Showing posts with label ADD tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ADD tips. Show all posts

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Back-to-School Reading Resources for ADHD

During the past week, we were very privileged to once again participate as educators in an excellent gifted education program called College for Kids. This program at the St. Louis Community College-Meramec was established 32 years ago with the inspiration and support of dedicated and committed parents of gifted children in the Greater St. Louis Area.

The courses in the College for Kids program are offered twice each year for gifted and talented elementary and middle school youth who have completed kindergarten through eighth grade. These courses, offered in the spring and summer, are designed to further challenge and advance gifted students' skills.

The students we worked with in the program this week were outstanding and most enjoyable to teach! We provided 2 classes each of ¡Hola, Mis Amigos!--Exploratory Spanish and Entrepreneurship. We certainly appreciated the enthusiasm and motivation demonstrated by these talented students. It was a GREAT week for ALL of us!

At the same time, we could not help but notice that even in this gifted population, there were more than a few students who also had additional needs. In our work, we have found that many parents and even teachers are not always aware that giftedness AND additional needs can sometimes co-exist for some students (called twice-exceptional). Very often, these needs involve attention and concentration issues for gifted children and teens. Many of their young minds require almost constant stimulation, which can in itself feed the ADHD they already may have.

For this reason and because of our experiences this past week, we thought it would be beneficial to our readers to provide a resource list for ADHD reading tips, especially during this back-to-school season. Last week's article was entitled Let's Deal with Distractions---ADHD Strategies for Home & School, which included a rather extensive list of general home and school resources for ADHD.

This week, we continue the preparation for school with our ADHD resource list for reading with more attention and concentration. It is important to note that these resources can be helpful not only to gifted children but to ALL children with focusing and attention issues. We hope the list and its "goodies" will provide you with the needed resources to help a child you know with the reading challenges of ADHD.

Helpful Reading Resources for ADHD

How to Improve Reading Skills in Children with ADHD or Learning Disabilities
by Matthew Cruger, Ph.D. and ADDitude Magazine
Guaranteed tips for improving reading comprehension in children with ADHD or learning disabilities like dyslexia.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/983.html

Many ADHD Kids Also Have Reading Problems
by Denise Mann, WebMD Health News
About half of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may experience problems with reading, according to a new study in Pediatrics. It was found that 51% of boys with ADHD had reading problems, as did 46.7% of girls with ADHD. More information about this study and many reading resources for ADHD are offered here.
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/news/20100927/many-adhd-kids-also-have-reading-problems

Print & Use Tools: Study Skills from School Famiy
FREE worksheets, lists and activities to help children (especially those with ADHD) become better organized, more motivated and more on top of school work.
http://www.schoolfamily.com/print-and-use-tools/category/77-study-skills

Desktop APP: Reading Focus Cards (Patent 8,360,779) (Price: $5.99)
From Brennan Innovators, LLC
This desktop app is the digital version of the physical Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759), solutions for struggling readers. This app for Windows PCs and Macs provides practical READING SUPPORT for children and adults with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and other conditions that can affect reading success. It promotes more FOCUSED online reading of almost ALL digital media (webpages, PDF files, Word docs, Excel spreadsheets & more.) In addition, the Reading Focus Cards app is compatible with and supports touch-screen technology. The application can be moved on the screen over text by the fingers, mouse or arrow keys as needed.
1. For Macs (desktops & notebooks):
Visit the Mac App Store and search for Reading Focus Cards or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. For Windows PCs (desktops & laptops):
Visit Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are ever provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

5 Back To School Tips for Your ADD or ADHD Child
by Dr. Robert Myers, Child Psychologist
Here are some back-to-school tips to make things seem a lot easier and smoother for parents and kids.
http://www.empoweringparents.com/5-back-to-school-tips-for-your-adhd-child.php

How to Teach a Child to Read With ADHD
by Karen Hollowell, eHow Contributor
Practical and easy-to-follow instructions for helping a child with ADHD learn to read more effectively.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6461861_teach-child-read-adhd.html

ADD/ADHD Resources for Teachers from TeacherVision
Articles and many FREE resources to help educators manage the special nature of students with ADD/ADHD.
https://www.teachervision.com/add-and-adhd/resource/5348.html

For more information on customizable reading tools for better focus & attention, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

Saturday, September 14, 2013

BEST Book Apps for Kids

For Apple, Android and Other Platforms

During the past week drove by one of the middle schools in our local district where the marquis on the front lawn read “Progress Reports due the week of September 16th.” Are we really approaching the mid-point of the first quarter? Yes, we are!

If you are like most parents and teachers, you may already be wrestling with the issues of homework and long term projects for your children or students. In fact, many students have already received their first book report assignments of the school year. How can you make these book report projects less “painful” and actually more enjoyable for students?

We think one good option might be to include or allow more e-books and audio books in the offerings made to the students. In fact, e-books, apps and audio books very often do an excellent job of addressing the needs of students' different learning styles, especially those of struggling readers and learners. The tech devices on which these digital books and apps are read can sometimes compensate for the issues frequently associated with florescent lighting (which can cause issues for some challenged readers) or allow for other text manipulation to improve reading comfort and success. Audio books have long been known to benefit auditory learners in a significant way.

This week, we are presenting here what we believe are some good resources for FREE and low-cost e-books and book apps for children and teens. With school budgets as they are right now and families wishing to be frugal in the current economy, these lists and selections (for various digital platforms) may be just what are needed for the current and future book report projects your children or students are assigned.

Note: Please stay tuned. Next week’s article here will offer online resources for audio books.

Happy reading, everyone!

BEST Book Apps & e-Books for Kids

Best Book Apps for Kids (for Pre-School through 14 years-Prices vary)
Platforms: iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire and others
You’ll find classic tales as well as interactive science books and much more here.
http://m.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-lists/best-book-apps-kids

Best iPad Children’s Books (Various prices & FREE)
With your iPad, children's books truly come to life. No longer do you have to worry about making silly character voices yourself or accidentally skipping a page. Your iPad is the ultimate, interactive reading device.
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/children-ipad-books

50 Best Apps for Kids from 2013 That Parents Can Trust (Some FREE)
Platforms: iPhone, iPad and Android
These apps won't leave you with a big bill, but will provide stimulating education, creativity and entertainment for children. (UK)
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/jun/19/50-best-apps-kids-iphone-android-ipad

Read Me Stories: Kids’ Books (FREE)
Platform: Android
A new book EVERY DAY develops your child’s love for books and reading. Help establish a daily reading habit for your child---and you!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.interactive8.readmestories&hl=en

6 Great Reading Apps for Kids (Some FREE & others via monthly subscription)-by Scholastic
Platforms: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Google T, Windows Phone and Android
These phone and tablet apps will enrich storytime at home or on the road.
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/developing-reading-skills/6-great-reading-apps-kids

Teens Book Apps & Games for Kids (Ages 13 to 19-Some FREE)
Platforms: Android, iPad & iPhone
Get reviews and download book apps for teens.
http://www.famigo.com/teens-book-apps/

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC