain is picking up the image and the sound of words and storing it whether they want to learn or not.  As an Ed Specialist having a one hour pull out per week is not enough time to really make a difference.  A have a twice a week phonics program for older elementary and would like even more time.  When students has ADHD it is hard to concentrate in a room with 25 other students.  Sometimes students don't know as many vocabulary words as others so pictures are some important.  With the visuals, students can obtain deeper meaning.

This article ends with, "Every teacher of young children as well as those who train them should read this book."  So I guess I will buy this and read on.

https://www.amazon.com/Language-Speed-Sight-Can-t-About/dp/0465019323/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=

Is Your Home A Culture for Reading?

I found an article, Building a Culture of Reading for Kids and Parents, Too by Dash Lundy in the Mediaplanet December 2016 issue, and thought I would share some key points.

1.  Reading is not something that happens at school mysteriously by teachers.
2.  "The things that parents do and talk about every day are what children assume to be normal".
3.  So talk about what you read today.
4.  Buy books about things your child is interested in and read and talk about them together.
5.  Share newspaper or magazine articles to read together.
6.  Allow your child to earn electronic time via minutes of reading.
7.  Make sure your child is watching you read.

Before you know it your child has a passion to read.  Also you might need to buy some bookshelves.  I always look for second hand ones to paint together and have another bonding experience.

Attention Please - school help

This is from an article from Family Circle, "Attention Please" by Christine Vercelletto, January 2017

Parents who have a child with a ADHD diagnoses are in for a wild ride.  This child will test your patience, fortitude, and love.  Just remember to have lots of love for them but the following hints from this article might help.

1. Refuse to accept low grade due to the difficulty of managing ADHD.  Yes life and studying will be harder but again that is just life.
2. Exercise before school.  I joined a year round swim team that had practice before school.  Other options include run club before school.  Or just simply riding a bike or jogging together before school.
3. Look for new ways or areas to study or to do homework.  Try the library or a coffee shop.  Read outside together.  Quiz spelling word by passing a ball back and forth.  Be inventive!
4. Encourage topics for research or writing be based on your child's interests.  The teacher will have a better paper and it will be easier for your child to focus on an area of interest.
5.  Get approval for your child to stand in the back of the classroom while the teaching is going on. Sitting and squirming on the floor is distracting for everyone. Also pass out post its so your child can write out questions, so they won't have the need to blurt out.
6. Encourage fidgeting put a strip of Velcro under your child's desk.  "Check out other ideas at autism shop.com under 'Sensory Items'."

Other ideas include
1.  Wake up your child to their favorite music.
2. Speak softy while making eye contact and slowly pull them in for a hug.
3. Do homework in 10 -15 minute blocks throughout the afternoon and evening.
4. Hire a tutor for 90 minutes twice a week for long term projects and studying.
5. Create a picture schedule together on what he is supposed to be doing and when.  Then all you need is to point, limits vocal nagging.

Continue to read the article for more information on social  and home life.

Making your Child Capable

The Family Circle Jan 2017 has a wonderful article called, "What's Your Plan? By Leslie Josel.  I think this is a parent lesson most of us are missing.  Do you ever feel like you are telling your kids what to do over and over?  Do you feel like a broken record?  Do you have unlimited patience?  Do you find yourself just doing what you told them to do because they are not doing it?  This article has some great suggestions.

1. Talking less
2. Directing less
3. Questioning more

The author uses "What's your plan?"...  SO what is your plan after school?  What is your plan for swimming team?  What is your plan to study for the test or write the paper?

I had used this after rehashing perfecting clean clothes that were thrown in the hamper versus one of my children actually putting it away in their drawer.  I cancelled my job and the mom who washes all clothes.  I just washed mine and let the children wash theirs. I taught them how to use the washing machine and dryer.  Then I could set back and say, "What is your plan for having a clean uniform before your game Saturday?"  I only remember one son going to a game in a dirty uniform.  When they went to a game without their water they suddenly remembered to fill up their own water bottle.

The author has more questions for consideration for preteens and teens, such as:
1. "How do you see yourself...?"
2.  "What do you need to ...?"
3. "How should you...?


