How to Read with More Focus and Retention in the Year Ahead

Let’s face it, today’s world of handheld devices, infinite social media posts and other similar types of distractions, make it more than a little challenging to maintain needed focus while reading.

For the New Year, make a “reading resolution” to take important steps to increase your focus, not only when reading but also in other areas of your life. Keep in mind 3 "focusing" goals for 2019---More focus, better focus and sustained focus.

Set aside the time to implement the following tips. You’ll be so glad you did!

1. Turn off the instant messengers, cell phone and email notifiers.

2. Practice proper posture in a chair with good support.

3. Organize your reading/study environment PRIOR to your reading session.

4. Clear your mind for 1 minute.

5. Read in 30-minute intervals.

6. Read with one specific goal in mind.

Read with mindfulness. Have a specific goal in mind before you read the content. This will not only improve your focus, but will also help you get through the material more efficiently. The more specific your goal is, the better your concentration will be.

Although these are simple strategies, they can make such a difference in positively impacting your ability to focus when reading. Practice these tips to not only improve your reading but to also help you increase focus, even in other areas of your life. Implement these tips on a daily basis to begin forming the habit of improved focus. As a result, you will then be able to comprehend and retain the information you are reading much better---both in the New Year ahead AND well beyond 2019.

Sources:

5 Tips for Maintaining A Strong Focus While Reading by Joseph Rodrigues, Iris Reading, LLC
https://www.irisreading.com/5-tips-to-maintaining-excellent-focus-while-you-are-reading/

7 Tips To Improve Your Attention Span And Focus Instantly by CJ Goulding, Lifehack
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/7-tips-improve-your-attention-span-and-focus-instantly.html

For information about customizable focusing tools for readers of all ages, please visit: FocusandRead.com ---Tools for challenged readers of all ages!

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC

Encourage Challenged Readers with These Helpful Combos!

"If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk," writes author Laura Joffe Numeroff in her best-selling children's book (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). In the same vein, if you give a child a book, there is a very good chance she will ask for another.

Books are priceless gifts that open doors to children that they might not otherwise have opened to them. Stories teach important lessons, provide escape to faraway lands and introduce children to characters that inspire and remain in their hearts for years to come. So, when it is time to think of a great gift for a child you love, think no further than a favorite book to help him remember your special thoughtfulness. Whether it is to commemorate a birthday, the Holiday Season or other important event, give a book, and chances are, you will hear about your gift often and for a long time to come.

You may wonder, "But what about a child who struggles to read or has challenges that make reading more difficult for him?" Please don't stop thinking about books as worthy gifts if this is the case. In fact, giving a book to a child with a reading challenge like dyslexia or other LD such as ADHD, autism, etc., can actually provide you with an opportunity to present an audio-book or a traditional selection accompanied by helpful reading tools. So, don't hesitate to consider the gift of one of these options that will make a child of any age smile.

Consider choosing a title with a main character that struggles with the very same reading challenge the child experiences. There are more children's books than ever before that demonstrate just how to manage and even overcome many reading and learning issues. Some attack dyslexia or ADHD head on while others infer an academic or other struggle. Whatever the case, when a child reads about a character who experiences the same issues and feelings he has, it can be the first step to helping to deal with that issue. Combine the title with helpful tools or reading aids, and you have an ideal gift option for a child who wants to read and learn with more success.

During this Holiday Season, we have gathered together a very special grouping of favorite children's selections for a variety of age groups to help you with gift giving. With books like these that are paired with innovative reading tools, not only will you be encouraging a child to read, but you will also help provide support, enjoyment, inspiration and improved self-esteem for that child. Of course, being a genuine supporter of literacy and life-long learning will be a wonderful benefit, as well. And there is always the very good chance that the child will ask for another book to read just like the mouse with the cookie and the glass of milk. Happy "Reading" Holidays, everyone!

Book & Tool Gift Sets for Challenged Readers/Learners

- Clementine (ages 6-8) by Sara Pennypacker

- My Name is Brain Brian (ages 8-12) by Jeanne Betancourt

- My Mouth Is a Volcano! (ages 5-8) by Julia Cook

- Tom's Special Talent - Dyslexia (ages 5-7) by Kate Gaynor

- Fish in a Tree (ages 10+) by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

- The Alphabet War: A Story about Dyslexia (ages 5-7) by Diane Burton Robb

- The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 1) (ages 9+) R. Riordan

- It's Called Dyslexia (Live and Series) (ages 6-9) by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

For more information on customizable reading tools for ADHD and/or dyslexia, please visit: FocusandRead.com ---Tools for challenged readers of all ages!

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC and Amazon.com

BEST Reading Resources for ADHD

As the summer begins to wind down, it will be more prudent than ever to encourage your child or teen to spend time reading. This will further help them to avoid "The Summer Slide" and be better prepared for a more successful fall term. Students with ADHD may need even more support along these lines.

For this reason and because of our experiences with students of all abilities after the summer vacation period, we thought it would be beneficial to our readers to provide a list of ADHD reading tips and resources, especially right now during the fast-approaching back-to-school season. One of our previous articles entitled Let's Deal with Distractions---ADHD Strategies for Home & School included a rather extensive list of general home and school resources for ADHD.

This week, we are helping parents and teachers prepare for a new school year with a new ADHD resource list for reading. We hope this list will assist our readers in helping students experience improved focus, more sustained attention and better concentration when reading (whether online or offline). It is important to note that these resources can be helpful not only to children with ADHD but to ALL children with reading 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

11 Every-Night Ways to Build Stronger Reading Skills
by Matthew Cruger, Ph.D. and ADDitude Magazine
Children with ADHD and learning disabilities often struggle to become confident readers with strong comprehension skills. Here’s how easy-to-follow tips — like forming a book group or encouraging note-taking — can help your little reader.
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-reading-comprehension/

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.
https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/news/20100927/many-adhd-kids-also-have-reading-problems

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

Summer Ways to Prepare for a Better School Year from ADDitude Magazine
A guide to preparing your child for the upcoming school year.
https://www.additudemag.com/summer-school-for-parents/

Saving Summer with Structure from ADDitude Magazine
Combine fun and structure to give children with ADHD the best summer ever. Parents and experts reveal how to boost smarts and avoid boredom during the lazy days of summer.
https://www.additudemag.com/saving-summer-adhd-routine-children-vacation/

Desktop App: Reading Focus Cards (U.S. Patent 8,360,779)
($5.99-per device w/ no subscription) from Brennan Innovators, LLC
Desktop app for Windows PC's and Macs is the digital version of the physical Reading Focus Cards (U.S. Patent 7,565,759). Provides practical focus and reading support for children and adults with ADHD, dyslexia,autism and other conditions that can affect reading success.
1. For Macs: Visit the Mac App Store at
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. For Windows XP, 7, 8 & 10 PC's: Visit Gumroad at
https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards
3. For Windows 10 PC's only: Visit the Microsoft Windows Store at
https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9WZDNCRDF33D

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.
https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/5-back-school-tips-add-adhd-child/

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: FocusandRead.com ---Tools for struggling readers of all ages!

