ADHD? LD? Kickstart Needed Skills for the New School Year!

Sure enough! As soon as the July 4th weekend was history, the “back-to-school bosses” got busy. In a visit this week to several of our local stores, we witnessed quite a few sales associates stocking shelves with the latest school supplies, backpacks and even some “goodies” for Halloween! Aren’t they rushing things? Phew!

We certainly know that many families (and even teachers!) are still enjoying the summer break and will continue to do so for the next couple of weeks. However, we also know of a few families (and teachers!) who have incorporated some learning opportunities into their summer vacation time. One family told us that a trip to Washington, D.C., is planned so that the kids can see for the first time the Washington Monument, the Senate and House, and other landmarks so important to American History and Government. An experienced teacher mentioned to us that she and her husband had just returned from Charleston, SC, and had gathered Civil War information, materials and literature for her middle school students when the new academic year begins in mid-August. So, you see, the summertime can present an excellent opportunity to gather the right materials and resources to “kickstart” the skills needed for the new school year. At the same time, you and your family can still enjoy the great days of summer.

Consider ways to help your child or student hone and further develop these important skills, especially if reading and learning challenges are involved (ADHD, LD or other learning issue). To help you in this effort, we have collected some special resources here and have divided those resources into specific categories to make it easier for you to locate and access what is needed. We hope the children and teens you care about will benefit from these special resources and be ready to start the new school year better prepared for ALL subjects!

Kickstart Reading Skills for Challenged Readers

17 Ways to Teach Vocabulary Skills to Students with Special Needs
by Thomas Armstrong
http://institute4learning.com/blog/2013/02/12/17-ways-to-teach-vocabulary-skills-to-neurodiverse-students/

Reading Together: Tips for Parents of Children with ADHD
by Reach Out and Read
If your child has ADHD, paying attention for long periods of time can be a challenge. So, meet the challenge head-on — make reading time fun time for you and your child.
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/41119/

Kickstart Math Skills for Challenged Learners

10 Helpful Dyscalculia Resources
by National Center for Learning Disabilities' Editorial Staff (NCLD)
Dyscalculia refers to a wide range of lifelong learning disabilities (LD) involving math. There is no single type of math disability. The resources in this link can help those struggling with significant math challenges.
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/helpful-math-resources

More resources (on same site): http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia

Math.com---Website that presents FREE resources for practicing mathematics from basic math to calculus. Takes a student of any ability at his present level and allows him to “level up” as math skills are developed. (A student-driven resource)
http://math.com/

Kickstart Organizational & Study Skills for Challenged Learners

A Toolkit for School Success: 15 Study Tips for Students with ADHD
by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/a-toolkit-for-school-success-15-study-tips-for-students-with-adhd/all/1/

Apps for Students with LD: Organization and Study
by Darla Hatton and Kaila Hatton (NCLD)
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/assistive-technology-education/apps-students-ld-organization-study

Other Related Resources for Challenged Learners

Back-to-School: Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs
by Kandace Wernsing (LD Online)
http://www.ldonline.org/article/38406/

8 Skills That Can Help Your Special Needs Child in School
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/01/22/8-skills-that-can-help-your-special-needs-child-in-school/

Teaching kids with special needs interdependence skills through play
by Ellen Metrick
Helping with meals is just one way to help build skills
http://www.chicagoparent.com/magazines/special-parent/winter-2013/in-our-shoes/day-of-play

Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs
by Reading Rockets
Our Top 8 back-to-school tips for parents emphasize communication, organization, and staying up-to-date on special education news.
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/38405/

Handouts and Resources for LD/ADD (for Secondary and College Levels)
Many FREE printables and links to a wide variety of resources related to academics and student life, including resources on LD/ADD in college. In addition, there are numerous publications on LD/ADD and the college student which you may find helpful.
http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73301&pageid=icb.page416014

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 at www.brennaninnovators.com

ADHD? Discover Those Strengths & Build on Them!

If you are the parent of a child or teen with ADD, you may often fret over the challenges your child faces at school and at home with the family, concerned about the child's future. If you are an educator in a classroom having one or more students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you may find that you spend considerably more time thinking about how to address the negative behaviors associated with the ADHD than you do about how to teach these students. If you are an adult challenged with ADHD, you may find yourself spending a great deal of time thinking about your daily struggles and weaknesses. These are not unusual situations; however, there is a way to “turn the boat around” in thought and action for children or adults with some form of ADHD.

It is almost always easier to think about the “negative side” of a situation. It takes little energy and no productive thinking to “give in” mentally to “The Dark Side” when thinking about a situation, rarely if ever arriving at a good solution. This can certainly be true when we talk about ADHD. However, you might remember an old song with the lyrics:

“Accentuate the positive. Eee-lim-inate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.”

Well, that’s certainly the advice we have to share with you here.

You might find it a little difficult to do, but consider your child, your students or yourself challenged with ADHD as persons with strengths in addition to the struggles associated with attention deficits. It is even a good idea to make a list of the strengths of each individual, and that may mean YOU. Yes, you DO have strengths. These may be special talents or gifts such as a great sense of humor, the ability to talk or interact well with others or special artistic skills. There are other talents less tangible but very valuable that are gifts as well: honesty and integrity, the ability to be a team player or to be compassionate and generous when others are hurting.

Whatever those gifts are, they are a person’s strengths. When that person is challenged with ADHD, acknowledge those strengths, gifts and talents and celebrate them. Then focus and build on them, diminishing the weaknesses associated with the ADHD. That is not to say that those symptoms are to be ignored or forgotten. No, it means that the emphasis of thinking is on what is positive.

Get involved with or provide activities that will capitalize on those strengths. Allow yourself or the person with ADHD to “shine” as a result of using those special gifts in a carefully chosen activity or exercise. You will find that your child, your students or you will experience increased self-esteem, which in turn will positively impact learning, achievement and daily life experiences. In other words, ACCENTuate the POSITIVE---with ADHD!

Positively GOOD Resources and Apps for ADHD (to Help Build on Strengths)

Resources for Supporting Students with ADHD---List of supportive links to access resources and support for adults challenged with ADHD as well as parents and teachers of children with ADHD
http://www.pbis.vcu.edu/2010/12/resources-for-supporting-students-with-adhd.html

Adult ADHD: 50 Tips of Management---Tips for adults with ADHD that help instill hope and re-establish a positive attitude (includes insight and education as well as self-management strategies)
by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D.
http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/253

Parents of Children with ADHD---Some positive tips for parenting an ADD or ADHD child (includes a planner designed by a mother for her son with ADHD)
http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/2014

ADD/ADHD Resources for Teachers---From assessment accommodations and FAQs, these articles and resources will support and help teachers work with the special nature of students with ADD/ADHD.
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/add-and-adhd/resource/5348.html

Apps for Teens and Adults with ADHD---Supportive apps for improving organizational skills, weight loss and self-esteem among others are available via this link (FREE and low-cost apps)
http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/ipad-iphone-apps/add-adhd-teenagers.html

Image courtesy of: http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/2014

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

Image courtesy of: http://www.addresources.org/?q=node/2014