•Just What Is a Learning Disability, Anyway?
Just What Is a Learning Disability, Anyway? by Sandy GauvinA learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that affects a person with average to above average intelligence, in the way that he/she receives, stores, and processes information.There are many wrong ideas out there about learning disabilities.1) A learning disability will go away in time.Unfortunately, this is not true. The good news is, you can learn ways to get around the problem. For example, kids who have trouble...
•To Test or Not To Test - That Is the Question
by Sandy GauvinLittle Suzy has really been having a hard time getting some of her assignments done. When she reads in class, she struggles with many words, and her mother reported at conference time that Suzy spends hours each night on homework. At the same time, Suzy carries on intelligent conversation, and when you ask her about what she learned from the class, she has some good feedback. She is getting excellent grades in math class and, when she does experiments in science class, she...
•Understanding Why Your Child Has Been Recommended for Testing
by Sandy GauvinYou have just received a call from your child’s teacher explaining that she has noticed your child having difficulty in school. Your child is not understanding math or reading the way the other children do. So she would like your permission to proceed with testing to find out if he has a learning disability.When this happens, it is always a good idea to meet with the teacher in person. Being proactive is extremely important to your child’s educational future. Arrange to sit...
•Beginning the Special Education Process
by Sandy GauvinLike anything else in life, there's a method to the special education process. It was put in place to help people who deal with learning disabilities get the best services possible. In order to help you understand this method, here's a simplified version of the Special Education process. 1)Request for evaluationSomeone sees that the child is having difficulty in school and asks that testing be done to find out what's causing the problem. This request can come from parents or...
•Advocating for Your Child with LD
by Sandy GauvinAdvocate: you've probably heard the term before. But what does it mean to you?Advocating happens when you speak on behalf of someone else. You say for them what they can't say for themselves.When you have a child who has been diagnosed with a learning disability, this is exactly what you must do for them. You must speak on their behalf. You know your child the best of anybody, and you are the best person to speak for them.It sounds like a tall order, and it is. It is not always...
•10 Ways You Can Advocate For Your Child With A Learning Disability
by Sandy GauvinDid you know that you are the most important person in your child’s life? Of course you did.But did you know that parents of children with learning disabilities can also be their child’s most effective advocate.What exactly is an advocate? An advocate is someone who speaks up for someone else, or who acts on behalf of another person. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, and you are in the best position to speak for him and act on his behalf.Here are 10 ways...
•Aptitude, Achievement, Processing Deficit - What Does It All Mean?
Aptitude, Achievement, Processing Deficit - What Does It All Mean? by Sandy GauvinYou are sitting with the professionals who know about learning disabilities. They have been explaining what they will be looking for when they test your child.We look for an aptitude-achievement discrepancy as well as a processing deficit, one of them explains.Your eyes glaze over and you begin to feel you're not too smart. It's like they're speaking another language. You haven't a clue what these people are...
•So, My Child Has Been Recommended for Testing - What Do I Do Now?
So, My Child Has Been Recommended for Testing - What Do I Do Now? by Sandy GauvinYou’ve just received a call from your child's teacher. As your blood pounds in your ears, you hear her explain how she has noticed your child having difficulty with some academic subject in school. Your child is not understanding math or reading the way the other children do. So she would like your permission to proceed with testing to find out what exactly is causing the problem.So what do you do next?The first...
•Alias: 'Aptitude'
by Sandy GauvinBe aware. You may become totally overwhelmed when you get the results of the special education testing on your child. There is a lot of stuff on that report! And much of it sounds like a foreign language to many people.You get one piece the results from the Intelligence part of the test. This is extremely important information, but know that it will most likely come in disguise.One of its disguises, or aliases, might be Broad Cognitive Ability. Another may be Aptitude. But,...
•Clear and Appropriate Assignments
by Sandy GauvinAs a teacher of students with learning disabilities, I found that one of the most difficult things for many of my students was understanding and completing homework assignments. Here are 10 tips to help students be successful in completing their homework for you:1) Make sure your students and their parents understand the homework policy. 2) Assign work that the students can do. If your student has a learning disability in written language, chances are you won't get the 10-page...
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