BEST Websites for AD/HD

The first in a series of 5 articles with specific special needs resources

Most visitors to our website and those who know us at Brennan Innovators are familiar with our Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759), solutions for struggling readers. However, not everyone knows that we also provide consultation services and educational resources for parents, teachers and adults with reading challenges.

We especially enjoy connecting individuals with information and tools that can help improve reading focus, concentration, comprehension and retention for an increase in overall reading success for persons of all ages. This includes individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, low vision, stroke recovery or TBI (traumatic brain injury) and other issues that can impact reading ability.

This week, we are beginning a new series of articles that will give our readers separate lists of websites with each specific to a particular special need. These lists will be current and hopefully helpful for parents, teachers and adults looking for assistance with reading issues.

To coincide with the beginning of ADHD Awareness Month (beginning October 1), the topic for the first installment here is AD/HD, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder. This is the notation used for either ADD (no hyperactivity) or ADHD (with the hyperactivity component). Both children and adults can be affected by the condition, and it can occur in varying degrees of severity from one individual to another. There really is no “cure” for AD/HD, but it is very possible to successfully “manage” the symptoms of the disorder. This management may include the use of assistive tools, strategies, coaching and other helpful resources.

To follow here are some of the best websites available to help with AD/HD (both ADD and ADHD). These are the go-to sites we use time and again to refer parents, teachers and adults for the AD/HD information they need. You might consider bookmarking this page for easy access for a time when these resources might be needed.

BEST AD/HD Websites for Children & Adults

• CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a national non-profit organization working to improve the lives of affected people through education, advocacy and support. From lobbying to local support groups, CHADD is a leader in the field of ADHD.
http://www.chadd.org/

• National Resource Center on AD/HD (Sponsored by CHADD) is the center funded by the CDC. It has much science-based information about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
http://www.help4adhd.org

• ADD Resources is another non-profit serving the ADHD community. It has an extensive directory of workshops, conferences, publications, and articles for parents, teachers, adults, and medical professionals. The organization supports itself through memberships. (A fee to access some content)
http://w3.addresources.org/

• ADDvance.com is a site where Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. and Patricia Quinn, M.D. (Edge Foundation board member) provides answers to questions about AD/HD for families and individuals at every stage of life from preschool through retirement years.
http://www.addvance.com/index.html

• ADDitude Magazine is the site that provides numerous resources for parents and teachers of children with AD/HD as well as for adults challenged with the condition. Printable downloads, many informational articles, an AD/HD community forum and more are readily available on the site at no cost.
http://www.additudemag.com/

Next week’s article: BEST Websites for Dyslexia & Dysgraphia Stay tuned! Follow our blog and have next week’s article delivered right to your inbox as soon as it is published! (Please see Email Box to the right on this page to register. Thank you!)

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

BEST Audio Books for ALL Kinds of Readers

If you are a teacher or parent, you may already know the value of audio books and stories that are able to be downloaded from the Internet. If you are the teacher or parent of one or more auditory learners, you probably consider audio books to be one of the most important resources you can provide for struggling readers. However, teachers and parents of children with special needs will very often look at audio books as priceless.

Student learning styles that benefit most from listening must be addressed in the classroom and at home. Doing so will help these students reach more of their academic goals in ALL content areas.

As promised in our last blog article, we wanted to provide our readers with a list of current online audio book and story resources for auditory learners as well as others who struggle with traditional reading or informational media. This would include children, teens and adults challenged with various types of dyslexia, ADHD, autism, low vision, stroke recovery, TBI issues or other conditions that can impact reading success. As always, we hope you will find these resources helpful for the individuals you serve or care for each day.

BEST Audio Books & Stories for Children

Random House Audio Listening Library (for Young Children---Pre-K - 2nd Grade)
Various platforms (some FREE)
FREE and individually-priced audio selections for very young listeners
http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/listeninglibrary/catalog/results.php?grade_range_in=0-2&sort=best_13wk_3month

Random House Audio Listening Library (for Middle School---Grades 3 – 6)
Various platforms (some FREE)
FREE and individually-priced audio selections for middle school listeners
http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/listeninglibrary/catalog/results.php?grade_range_in=3-6&sort=best_13wk_3month.

Audiobooks - Kids (FREE)-by Audiobook Pop! LLC
Platforms: for iPhone and iPad
The Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Velveteen Rabbit, Anderson's Fairy Tales, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Adventures of Reddy Fox
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiobooks-kids-free/id537856546?mt=8

FREE Audio Stories for Kids (great for shorter attention spans or younger children)
Here is a list of audio stories created especially for children. Listen by clicking on the story title to visit the story’s page where you can read along by downloading the audio file provided.
http://lightupyourbrain.com/stories/

Books Should Be Free-for Children
Platforms: iPhone, Android, Kindle & mp3 players
Many FREE public domain audio books & e-books for children
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Children

BEST Audio Books for Teens

Random House Audio Listening Library (for Young Adult---7th Grade & up)
Various platforms (some FREE)
FREE and individually-priced audio selections for teen listeners
http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/listeninglibrary/catalog/results.php?grade_range_in=7-up&sort=best_13wk_3month