Engage Kids in Reading with Great Book and Video Combos!

Reading is an enjoyable pastime for many, and it knows no season. Summer, winter, spring or fall can provide an unlimited number of opportunities to read for pleasure. For a reluctant reader, however, enjoying a good book may not be a favorite activity. In fact, it may be downright unpleasant, especially when reading challenges are experienced by that reluctant reader. In this week's article and as another summer begins, we thought it would be timely to provide some helpful resources to entice and hopefully engage young readers who would otherwise not pick up a book and read it for enjoyment, particularly during this summer vacation time.

So often reluctant or challenged readers respond well and have a preference for sensory experiences, those activities involving at least 1 of the 5 senses. In particular, visuals can be very powerful in their appeal for these readers, providing long-term benefits that improve comprehension and positively impact memory and retention, too. A great way to appeal to the senses and thereby encourage more reading is to pair 2 visuals---a good book with a related video. Of course, the first step would be to engage the child in the new book with a promise to view the video when the reading of the story is completed.

To help make this more convenient for you as a parent or educator, we have gathered together here a great list of revered children's books AND their related videos that re-tell their stories. What could be more effective than this in enticing kids to read---and keep reading all summer long? We can't think of anything better!

Book and Video Combos to Entice & Engage Kids in Reading

The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
(for Ages 2-5)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Rise-Shine-ebook/dp/B01M3R3EM5/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528050593&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Hungry+Caterpillar
Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399226907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528050893&sr=8-1&keywords=hungry+caterpillar+book
Video: https://youtu.be/75NQK-Sm1YY

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
(for Ages 3-7)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-That-Could-ebook/dp/B00ADUG31C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528050969&sr=1-1&keywords=the+little+engine+that+could
Physical Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-engine-that-could-watty-piper/1100035996?ean=9780399244674&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_New+Core+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Bing_e&sourceId=PLBiP209799&msclkid=20986b937fad183b96a3308747e6b883#/
Video: https://youtu.be/5TPUwrURo6M

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
(for Girls, Ages 8-12)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-AmazonClassics-Montgomery-ebook/dp/B073QRGDCW/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240607&sr=1-2&keywords=Anne+of+Green+Gables+DVD
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Lucy-Montgomery/dp/1420952560/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240352&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=anne+of+green+gables+book&psc=1
Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Megan-Follows/dp/B000XSKDH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240941&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=anne+of+green+gables+movie&psc=1&smid=A3L2KOXEXJZT5E

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
(for Ages 8-12)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Wilson-Rawls-ebook/dp/B004G606EO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528241173&sr=8-1&keywords=Where+the+Red+Fern+Grows+e-book
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Wilson-Rawls/dp/0440412676/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1528241173&sr=8-1
Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Digital-Copy/dp/B003TNS3HC/ref=sr_1_14?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528241021&sr=1-14&keywords=classic+books+for+boys

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(for Ages 10+)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Tree-Lynda-Mullaly-Hunt-ebook/dp/B00KWG61P0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503854188&sr=1-1
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Tree-Lynda-Mullaly-Hunt/dp/0142426423/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503854188&sr=1-1
Short Trailer Video: https://youtu.be/zrPWhRrmaZM

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
(for Ages 10-14)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians-ebook/dp/B00280LYIC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503930476&sr=1-1
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503930476&sr=1-1
Movie: (for rental or purchase) https://www.amazon.com/Percy-Jackson-Olympians-Lightning-Thief/dp/B003JHKORK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528239509&sr=8-1&keywords=Percy+Jackson+and+the+Lightning+Thief+movie

For information about customizable tools for ALL kinds of challenged or reluctant readers:
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: www.FocusandRead.com and Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

15 Empowering Resources for Persons of ALL Ages with Autism

As many of our blog readers may know, April is World Autism Month. It is a dedicated time to help raise awareness for autism and the 1 in 68 children as well as the many adults challenged with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). You may also know that when provided with appropriate resources and family as well as community support, persons challenged with the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders can live productive lives and in many cases thrive within their supportive communities.

It is important to also keep in mind that the right tools, strategies and resources can significantly improve one’s learning success, too, especially when reading and learning can be difficult for someone with autism, ADHD, dyslexia or other issues. If you or someone you know is challenged with an ASD, however, the significance of those tools, strategies and resources may be even more important in efforts to improve the quality of life. You may already know about physical and digital tools that effectively help challenged, unfocused readers with autism and sensory issues. A FREE list of reading and learning strategies to help persons of any age with autism (and other issues, too) can be found here.

For this article, we wanted to address the third component---resources that can actually help to EMPOWER children and adults with autism to become more confident, more socially interactive and better able to overcome their obstacles. In our efforts to write this article, we have received the assistance of Ms. Kathleen Carter, a high-school student with autism who has been a volunteer-intern-extraordinaire at EducatorLabs. She assisted the organization with its research and outreach activities.

Ms. Carter kindly provided the first six empowering resources in our list included here. We want to thank her for these good resources for autism. We have added a few more links to the list and hope that because of our combined efforts, these resources may help you or others you know in the autism community to feel empowered to become more confident, more comfortable in social situations and more independent in overcoming the challenges of autism---each and every day!