Here is her quiz.
Instead of saying.                                                                   Ask
GO get your dance shoes, leotard and towel.                    What goes in your bag?
Don't forget your backpack,phone,  key, money.               What do you need for school?
Make your bed and put your clothes in the hamper.    How should your room be left in the morning?

As a teacher I hope to remember to use this tool.

Instead of saying.                                                             I will ask
Here is your pencil and paper.                                 What do you need to did this task?
Get your math book and ruler.                                 What tools do you need for our math lesson
Write your introduction today.                                 What do you want your plan to be for this project?

To Curb the Perils of ADHD, Early Medication Is Key

by Susan Pinker Wall Street Journal August, 20, 2016

Many parents of students with ADHD are choosing not to use medication.  I understand this as their teacher and was somewhat shocked to read this article.  This article is saying that meds taken as a child might offset risks of a teenager. (ie skateboarding into cars, riding bikes into cars, etc)

WOW, I can't believe this.  ADHD is a common childhood disorder qualifying for special education services often.  Nine out of 100 kids between 4 and 18 are being diagnosed with this ailment. "Accidents are the most common cause of death in individuals with ADHD."  According to a Danish study almost half the number of ADHD students who took meds did not need to go to the emergency room.

It is a myth to believe your child will grow out of ADHD which is a "neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic roots".  There is also a study in South Carolina where data was tracked and again students taking meds for ADHD and fewer and less severe injuries and health problems.

Their conclusion, " A child whose disorder is diagnosed and treated early by a trained clinician stands a better chance of growing into a healthy and thoughtful adult".  Now that is something to think about.

Why Testing Gray Matter is Sometimes a Gray Area

This article is from the Wall Street Journal August 6/7, 2016 by Jo Craven McGinty.  I have to administer achievement tests for students on my case load so I was interested.  The article says scores can vary "10 points in either directions."  That is something to think about.

The purpose of the test is to show Special Education classes are needed or that a student is qualified for gate classes.  But the author felts that the tests "only explain 40% to 50% of school achievement.

What I like reading the most was, "It turns out that qualities such as motivation, determination, and a desire to succeed--qualities that IQ tests don't measure-- play a significant role in success."

So don't worry about standardized testing - work hard, ask questions, read, take notes, try harder, get extra help, rewrite notes, go to study sessions, do your homework  and you should be able to do it!!

Summer Reading

Summer is a time to read fun books.  I hope each student has a library card.  Picking out  books to read is important.  Always think of the authors message.  Who are the main characters? What is the purpose of the book?  Try to write about one of the books once a week.  Just write a short paragraph about the book.  These skills will help when it is time to go back to school.

Behavior Therapy Instead of Meds to treat A.D.H.D.?

Parents check out this article from the New York Times written by Benedict Carey - "Behavior Therapy Found to Be Better First Step Than Medicine to Treat A.D.H.D".

Benedict says students need to have instruction of basic social skills. He does feel medicine or stimulants are a good second-line treatment for those who needed it.  This study showed the sequence in which you give treatments makes a big difference in outcomes.

But parents this behavior therapy involved YOU!  Parents had to attend group meetings to learn behavior-modification techniques.  Parents would reward good or 'cooperative' acts from their child.  Things like paying attention, doing homework without complaining. These behaviors produce a reward like iPad time or TV time.  On the other side there were consequences for poor behavior choices.  Time outs for defiant behavior or non complainant behavior.

The biggest new learned behavior for parents was to IGNORE irritating but harmless attention seeking behavior.  This includes when your child makes, annoying noises, tapping or acting like a baby.  Wow that will be hard for all of us to do including your child's teacher.

This plan is very similar to behavior plans we add to students IEP's.  We can do a daily report card and try to show how your student's behavior is improving over time.

The study also added medicine to the students who did not show improvement after two months of behavior modification therapy.

So overall it sounds like we should all be on the same team for your child.  If behavior therapy is not helping your child to improve their academics, a possible small dose of medicine might help.  But that would involve your doctor as well as a teacher we do not know what is best for your child.  As a team member we can offer our input and insight as to how your child is acting during school hours.