Books Should Be Free-for Teens & Young Adults
Platforms: iPhone, Android, Kindle & mp3 players
Many FREE public domain audio books & e-books for teens and young adults
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Teen_Young_adult

Books Should Be Free-Short Stories (great for shorter attention spans)
Platforms: iPhone, Android, Kindle & mp3 players
FREE public domain audio books & e-books for teens & young adults
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Short_stories

BEST Audio Books for Adults

Books Should Be Free-Non-fiction Selections
Platforms: iPhone, Android, Kindle & mp3 players
FREE public domain audio books & e-books for adults (some for teens & young adults)
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/genre/Non-fiction

Books Should Be Free-Top 100 Audio Book Selections
Platforms: iPhone, Android, Kindle & mp3 players
FREE public domain audio books & e-books for adults (some for teens & young adults)
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/Top_100

Audiobooks.com
40,000 mystery, romance, bestsellers and other selections via membership
FREE 7-day trial available
http://www.audiobooks.com/

BEST Audio Books for Everyone

Podiobooks (FREE)
Podiobooks has over 70,000 free audio books over every subject you can think of and includes audio books for adults and kids. Download the free audio books directly from the website or receive them like podcasts from an RSS feed. There is no need to register to get a free audio book from Podiobooks but if you do, and registration is free, you'll get a custom podcast feed that will make enjoying your book a whole lot easier.
http://freebies.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=freebies&cdn=hobbies&tm=96&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=4&bts=22&zu=http%3A//www.podiobooks.com/

LibriVox (FREE)
For computers, iPods or other mobile devices, or to burn onto a CD
LibriVox has a huge selection of free audio books that are recordings of volunteers who have read chapters from books that are in the public domain. You can find a free audio book by searching by title, author, or status. You can also browse all the titles in the catalog or view only the most recent audio books. The free audio books can be downloaded directly from LibriVox or you can subscribe to them as podcasts.
http://librivox.org/

Project Gutenberg (FREE)
Project Gutenberg makes audio e-books available for some of the same great literature available in plain text. Listings are divided into two categories: Human-read and computer-generated audio books. These files can be very large, so are not well-suited for people using a modem or other low-speed connection.
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:The_Audio_Books_Project

AudioBooksForFree.com (FREE)
All types of literary genres including non-fiction are available here.
http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/home

Audible.com
Audible has a 30-day free trial going which means that you can download any audio book of your choice for free during that time. Audible has a great selection of audio books and you'll be able to find just about any audio book you are looking for, including best sellers and new releases.
http://www.audible.com/t1/30trial_at?source_code=COMGB900TWS022912&AID=1644783&PID=6448496

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: William Milner Photography: http://www.milner-photo.com/images/people/headphone_kid.jpg

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

7 Study Tips to Go!

Several weeks ago, many students began returning from the summer break to begin a new school year. The last wave of students will be entering their classrooms and meeting their new teachers during the coming week. It’s hard to believe, but as we approach the end of the first month of school, these students will be starting to prepare for their first quizzes and tests of the new school year. (How does that thought make YOU feel?)

For some children and teens, testing is considered just part of being a student. However, for the many students with reading and learning challenges of various kinds, a looming quiz or test can cause much anxiety, which in turn can negatively impact student well-being, academic attitudes, test performance and overall learning success.

How can students avoid these negative issues? The answer is with GOOD prep for quizzes, tests and other assessments that are a necessary part of student learning. As a follow-up to last week's article about one, very effective study method called SQ3R (http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2013/08/can-sq3r-help-students-with-adhd.html), we wanted to present here some tips and tricks to effectively help students manage both study times and test sessions. Instead of inducing anxiety and stress, we hope that the tips offered here will make a real difference when the teacher announces “the first test” of the school year or ANY test from September to June.

7 Study Tips to Go!

1. Break down the content: Take the content to be learned and break it into “chunks” of information. If you are to learn the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution by next week, break it down into lines or sections, and study one line/section each day until it is committed to memory. Of course, this means that you will want to start early, as soon as the work is assigned.
RESULT: You will be able to “pace” yourself and not experience that feeling of “overwhelm” with too much information needing your attention at once.

2. Create acronyms & funny stories: Take the details of the information you need to learn and turn them into acronyms (a series of letters that stands for something meaningful) with a funny twist or story connection. For example, if you need to remember the Order of Operations in mathematics, create the acronym PEMDAS, but recall it with “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.” This will serve as a “funny” prompt that you should always address math problems in this order:

P------> Parentheses first
E------> Exponents (i.e. Powers and Square Roots, etc.)
MD---> Multiplication and Division (left-to-right)
AS----> Addition and Subtraction (left-to-right)

RESULT: It will be easier to remember details with these acronyms and “funny” tales.

3. Change it up: Change the location of WHERE you choose to study. Scientific research indicates that sticking to one study location and simply alternating the room where a person studies, improves retention. An older student might choose to visit a different but quiet location each day when trying to learn the same or related content. Because the brain is being forced to form new associations (in the different locations) with the same material, it actually becomes a stronger memory.