Empowering Resources for Persons with Autism

1. Autism Speaks Resource Guide
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-guide

2. Career Assistance for People with Autism
http://www.hloom.com/career-assistance-for-people-with-autism/

3. National Center for Autism Resources & Education
https://www.nationalautismresources.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand&utm_term=%2Bnational%20%2Bautism%20%2Bresources&utm_content=Trademark%20-%20Brand

4. AutismNOW Transition Planning
http://autismnow.org/in-the-classroom/transition-planning-for-students/

5. Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism
http://www.saveonpoolsupplies.com/landing/aquatic-therapy-for-children-with-autism.aspx

6. Autism Services
http://healthfinder.gov/FindServices/SearchContext.aspx?topic=81

7. Equine Therapy Programs for Children with Autism
https://www.equestriantherapy.com/equine-therapy-children-aspergers-autism/

8. Autism Resources from Easter Seals
http://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-autism/autism-resources.html

9. Family Grant Opportunities (for Therapy, Assistive Technology, etc.)
https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/family-grant-opportunities

10. Resources - Solutions to Problems in the Autism Community-US Autism & Asperger Association
http://www.usautism.org/resources.html

11. BEST Apps for Sensory Processing Issues (iPad, Android and Desktop Apps)
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2015/04/best-apps-for-sensory-processing-issues.html

12. BEST Apps for Autism(iPad, Android and Desktop Apps)
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2015/01/best-apps-for-autism-2015.html

13. NEW Reading Focus Cards App for Windows 10 PCs (via Windows Store)
https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9WZDNCRDF33D

14. NEW Reading Focus Cards App for Windows XP, 7, 8 & 10 PCs (via Gumroad.com)
Click on drop down to version preferred.
https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards

15. Physical Reading Focus Cards Tools for Challenged Readers
(For Reading Actual Books & Documents)
http://www.focusandread.com/products

For more information on customizable tools for challenged readers with autism:
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: www.FocusandRead.com and Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

5 BEST Websites for Dyscalculia

Is your child or a particular student struggling with math on a daily basis? It is not unusual for children or students to be challenged with math homework once in awhile. However, if he experiences problems with numbers or has low math test scores yet does well in other subjects, he could have a math learning disability (LD) called dyscalculia.

This LD called dyscalculia is a brain-related condition that makes basic arithmetic and its concepts very hard to learn. The condition may be hereditary, but scientists have not yet discovered any genes specifically related to it.

Up to 7% of elementary school students have dyscalculia. Research suggests it's as common as dyslexia -- a reading disorder -- but not as well understood. In fact, kids and parents sometimes call it “math dyslexia,” but this can be confusing because dyscalculia is a completely different condition. Your school or doctor may call it a “mathematics learning disability” or a “math disorder.”

This math LD can sometimes be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -- up to 60% of people who have ADHD also have a learning disorder like dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia, sometimes called math dyslexia, covers a wide range of math difficulties. The symptoms can also change as your child gets older and is expected to think about math in new ways. Here are signs of the math struggles you might see at different ages.

From the following 2 lists, if you find that your child or student demonstrates more weaknesses than he does strengths, a math learning disability or dyscalculia may be the issue:

Strengths in Mathematics

-Correctly sequences numbers, equations and formulas
-Correctly performs mental math processes
-Accurately conducts math computations
-Completes work logically and with minimal errors
-Understands math concepts
-Appropriately uses both oral and written math terms
-Consistently and correctly remembers math facts

Weaknesses in Mathematics

-Rarely sequences numbers, equations and formulas correctly
-Unable to perform mental math processes
-Usually conducts math computations inaccurately
-Makes many careless errors, often choosing the wrong operation
-Has difficulty understanding math concepts
-Rarely uses math terms appropriately---both orally and in written work
-Unable to accurately recall math facts (though many children today are not committing math facts to memory.)
-Unable to do word problems

Once you have determined the strengths vs. weaknesses ratio as stated above, consider using one or more of the following top resources to help initiate progress for your child or student with dyscalculia or other related math issues. These links can provide a bridge while waiting to access professional evaluation, services and support for a math LD.

BEST 5 Dyscalculia Resources

1. Math Worksheets-from edhelper.com
This link provides FREE math printables that include daily math activities, math puzzles and much more.
https://www.edhelper.com/math_worksheets.htm

2. Dyscalculia Resource Treasure Collection from tesSpecialNeeds
This resource includes a set of activities, flash cards, strategies, revision aids and posters all developed to support pupils with dyscalculia. All resources have a clear layout and include visual support where necessary. Sassoon font is used throughout.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dyscalculia-resource-treasure-collection-6302884

3. Dyscalculia Worksheets & Other Resources from HelpingWithMath.com
Here is included a list of printable math resources that have people with Dyscalculia and/or Dyslexia in mind. This is a good resource for materials to help with learning math facts.
https://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/wor-dyscalculia.htm

4. Dyscalculia Primer and Resource Guide by Dr. Anna J. Wilson
Dr. Wilson is an OECD Post-Doctoral Fellow at INSERM U562, Paris, conducting cognitive neuroscience research on the remediation of dyscalculia. The purpose of this primer is to explain the cognitive neuroscience approach to dyscalculia (including the state of research in this area), to answer frequently asked questions, and to point the reader towards further resources on the subject. Further references include some of the major scientific literature in the field, as well as reading suggestions for teachers and parents.
http://www.oecd.org/edu/ceri/dyscalculiaprimerandresourceguide.htm

5. 100 Best Resources for Kids Who Struggle With Math by Marianne Sunderland
This post includes 100+ resources are books, websites, games, apps, and curricula that teach math in a variety of multi-sensory ways that will provide effective tools for teaching math, especially when a child struggles with math facts and concepts.
https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/100-best-resources-struggle-math/

BONUS Tip: For children or students with math and spatial challenges, consider using colored graph paper or Reading Focus Cards (low-tech and digital) to maintain placeholder columns. The following links can provide the needed supports for these materials.

