Update - Terms for Learning Disabilities

I just thought I would update my Learning Disabilities information. January 2017

This is the current legal definition. 

Legal Definition

Definition: A 'learning disability' is a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding and using language spoken or written which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, spell, or do mathematical calculations.

Dealing With School Discouragement

When my oldest was young, we dreaded school beginning.  Soon it would start again.  She would come home sobbing, “They called me dumb!”.  By the end of second grade, she knew she was “dumb”.

My heart ached to see someone so young already without hope.  I prayed and studied all I could about those who have difficulty learning.  I found myself remembering my own struggles in elementary school, and wondering why the Lord had not blessed me as others.  I was startled out of my self-pitying mood, as these words filled my mind, “You have not understood.  These are not your weaknesses, but the strengths I have given you.”

People Learn Differently

Being a person who struggled in elementary school myself, I really believe that people learn differently. Based on my own experiences and what I have learned in over thirty-six years of tutoring children, I  agree that most children are not disabled learners, but simply people who learn in a different way.

Some of us can not learn merely by hearing something. We need to see and experience to learn. Visual aids such as pictures, time lines, graphs, demonstrations, and DVD’s really help me follow a lesson, but they don’t always have to be things you can touch. Stories, parables, examples, and analogies also enable me to “see” the ideas. I have found  Teaching No Greater Call to be a invaluable resource of teaching ideas.

Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities is defined as

1. a condition giving rise to difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills to the level expected of those of the same age, especially when not associated with a physical handicap.

ADHD, ADD, and Autism, though not strictly included, could also be considered  learning disabilities since they affect learning.

I have written many articles about what is called "Learning Disabilities". (See categories "Learning Disabilities) These are posts about coping with weaknesses, and appreciating and developing our strengths. We are all human. We are all "disabled" in some way and gifted in some way.

Auditory Learning

Perceptual Mode-  AUDITORY Learning
The different ways that Left Hemispheric Dominate, Mixed Dominate, and Right Hemispheric Dominate people learn from listening and speaking.

Left Hemispheric Dominate - Primary Learning Channel 
likes to read aloud even when should be reading silently
makes up rhymes
monopolizes conversations
verbalizes all activities

How I took Tests

What helped me the most in test taking was to allow me to answer essay questions instead of inaccurately judging my understanding by my inability to recall dates, names, or multiplication tables. Writing allowed me to

How Did I Cope in School?

How do you manage school when you can't follow the teacher's instructions and lectures? What do you do when you can't remember how to spell a word or math formulas? How do you pass tests when you can't remember names and dates? How does a creative person like me survive in school?

Helping "Those Kids"

When a child is falling behind is school, the first thing I do is assume is that I am dealing with a person who is a bit different from the norm; a person who is having trouble coping with an establishment which does not nurture or even recognize his unique gifts, but instead

"Those Kids"

By now most teachers have their class running pretty smoothly-- except for “those kids”.  What about “those kids”?  Perhaps he refuses to do his assignments, she might sit with a dreamy look on her face, he wiggles incessantly and plays with things in his desk, she talks constantly no matter where you put her, and what about the quiet boy who doesn’t want to go out at recess? As a teacher you want to help each child, but how? Nothing seems to be working.

Educational Games and Learning Activities

EDUCATIONAL TOYS AND GAMES

BackToBasicsToys.com

cptoys.com school materials

discovery.com science

Surviving Math Class--Just Barely!

Surviving Math Class– Just Barely!

Well I made it, but I have been reduced to a tearful puddle. I feel tired and stressed. What happened? I just spent two days in a math class. I took it to keep up my elementary teaching credential. It was a worthwhile class with knowledgeable teachers, and everyone there was kind and friendly. We even spent much of the time playing games, then why am I so stressed?

Helping Your Struggling Student - Questionnaire

Helping Your Struggling Student
What is your child like?

Does your child have trouble in school? Do they hate math, spelling, reading, and writing?

Can he add up the same math problem and come up with a different answer each time?

Is her spelling “creative” and unfathomable?

Does his handwriting look like a dizzy chicken wandered across his page?

When he reads aloud does he often skip or substitute words?

Does he have trouble following oral directions?

Helping Your Struggling Student - Characteristics of a Visual-Spatial Learner

Characteristics of a Visual Spatial Learner

This is a style of learning.

Often visual spatial learners use the right side of their brain to gather and process information.

Though people use both hands, they prefer to use one hand over the other. This is their dominate hand. It is the same with our brain. We use both sides of our brain, but usually we have a dominant side we prefer to use to deal with life.

Helping Your Struggling Student - Visual Spatial Learning Approach

Visual-Spatial Learners Approach to Learning

A visual-spatial learner is a person who predominate uses sight as their preferred way to learn. They learn by seeing things. It can involve sight only, or they can “see” and understand a concept through their experiences.

Helping Your Struggling Student - General Helpful Ideas

Specific Ideas on How to Help Your Struggling Learner

Think positive and appreciate their gifts.

Help the child realize and develop their gifts.

Do not try to change your child to make them like other children.

Focus on their gifts, but help them to cope with their areas of weakness.

Realize that people are different and we have been given unique gifts.

Accept that there is no one way all people should be. Your child is “normal” for a visual-spatial person.

Helping Your Struggling Student - Positive View

Positive View of Visual-Spatial People

Keep in mind that in reality probably only 2% to 3% of children actually have a physical problem with their brain. The rest of the “problems” are actually visual-spatial learners or emotional problems. Often the stress visual-spatial learners are under in a school environment causes them to experience emotional problems. When these children are given adequate support

Helping Your Struggling Student - Basic Ideas for Teaching

Specific Ideas to Teach a Visual-Spatial Learner

Remember that the visual-spatial learner learns visually. Anything that helps them visualize what they are learning will help them to understand and remember it. Multi-sensory (things they can see, touch, hear) experiences are great. Since visualizing is a right brain function (in most people) humor, color, rhythm and music will also aid the child’s learning.

Helping Your Struggling Student - Lectures

Coping with Lectures

They will not be able to learn easily from lectures, but if the lectures use pictures and charts etc. it will help the child visualize the material.

It will also help if

Helping Your Struggling Student - Reading

Phonetic reading requires the ability to sequence small sound groups to form a whole word, then words into sentences. Visual-spatial people learn best when they learn works in context (in sentences).

It is crucial to have

Helping Your Struggling Student - Math

Visual-spacial learners need to experience math. They need to be able to visualize what each number means. They need to “see” the story problem. Drawing pictures, using manipulate (things to count etc), charts, graphs, and pictures can help them learn.