Offer your input to this blog...

ADHD Electronically

I found this article in the Wall Street Journal 11/25/15 and was shocked to read that "in a pilot study, a video game was shown to help children."  This seems counter intuitive.  TV and video games were supposed to be aggraviging children's ADHD.   But Project "EVO is a computer program created to improve attention and reduce impuslsivity in children withh attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. "

Scientists created a game to improve cognitive skills in old age and they found it 'helped aging adults improve their focus and ability to multitask.'  

So study shows the same results as ADHD medication and 30 minute sof Activate omputer exercies and 40 minutes of physcial exercies thre or four times a week for 16 weeks.  But warining is can cost $195 for three  months for the computer software.  So check out Katherine Ellison book :  ADHD: What Everyone Needs to Know: (Oxford University Press, Nov 2015)

This Boy's Life from Real Simple April 2011

I love the opening:
"When a child suffers from ADHD, everyone around him suffers, too."
This story was written by Stephanie Booth.

What do you think of when you hear 'ADHD'?  Many think, my kid has that too.  He has trouble focusing.  Or my daughter just can't sit still.  I am sure she has ADHD.  But in reality, ADHD is "a debilitating inability to concentrate or to control impulses." But many children have more than just ADHD.  Children may want to learn and want to have friends but this disability makes it impossible.

Possible others diagnosis with can complicate life include:
SPD a neurological dysfunction in which the brain has difficulty integrating the information gathered from the five senses.
Expressive developmental language disorder - difficulty putting together complex sentences.
Dyslexia

After learning about these many parents opt for medication to control behavior.  The next problems is finding out what one works.  Medication levels take time.  Some parents find taking them off medication during the summer is helpful.

Once a parent finds out medication work then therapy is an option but an expensive one.

So join a parent group and find out what is working for others.  Work with your pediatrician to see what other things can be helpful.  Sometimes exercise is helpful.

And don't forget:
"When a child suffers from ADHD, everyone around him suffers, too."

Why Does Music Aid Memorization?

This is from an article from the Wall Street Journal written by Heidi Mitchel 12/31/2013

Does your child have trouble remembering things?  Last week I was at a 'rap' concert.  I could not believe all the words these three guys were saying.  It was amazing.

The brain scientists agree that 'information set to music is among the easiest to remember.'

So before spending lots of time trying to invent a song for everything your child needs to remember check out You Tube and do a search.  You can also check teacher tube.  They have raps already produced to remember many math formulas.  But now to the 'facts'.

"The hippocampus and the frontal cortex are two areas in the brain associated with memory."   They process lots of information daily.  It is easy to put information in the problem is when we want to take the information out.

Dr. Roediger from the memory Lab at Washington University in St. Louis says, Music provides a rhythm, a rhyme and often, alliteration.  All that structure is what helps retrieve the information from the brain.

Patients with dementia are still able to sing along with a familiar song.  Think about the alphabet song, I still sing it in my mind when I am filing.

So if your child is having trouble memorizing the science or math formula check out the web..

Photosynthesis Equation Song - Biology Lesson

Math Rap - Area Formulas 

Of course there are many more so keep searching until you find the one that works for your child.

 

 

Better Sleep - Better Math and Language Scores

Most parents try to have their children go to bed at a reasonable time and feel their children should be getting enough sleep.  Now parents need to worry about.the quality of their child's sleep.  According to researchers from Douglas Mental Health Institute in Montreal and McGill University sleep quality and duration are link to better performance in math and languages.

Wow, now parents have a scientific reason why their students should not have hours of homework. Their children need to sleep and sleep well to improve their math and language scores.  The unusual finding was that science and art were not affected.

So the researchers feel that the mental skills involving planning, paying attention, and multitasking are affected by the lack of a good sleep.  So if you feel your child might be ADHD their sleep patterns could be impacting this problem.

Solution?  I wear an UP band on my wrist which motiors my sleep.  I would find someones to borrow, if you don't already own one and use it for five days.  Bring the data to your doctor to determine if your child is having problems getting a deep sleep.