Free Grid Paper Pages from Nyla's Crafty Teaching
FREE downloadable blackline grid templates that are drawn to scale both for inches and cm. Use them for placeholder support (i.e., column addition, long multiplication and division, etc.) creating symmetry worksheets, bar graphs, reflections (flips), translations (slides), rotations (turns), area and perimeter models and 100 charts. The exact sizes in this set are: .5cm x .5cm grids (for making hundreds charts & multiplication charts) 1cm x 1cm grids, 2cm x cm grids, and 1 in. x 1 in. grids.
https://mscraftynyla.blogspot.com/2014/09/free-grid-paper-pages.html

Reading Focus Cards (low-tech & digital tools)
Use the Reading Focus Cards for placeholder support with long addition, multiplication and division, as well as with algebraic equations and other math applications. Utilizing these physical and digital tools can help increase focus on the needed math operation and improve accuracy with problem solving.
http://www.focusandread.com/products

Sources

What Is Dyscalculia? What Should I Do if My Child Has It? from WebMD.com
https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/dyscalculia-facts#1

Dyscalculia: What You’re Seeing from Understood.org
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/dyscalculia-what-youre-seeing

Homeschooling With Dyslexia Blog by Marianne Sunderland
Marianne Sunderland is the creator of Homeschooling With Dyslexia, a site dedicated to educating and encouraging parents to successfully homeschool their children with dyslexia and related learning disabilities.
https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/

For tools & resources to help improve reading & math skills, visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com AND
Pixabay.com at https://pixabay.com

FREE e-Book Resources for Kids and Teens

It is known by many that the use of e-books can offer real benefits to children who struggle to read for a variety of reasons. The ability to adjust e-page backgrounds to other colors than white, change font sizes and more can often help challenged readers with such issues as visual fatigue, convergence insufficiency and other issues. In addition, just one e-reader can contain and offer an entire family a smorgasbord of book titles to satisfy a variety of children's (and parents') reading needs---from books for emergent readers to mysteries appropriate for teen readers and others.

In this post, we wanted to provide some FREE e-book resources to offer families who wish to promote literacy in their homes for all ages of children. We hope you will value and perhaps even save the link to this page as a future reference for all your family's e-reading needs.

FREE e-Book Resources for Kids & Teens

Open e-Books-This program does require parents to reach out to a teacher, librarian, or other eligible person to sign up for First Book. This will then allow parents to obtain a code that will give each child access to 10 books at a time via the FREE Open e-Books app. This excellent program is available to low-income families with kids ages 4-18 and it is filled with books that are still in copyright – which means a large collection of bestsellers and contemporary titles. Worth the time to take a look!
http://openebooks.net/

International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL)-The non-profit ICDL Foundation’s library has evolved into the world’s largest digital collection of children’s books. Currently, its digital library collection includes 4,619 books in 59 languages. The complete ICDL collection is also available as a FREE iPad app. A limited number of titles are included in the FREE ICDL iPhone app. The ICDL also created the FREE Story Kit app that helps users create their own electronic storybooks for reading and sharing. http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Library of Congress-The Library of Congress’ selection of digitized books includes illustrated children’s classics for readers of all ages. The Library of Congress also makes available millions of primary sources for FREE online. To assist educators in teaching with primary sources, the Library offers classroom materials to help teachers engage students with content and develop critical thinking skills.
http://www.read.gov/books/

Best Free Children's e-Books Online-This is a listing of 234 sites that legally offer FREE e-books for children to read.
https://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-childrens-ebooks-online.htm

Best FREE Kindle e-Books for Children-FREE classic Kindle e-book titles for kids from Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/21465.Best_FREE_Kindle_Ebooks_for_Children_

FREE Kindle e-Books for Teens-This is a PDF document from tcea.org with clickable links to FREE e-books for teens ready to be read on a Kindle. (May also be read on other devices with the free Kindle app. Please see link below under Other e-Book Resources to Help Promote Literacy.)
https://www.tcea.org/documents/PD/Free%20Kindle%20eBooks%20for%20Teens.pdf

epic! (30-day FREE trial-Instantly access 25,000 of the best books, learning videos, quizzes & more for kids 12 & under.
https://www.getepic.com/

Bookshare-A FREE program supported by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs that provides FREE reading materials to anyone who has a print disability that keeps them from reading traditional print materials. An eligible Bookshare member would be someone with a visual impairment, a physical disability that impinges on reading ability, or a learning disability.
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/bookshare-me

Project Gutenberg-Project Gutenberg has 50,000 free ebooks to download or read online. These are books whose copyright has expired, so while they are not “trending,” they do include many classics.
http://www.gutenberg.org/

Online Books Page at University of Pennsylvania-Although a bit of a bugger to navigate, the Online Books Page at the University of Penn has an amazing collection of kids literature available! The link provided will take you to the children’s bookshelf, however you can browse by alphabetical listing or even search to discover new topics!
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/browse?type=lcsubc&key=Children%27s%20books

Books Should Be Free-Perfect for introducing a child who is not yet reading or who enjoys listening to stories to literature! Books Should Be Free offers a wide selection of FREE audio and e-books including many of the classics. They also have e-book formats for Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Nook, Sony Reader and laptops.
For Children: http://www.loyalbooks.com/genre/Children
For Teens & Young Adults: http://www.loyalbooks.com/genre/Teen_Young_adult

BookBub-FREE e-books for teens and young adults (requires submission of email address for registration)
https://www.bookbub.com

FREE e-Books for Kids-A collection of FREE e-books for children from Amazon (for Kindle). The selections available may be FREE for a limited time. It is advisable to check daily for new FREE titles. See left sidebar on web page for various genres and topics currently available at no cost.
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=free+ebooks+for+kids&tag=geminimobiles-20&index=digital-text&hvadid=22381588&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_62sj6d2bod_e

MeeGenius-MeeGenius makes it easy to keep your child reading by offering hundreds of e-books including classics, MeeGenius originals, and partner content from Sesame Street, Dr. Seuss, and P.D. Eastman. Starting out as an iPad/iPhone app, MeeGenius has been a favorite of many families for years! While not all e-books are available for FREE, there's a wide variety of FREE e-books.
http://www.meegenius.com/

Oxford Owl Free e-Book Library-Oxford Owl has a great variety of books for kids ages 3–11. The books marked with an ‘e’ are the FREE books. The site has some really amazing features like offering activity ideas that go with the books. With some books in the youngest (ages 3–5) and oldest (ages 9–11) age groups, there aren’t any words shown on the screen. You only hear the story. Nevertheless, this is a good site if you’re looking for access to stories (both fiction & non-fiction) for a variety of ages. https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-owl/find-a-book/library-page

Kids World Fun-An enjoyable array of FREE, animated books!
http://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebooks.php

Children’s Books Online-This Rosetta Project site is an online library of antique illustrated children’s books. Selections are indexed by reading level: pre-reader, emergent reader, intermediate reader, advanced reader, adult reader & foreign language reader.
http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/library.htm

Classic Reader-Classic Reader is an excellent place to find FREE classic e-books. The site has a special section for young readers with more than 200 of the world’s best loved classics.
http://www.classicreader.com/browse/3/title/

Magic Keys-This site offers FREE illustrated e-books for children of all ages. Storybooks are separated into three categories: young children, older children, and young adult. Other site offerings include online games, jigsaw puzzles, and interactive coloring pages.
http://www.magickeys.com/books/

Read Print-The Read Print library hosts thousands of FREE e-books and poems, many of which are suitable for children. Most of the books on Read Print are classics, such as Peter Pan and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
http://www.readprint.com/

Other e-Book Resources to Help Promote Literacy

Read Ups-A great site for older children who want to find, read, and discuss books. The site allows you to read books on the site or import books from the web or your hard drive. Read Up books can be read alone or with a group of people. The site does require a Twitter account.
http://www.readups.com/

FREE Kindle Reading App- You can install this very useful yet FREE app on most devices (iPad, Mac, PC, Android, etc.) so that the device "becomes" a Kindle in function. We have the Kindle app installed on our PCs here in the office and use it daily. The number of FREE e-books that can be found for your Kindle on Amazon.com (in the daily deals section) is almost endless!
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-app/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Akindle%20app

Sources:

How to Find Free e-Books for Kids — Copyrighted Titles Included!
http://parentingchaos.com/finding-free-ebooks-for-kids/

For more tools & resources to help improve reading & spelling skills, visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com AND
Pixabay.com at https://pixabay.com

Best ADHD Resources on a Budget

As parents and educators, we know that attention issues are more prevalent than they should be for the estimated 11% of children 4-17 years of age who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD (as of 2011, statistics provided by the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). That's right. Depending on the state of residency, more than 6.4 million children in our country from ages 4 to 17 are challenged with some type of attention issue.

Because of continuing budget cuts for schools and a challenging economy for family households, funds are not always available for the necessary resources to address the pressing needs of these children and teens with ADHD. Although medical care and medications for ADHD can often be covered by family healthcare insurance plans, holistic or non-medical resources for ADHD are rarely included in such plans or coverage. Parents, teachers and others who care for and serve the significant number of children with ADHD are many times left to locate, research and obtain services and resources for their children or students on their own time and with their own personal funds, too.

We thought it would be beneficial to help provide some current ADHD resources to at least help save valuable time for these adults who are "on a mission" to help kids with ADHD gain access to the resources they need. As a result, we have gathered a sizable collection of ADHD articles, strategies, service providers, tools and other supportive resources---all in one place on our ADHD Resources & Support Pinterest board (1,300+ resources!) It will be good to know that many of the resources in this collection are available at very low or even no cost, too. We hope you will find all or most of what you need to help a child or teen you know and care about who struggles daily with ADHD.

ADHD Resources & Support

ADHD Resources & Support---ALL in 1 Place!
This is a collection of 1,300+ ADHD supportive resources for parents, teachers, homeschoolers & others who help or care for children & teens with attention challenges.
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/adhd-resources-support/

Sources

Data & Statistics: Children w/ ADHD--from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

For more information about tools & resources for children & teens with ADHD, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

5 Decoding Tips and Tools for Reluctant Readers

What IS Decoding?

The term decoding refers to the process of translating a printed word into a sound. To demonstrate, please read the following words aloud: dog, table, jump. This is an example of decoding regular words and is sometimes called word identification skill. Regular words are commonly used words, i.e., words frequently found in printed material.

To further illustrate the skill of decoding, please read the following words, aloud: blud, wight, frish. This is an example of decoding non-words (or decoding pseudo-words) and is sometimes called word attack skill. Pseudo-words are pronounceable based on phonics rules but are not real words. A highly similar task involves asking students to read words that they have never seen before—i.e., unfamiliar or new vocabulary words.

How can we tell if a student is proficient at decoding? The two most common tests of decoding skill are to ask students to:

1. Translate printed, regular words into sounds (i.e., word identification skill) and
2. Translate printed pseudo-words or printed unfamiliar words into sounds (i.e., word attack skill).

We can measure a student's decoding accuracy—by counting the number of times the student makes the correct sound—or the student's decoding speed (also called efficiency)—by counting the number of correctly decoded words per minute. As one might expect, high proficiency is indicated by a high rate of accuracy and/or speed.

However, significant problems result when a student's decoding skill level is low or poorly developed. When he cannot breakdown words into the sound of each phoneme, fluency, rate, tracking and other skills also suffer.

There are a variety of tips, strategies and tools available today to help improve a reader's decoding skill. We hope the following 5 resources will help you and the readers you serve to get started in the right way. In the process, you will also be promoting more in the way of phonemic awareness at the same time. The end result may very well be that reading reluctance could turn into reading motivation for the individuals you help.

Tips to Help with Decoding

1. Use individual colored markers to highlight each phoneme (or syllable, if that is the phonics method you employ) in a word. Try a different color for each phoneme. For optimum results, consistently use the same color for the same phoneme from one activity to another. This may best be accomplished by using a key or legend shared with the reluctant reader you are assisting.

2. If a variety of colored markers are not available, box out each phoneme or syllable with a pencil or pen to show the beginnings and endings of words, blends or other phonemes. As in the above method, this also helps break down a word or phrase into chunks or manageable units for a challenged or reluctant reader.

3. Cover parts of words and phrases that do not need decoding at the moment. So much of the reluctance of a challenged reader is the feeling of overwhelm by just too many letters, words or lines of text viewed simultaneously or in rapid succession. This covering can be achieved simply with the aid of a one's finger.

Tools to Help with Decoding

1. Use a ruler, index card or the low-tech Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759), inexpensive tools for challenged readers, to easily breakdown or decode words, phrases and lines of text on physical pages, worksheets or other documents. Both the colored reading window and/or the notch at the top of the focus cards can be used for this decoding process.

Use of the Reading Focus Cards' reading window (yellow filter option) for decoding:

Use of the Reading Focus Cards' reading notch for decoding:

2. Use the digital Reading Focus Cards desktop app (Patent 8,360,779) for Macs and Windows PCs, an innovative and fully customizable application for challenged readers to easily breakdown or decode words, phrases and lines of text on digital pages or documents---whether online or offline.