This material is from Sleep Quantity + Sleep Quality = Better Math/Langauge Scores by Rick Nauert  from psychcentral.com

Sleep - How Important it is for Your Child to Learn

There have been studies done in the Sleep Medicine journal  The finding:  The greater sleep efficiency, the children did better in math and languages.  Science and Art are not affected by the type of sleep a child has.

Analyze how your child seems to be sleeping.  Are they waking up often in the night?  You might need to let they borrow your "Jawbone Up", or fitbit, or other devise that can measure the mvoements of their sleep.

If you find an issue with their sleep, contract your child's doctor.  "Short or poor sleep is a significant risk factor for poor academic performance that is frequently ignored," per Gruber.  Again this was a very small study of just 75 students.

Valuable Lessons in Learning

This article found in the New York TImes, October 7, 2014 show how a detailed exploration of the brain can review exactly how we learn and how we can maximize that potential.  Tara Parker-Pope explains how study sessions and cramming does not leave the brain much energy for learning.

So, as a parent, making your child study at one place in the house may not be the best way to actually learn all the material.  When a child is young I do feel they should be doing their homework in a location near an adult for supervision and quick help.

Below is the list Benedict Carey and science reporter for the New York Times wrote about in his book "How We Learn:  The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens".

Study sessions seem logical where we focus and study for a long period of time but in reality are not the best use of time as the brain is using  a lot of effort to maintain concentration.

1.  Change your environment. Move to different parts of the house. Try studying in a coffee house.  Use the library and change locations through out.  The new locations create new associations in your brain and can actually make it easier to recall information later.   The quote is for all those who feel somewhat ADD at times.  "The brain wants variation.  It wants to move, it wants to take periodic breaks." said Mr. Carey.

2. Talk about it.  When you cram material in your head all at once, you aren't telling the brain it is really important to remember all of it.  So read you notes out loud.  Type them and say the words out loud.  This is giving the brain two ways for information to be retained.  Writing flashcards and testing yourself is another great method of helping you remember facts.

3.  Spacing out the time learning the new materials.  Only looking at material once might help for a quick test but you have to review very hard to remember it for the final.  But if you review the material one or two days after learning or first studying it, it is a signal to the brain that you really want to learn it.

If your test is one week away study in two sessions at least one or two days apart.  It would mean study on Monday, review on Thursday to take the test on Friday.  If the test is a month away begin studying in one week segments. (For a hard class in college, I took notes every day.  Then I went home and highlighted what I thought was really important.  I talked out loud about what the graphs meant.  I reviewed after each class session.  By the end of the class, I did not need to study for the final because I remembered everything.  I always review each test that was returned to me and made sure I knew all the correct answers.)

4. Another important aspect to studying is sleep.  Who would have thought of that?  There are two sleep scycles.  "The first half of the sleep  cycle helps with retaining facts; the second half is important for math skills.  So a student with a foreign language test should go to bed early to get the most retention from sleep, and then review in the mroning.  For math students, the second half of the sleep cycle is most important -- better to review before going to bed and the sleep in to let the brain process the information."

So as parents, think about this article and how you can help your child study better for test and to really learn the material.

Read This as Slowly as You Can

This article from the Wall Street Journal on September 10, 2014 written by Jeanne Whalen states we need to slow down and read.  She finds people were reading fewer books.  Reading habits have changed with constant dings for new emails, and facebook posts.  These interruptions interfer with our comprehension.

Slow readers state:

* it improves abilty to concentrate

* it reduces stress

* It deepens our ability to think

* it improves our listening skills

* it helps us empathize better

"A study published last year in Science showed reading literary fiction helps people understand others' mental states and beliefs"

There is also proof that books with interactive options such as links and sounds and video result in lower comprehension levels.  What?  Experts state that real books are the best and underlining or writing notes while you read improves your comprehension levels. 

So think about reading in front of you children: showing them a good example.  Share items that you find in your books.  Writing down interesting words. (This helps their vocabulary grow as well as shows another example of how to learn words.) Share interesting passages with them.  If the story takes place in an interesting city or country, show where it is on a map or globe.

When children see a parent reading, they might want to imitate it and then you have grown a slow reader.