Here are just 2 decoding steps out of a possible 7 steps to break down the word happiness with this Reading Focus Cards desktop app:

Sources

What is Decoding? article by R.E. Mayer, education.com
https://www.education.com/reference/article/what-is-decoding-reading/

For more information about assistive technologies for challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Fingernail photo: Mr. Barlow's Blog at https://mrbarlow.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/why-do-you-get-white-spots-on-your-fingernails/
Other images: Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

Dyslexia's Challenges Often Translate into STEM Strengths

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of once again returning to the gifted classroom. This is an annual experience for me in a program called College for Kids where classes for gifted students are conducted on the campus of our local community college, St. Louis Community College-Meramec Campus. For eleven years now, I have prepared for and instructed children (K-8) in foreign language classes as well as in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or maker-space classes. Each year, it is always an intense 5 days for all where kids are challenged to be particularly creative and to summon their abilities to problem solve and think in critical and innovative ways as they learn new and stimulating content in a college setting.

For me, the week experienced with these unique learners involved the teaching of 2 Exploratory Spanish classes and 2 STEM classes where the students built mechanical robotic arms. As you may already know, STEM classes such as the latter mentioned here are currently in great demand by parents and students alike, and as a result, both of these classes were filled to capacity within a short time after registration opened.

These STEM or Mechanical Robotic Arm Build classes were particularly interesting, as they required each individual student to build such an arm from regular household materials provided to them (card board, paper clips, tape, binder clips, twine, fishing line and other common items.) To add to the challenge and problem-solving skills promoted by the project, only a limited set or predetermined number of each item was provided to each student builder (that could not be exceeded).

The student-created products from these two classes were most interesting. Some of the designs created could even be described as elegant. One student devised a way to connect wooden craft sticks with robber bands in such a way as to allow them to flex, successfully picking up a Styrofoam cup. Another young 7th grader was able to manipulate the five, agile fingers of his mechanical arm with craft sticks and fishing line, enabling it to also achieve the same goal. The projects were indeed exercises in creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, patience, fortitude, determination and more. The students actually learned life lessons in these classes, not just the how of building a mechanical robotic arm with a specific set of items.

What was even more interesting was the fact that when I mentioned my work outside the classroom involves serving students with dyslexia, both of the student designers above mentioned to me that they were challenged with this same learning disability, with one student adding that he also had ADHD. In fact, the number of gifted students with dyslexia in both STEM classes exceeded the current statistics for dyslexia with more than 1 in 5 of all students stating that they struggled with the symptoms of dyslexia.

So, why am I relating all of this to our blog readers this week? Well, it is becoming more and more apparent to educators and others that children and adults with dyslexia think differently from those not challenged with the language-based learning disability. Dyslexic individuals are often highly-creative thinkers, global learners and persons who think outside-the-box. Because of these assets, they are very frequently sought after as innovative problem-solvers and troubleshooters for challenges that leave the rest of us "in the dust" so to speak. Our world needs these unique individuals and their gifts---desperately.

If you are the parent or teacher of a child or teen with dyslexia, or you suspect as much, consider presenting new information or content with hands-on activities that promote creative thinking and innovative troubleshooting or problem-solving skills. Seek out STEM or STEAM (that is, with an added Art component) activities and resources that will bring out the BEST in the skills set of your dyslexic readers and learners. Then allow these children to excel at what they do best---solve problems and accomplish the learning goals you have set for them in innovative and unique ways. You'll be very glad you did.

STEM Resources for Dyslexic Readers & Learners

200+ STEM Links & Resources---ALL in 1 Place!
A Pinterest board with a HUGE collection of STEM and STEAM resources, many of which are FREE!
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/stem-links-resources/?etslf=4387&eq=STEM

STEM Resource Finder
This STEM Resource Finder from The Concord Consortium features some of the best FREE, open-source educational activities, models and software tools available. You can search by keyword or filter by subject, grade level and type to find the right resources for your learning goals.
https://concord.org/stem-resources

Project Lesson Plan: Build Your Own Robot Arm
This is the lesson plan described and utilized in the above article that helped students develop a robot arm using common materials. Students will explore design, construction, teamwork, and materials selection and use.
http://tryengineering.org/lesson-plans/build-your-own-robot-arm

For information on customizable reading tools for dyslexia, ADHD and other challenges, 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

BEST Dyslexia Resources (ALL in 1 Place!)

Last week, some ground-breaking legislation was signed by Governor Jay Nixon to significantly help improve the lives of students with dyslexia in the State of Missouri. On Wednesday, June 22, Governor Nixon put his signature to Senate Bill 638 and turned it into law at an Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) Head Start Center in Springfield, MO.

By late next year, the new law will begin to benefit an estimated 1 in 5 Missouri school-aged children. The following is a listing of the important benefits of this new legislation:

1. By December 31, 2017, this act requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to develop guidelines for the appropriate screening of students for dyslexia and related disorders and to develop the necessary classroom support for such students.

2. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, each public school, including charter schools, shall conduct dyslexia screenings and provide reasonable classroom support consistent with the guidelines developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

3. Additionally, practicing-teacher assistance programs shall include two hours of in-service training regarding dyslexia and related disorders provided by each school district for all practicing teachers. Such training shall count as two contact hours of professional development. (Section 167.950)

4. This act also creates the Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia. The Task Force will advise and make recommendations to the Governor, Joint Committee on Education, and relevant state agencies. The Task Force will consist of twenty members, as described in the act. Except for four legislative members and the Commissioner of Education, the members will be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Missouri Senate and the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. This task force will make the recommendations for a statewide system for identification, intervention, and delivery of supports for students with dyslexia, as described in the act.

This is a tremendous step forward for public school students in Missouri, and we certainly look forward to the enactment of this legislation!

While we await the implementation of this all-important law for students of Missouri, we wanted to join the momentum here and provide our readers with some of the BEST resources to help students with dyslexia RIGHT NOW! Please find to follow here some of the most helpful websites, tools and other resources we know that can make a significant difference in the lives of students as well as adults with dyslexia---whether you are a Missouri citizen or not. To make the access to these resources more convenient for you, we have collected them into Pinterest boards. That way, you will have them at your fingertips whenever the need arises.

Happy Reading---EVERYONE!

BEST Websites and Resources for Dyslexia

700+ Dyslexia Resources & Support
A very large collection of websites, links and other resources to help the 1 in 5 individuals estimated to be challenged with dyslexia. Many resources in the list are FREE or low cost.
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/dyslexia-resources-support/

Dyslexia Tools
A collection of tools, fonts and other products to help students of all ages with dyslexia to enjoy more reading success.
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/dyslexia-tools/?etslf=9319&eq=Dyslexia

Reading Focus Cards desktop app (for Macs & Windows PCs---Price: $5.99)
From Brennan Innovators, LLC
This app is the digital version of the physical Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) for struggling readers. This app for Windows PCs and Macs provides practical READING SUPPORT for children and adults with ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other conditions that can affect reading success. It promotes more FOCUS when reading digital media whether online or offline (webpages, PDF files, Word docs, Excel spreadsheets & more.) The application FLOATS on top AND STAYS on top of underlying applications when moved on the screen over text by the fingers, mouse or arrow keys as needed. In addition, the Reading Focus Cards app (Patent 8,360,779) is compatible with and supports touch-screen technology where applicable.
1. Macs (desktops & notebooks): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. Windows PCs (desktops & laptops): https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards

Dyslexia Resources from UM DyslexiaHelp (University of Michigan)
The link, DyslexiaHelp.umich.edu, is a free website and curriculum about all things dyslexia -- straight from the leaders and best.
https://www.pinterest.com/umdyslexiahelp/?etslf=20429&eq=dyslexia

Dyslexia Apps
A grouping of apps for desktops, iPhones, Androids and other devices to help persons of all ages with dyslexia.
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/dyslexia-apps/?etslf=13595&eq=dyslexia

Homeschooling - Dyslexia by Marianne Sunderland, Homeschooling With Dyslexia
350+ excellent tips and resources for homeschoolers with dyslexic learners.
https://www.pinterest.com/godismystrength/?etslf=6485&eq=marianne

70+ Dyslexia Resources by Monica, Discover Their Gifts
A collection of tips & resources for parents & families of children w/ dyslexia.
https://www.pinterest.com/monicawharton/dyslexia-resources/?etslf=10338&eq=dyslexia%20resources

Source:

Decoding Dyslexia MO
Announcement of the content of HB 638 and the important benefits of the new dyslexia legislation in the State of Missouri.
http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1921c9b59db5c29489c64f5cb&id=b0e616a7bf&e=0323f79beb

For information on customizable reading tools for dyslexia, ADHD and other challenges, 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

BEST Apps for Sensory Processing Issues

SPD Apps for ALL Platforms

We often hear the words Sensory Processing Disorder or the acronym SPD used to describe a child's or adult's challenges that involve the 5 senses. Yet, what does that really mean? What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?

Sensory processing or integration is the ability to perceive (by using our senses) and respond to our environment – both internal and external in an appropriate manner. It is consistent and grounded with awareness and attention. It is neither overly responsive nor dulled. As human beings, we all have our issues, both our sensory preferences and things that we avoid. That is what makes us who we are. It becomes problematic if it interferes with our ability to function and interact appropriately within our environment.

Sensory Processing Disorder is the newest term for, and is used synonymously with, Sensory Integration Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SI Dysfunction) and Dysfunction in Sensory Integration (DSI).

Currently, sensory integration is still being used to describe the theory and treatment, based on the original work of A. Jean Ayres. (Please see resource to follow below for more information on Dr. Ayres' work.)

Sensory Processing Disorder is used to define and describe the disorder and its dysfunctional symptoms - in hopes of making this a universally accepted "medical diagnosis" - thus enabling insurance reimbursement for evaluation and treatment.

We receive and perceive sensory input through sights, sounds, touch, tastes, smells, movement and balance, body position and muscle control. Difficulty taking in or interpreting this input can lead to devastating consequences with:

1. Interactions with others
2. Daily functioning
3. Social and family relationships
4. Behavioral challenges
5. Regulating emotions
6. Self-esteem
7. Learning

Over the past several of years, there have been more than a few technological developments and contributions made to assist parents and teachers in helping children and adults with SPD. This week, we wanted to provide our readers with a list of apps and other resources to further help them in their efforts. Here is such a list that includes Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android apps for Sensory Processing Disorder. We hope our parents and teachers will find them beneficial for their children and students who struggle with these SPD issues.

BEST Apps for Sensory Processing Issues

Sensory Integration Therapy (FREE---for Android)
by SensoryTreat
This app is specifically designed to help parents and OTs manage sensory diet. OTs can easily build daily routines that families can adhere to and receive reports on therapy progress. Helping parents turn sensory diet from chores to fun activities, which blend easily into family daily routine. This SensoryTreat app makes a sensory diet fun & easy!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sensorytreat.sensorytreat

Best Apps for Sensory Processing by Jo Booth (FREE & various prices---for iPad, iPod, iPod Touch and iPhone)
by Angie & Technology in (SPL) Education, Part of @AppyMall Network
Sensory processing or integration is the ability to perceive (by using our senses) and respond to our environment – both internal and external in an appropriate manner. It is consistent and grounded with awareness and attention. It is neither overly responsive nor dulled. As human beings, we all have our issues, both our sensory preferences and things that we avoid, and that is what makes us who we are. It is really only problematic, if it interferes with our ability to function and interact. Here are some of Angie's favorite apps for working with sensory processing.
http://www.techinspecialed.com/2014/01/22/best-apps-sensory-processingself-regulation-jo-booth/

Apps for Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism and Video Task Cueing, QR Codes & iBeacons
by Lon & No Limits to Learning
The apps by Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers Bloom $3.99, Air $1.99 and Trope $3.99 work for iPhones and iPads. The Scapes app $11.99 is for iPads only. Scapes looks more like a construction and creative workstation with more working parts. These apps are currently used for self-regulation and calming.
http://nolimitstolearning.blogspot.com/2015/03/apps-for-sensory-processing-disorder.html
For more information on these apps, please visit http://www.generativemusic.com/trope.html

Sensory Apps (Set #1---published in April 2011)
by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP
Sensory apps used with students having attentional, behavioral or mental health challenges help calm, refocus or motivate students. Here are some favorites of many occupational therapists.
http://otswithapps.com/2011/04/23/sensory-apps/

Sensory Apps (Set #2---published in May 2012)
by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP
Are you familiar with the Autism Apps App – a comprehensive list of apps used with and by people diagnosed with autism or other special needs?
Autism Apps is a FREE app with over 30 categories of curated apps providing information and links to reviews, videos and purchase of them. One of the categories listed in the Autism App is “Sensory”, providing suggestions of apps with visuals and auditory effects.
http://otswithapps.com/2012/05/23/sensory-apps-2/

Reading Focus Cards Desktop App (Patent 8,360,779)
This article describes an innovative, overlay-type app that can open new doors and eliminate many hurdles for a number of challenged readers when to attempting to read web pages, e-books, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and more on a Mac or Windows PC. This app can help decrease or often eliminate the OVERWHELM of TOO MUCH TEXT on a digital screen. The customization of this application for desktops is virtually infinite (user can adjust color, transparency, size of the digital tool components and more to meet needs). The application can be especially helpful for challenged readers of any age with ADHD, sensory issues, dyslexia, autism, stroke/brain injury issues and other conditions affecting reading ability. (App download links included in the article.)
http://www.focusandread.com/page/488513590

Other Helpful Resources for Sensory Processing Disorder

The Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center
A thorough explanation of the behaviors and developmental concerns that exist for some children, which may have seemed almost impossible to understand or manage. You can take the information and resources provided here to positively influence, understand, validate, "treat", support, and help your child or others who are behaviorally and emotionally "imprisoned" by their ineffective perception and interpretation of sensory input.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

Health & Parenting---Sensory Processing Disorder
by WebMD
General information about sensory processing disorder from one of the most trusted websites for medical information. Includes information about treatment options, too.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/sensory-processing-disorder

A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR
from SPD University---Sensory Processing Disorder Education
Information and bio about the work conducted by Dr. Anna Jean Ayres ((1920–1989), an occupational therapist and developmental psychologist known for her work in the area of sensory integration dysfunction, a term she coined in the 1960s to describe a theory used in occupational therapy.
http://spduniversity.org/jean-ayres-biography/

For information on customizable sensory-appealing, low-tech & digital reading tools for all kinds of challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info and support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

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

Accommodating Learning Differences: Multisensory Teaching Materials by Dr. Erica Warren

We recently had the privilege of visiting with Dr. Erica Warren, a unique educator who creates and provides unique materials that are very individualized and multisensory. Her work as well as her materials help to promote mindful instruction that nurtures a genuine love for life-long learning.

Dr. Warren earned her Doctorate in Education (University of Georgia), which focused on life-long issues in learning, the impact of learning difficulties across the lifespan, and comprehensive diagnostic evaluations. In addition, Dr. Warren acquired a Master's degree in Educational Psychology, which covered life-span development, learning, and cognition and a bachelor's degree in fine arts.

Earlier this month, Dr. Warren was kind enough to answer a few questions we posed about her passion and the unique work she does to help ALL kinds of learners:

1) What experience(s) motivated you to establish Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials?
I had such a difficult time finding multisensory, fun and engaging materials, so I began to design my own. Then, when I saw how much my students benefited from my materials, I started the process of creating activities, documents, PowerPoints, audio discs, and Prezis that I could share with others.

In 2008, my first publication was Multisensory Multiplication and Division to Melodies. This project was a blast, and many of my students assisted by helping with the design of the CD cover and singing the songs in a professional recording studio. It was wonderful seeing these once dis-empowered learners who had struggled with the process now teaching and motivating others.

Since then, I have created board games, card games, cognitive games and exercises, and instructional presentations on topics such as following directions, multisensory instruction, mastering place value in math, teaching visualization, Orton-Gillingham remediation and executive functioning to name a few. I now have over 80 products that are available in my online stores Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials. I also offer them on Teachers Pay Teachers.

2) What are the goals/objectives for your organization and the work you do?
My ultimate goal is to set a high standard and to reform education. We are living in a time of that I call Edu-chaos. Learning is a drag and both teachers and students have become passive participants of a broken system. I hope to bring the joy and awe back into education; what I like to call AwEducation.

3) What kind of feedback have you received about your Good Sensory Learning Materials?
I hear amazing testimonials from all over the globe.
If you really want to know what people think, you can go to my store at Teacher Pay Teachers. As I don’t own the site, the testimonials are unbiased.

4) Which materials are or appear to be the most in-demand?
My two most popular products are Reversing Reversals (remedial tools for struggling readers) and Planning, Time Management and Organization for Success.

5) Do you have plans to create additional materials? If so, for which topics (content) do you see the most requests or demand?
Really, the students that I work with one-on-one are my inspiration. If they have trouble mastering an academic topic, I usually create materials for them before their next session. Many of these become the foundation of a new publication. However, sometimes the projects are much bigger and can take 1-2 years to produce. For example, I wrote a digital book called Mindful Visualization for Education and I’m presently co-authoring, with Michael Bates from the Dyslexia Reading Well, a teaching guide for working with students with dyslexia. Finally, I’m thinking of collaborating with some amazing professionals to create teacher training workshops.

6) Who are the persons or groups seeking your advice and your materials? In other words, who is your audience?
My audience is students, teachers, parents, homeschoolers, learning specialists, and educational therapists. I have products, free materials and advice for all of these populations.

7) To date, have there been any specific individuals, groups or other organizations that inspired you and helped you realize your goals for Good Sensory Learning?
Again, my students are my greatest inspiration. In addition, there were key teachers along the way that helped to pave my path and fuel my fire.

8) You write and manage a blog entitled Learning Specialist Materials. Who are your readers? What important topics do you address in this blog?
Because I tackle a variety of topics, my audience is also students, teachers, parents, homeschoolers, learning specialists, and educational therapists. I have written a blog every week for a number of years now, and it has become a diary of my thoughts, ideas, and creations. I offer instructional strategies, reviews on technology and games, free materials, interviews, product reviews, and thoughts on how we can improve education.

Links and Resources Provided by Dr. Erica Warren

Good Sensory Learning
Educational workbooks, other materials and advice for all kinds of learners are available here directly from Dr. Warren.
http://www.goodsensorylearning.com/

Dyslexia Materials
This is the "daughter" site of Dr. Warren's Good Sensory Learning (Please see previous link above here.) Materials for reading, writing, math, memory & organizational skills are available via this website (some FREE).
http://www.dyslexiamaterials.com/

Teachers Pay Teachers
An alternate website where Dr. Warren's unique educational materials are available for online purchase (some FREE).
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Erica-Warren

Blog: Learning Specialist Materials
Dr. Warren offers free advice, materials, links and more here on her community blog.
http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/

For information on customizable low-tech & digital reading tools for all kinds of challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Images courtesy of: Dr. Erica Warren