4. Write it out/Type it out: There is something about writing something down that impresses the brain. Gather ALL the important points (main ideas) from one section of material needing to be learned and re-write those points on a NEW sheet of paper. If writing is a challenge for you (i.e. dysgraphia, dyspraxia, etc.), type these points on your computer and print them out. Type each point in a different font or color to further impress the brain.
RESULT: You will be providing your brain with even more “memory prompts” by doing these above activities.

5. Talk it out: In addition, the act of reading information aloud can have a positive effect on one’s memory. Try it. Read aloud the important points or details from a studied section of content. For this activity, be sure to find an appropriate location for your “read-aloud” study!
RESULT: Your brain will be mentally storing the details by both “seeing” AND “hearing” the needed information.

6. Create flashcards: For vocabulary word study or learning facts and dates for social studies, history or science content, consider writing out (or typing, if needed) flashcards on regular 3” X 5” index cards. Put each new vocabulary word on one side of a card with its definition on the card’s reverse side. For other content, put the date, event or other term on one side with the explanation of each on the reverse side. With a standard hole-puncher tool, punch a hole in the upper left-hand corner of each card with and ring them all together with a loose-leaf binder ring. Do this for each major section of content to help you better prepare for chapter tests, etc. Then, after the test, file them away (with labeled dividers) in a re-cycled shoebox for end-of-unit study or semester exam prep later.
RESULT: You will be “imprinting” your brain with each card’s information and will be much more prepared for assessments, no matter when they are scheduled. You can also carry each set of study flashcards in your purse or backpack, always ready for an impromptu study session or simply while waiting for a friend to join you.

7. Use good study tools: Select reading and study tools that can effectively contribute to your learning experience. Consider online tools such as Evernote, Studyblue, Zotero and Google Hangouts to jumpstart your study efforts, especially if you like FREE tech downloads (See Resources to follow here.). Should focus and concentration be issues for you, you might want to take a look at the Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759). These teacher-created, reading tools can help isolate 1-2 lines of text in a book, document and even on tech devices such as Kindles, iPads and other e-readers and e-tablets. Law, medical students and others with massive amounts of content to read, use these tools and have found them to be quite helpful, especially when focus and attention are study issues.
RESULT: More focus and concentration on content lead to better retention. The RIGHT tools for an individual can make ALL the difference in one’s learning success.

Resources

“How to Study” Resources
Scroll halfway down page to access FREE downloadable resources for better study results.
http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/governmenthistorygeography.htm

23 Science-Backed Study Tips to Ace a Test
Excellent tips that work when preparing for tests and exams
http://greatist.com/happiness/better-study-tips-test/

Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits by Benedict Carey, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/health/views/07mind.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Five FREE online study tools for higher grades
Merge new technology with studying and use these five free online study tools. They allow you to study anywhere your laptop or phone can go, helping you make great use of the extra chunks of time in your day: riding the bus, waiting for a professor’s office hours to start, or hanging out between classes.
https://www.doit.wisc.edu/five-free-online-study-tools-for-higher-grades/

Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565.759)--These reading tools are solutions for challenged readers of all ages. They can be especially helpful for children, teens and adults with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, low vision and other issues that impact reading success.
www.FocusandRead.com/products

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: http://www.focusandread.com/blog/post/3537480

Can SQ3R Help Students with ADHD?

As many of our readers may already know, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) can begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. ADHD and ADD symptoms, such as impulsiveness, inattentiveness and hyperactivity (with ADHD) can cause problems at home, school, work or in relationships.

As we begin the new school year, we wanted to offer information this week that would be helpful throughout the school year to challenged students, especially to those with ADHD. That is why we have written this article about SQ3R, a method of study that has helped many students in all age groups to read and study more effectively and successfully. This method can be especially beneficial to those students in middle school through high school and college. However, can this method called SQ3R help students with ADHD?

Before we answer that question, it will be helpful to understand just what SQ3R is. SQ3R helps a student build a framework to understand a reading assignment and prepare for a test or other assessment. It is a FREE reading and study strategy formed from its letters: Survey! Question! Read! Recite! Review!

1. SURVEY the chapter BEFORE you read it:
• Look at the title, headings, and subheadings.
• Look at captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps.
• Look at review questions or teacher-made study guides.
• Pay attention to introductory and concluding paragraphs.
• Look at the summary of the section.

2. QUESTION WHILE you are doing the survey:
• Turn the title, headings, and/or subheadings of the section into questions.
• Read questions at the end of the chapters or after each subheading.
• Ask yourself, "What did my instructor say about this chapter or subject
when it was assigned?"
• Ask yourself, "What do I already know about this subject?"
Note: If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration.
This variation is called SQW3R.

3. As you READ:
• Look for answers to the questions you first raised.
• Answer questions at the beginning or end of chapters or study guides.
• Re-read captions under pictures, graphs, etc.
• Note all the underlined, italicized, bold printed words or phrases.
• Study any graphics (photos, diagrams, etc.)
• Reduce your reading speed for difficult passages.
• Stop and re-read parts which are not clear.
• Read only a section at a time AND recite after each section.

4. RECITE AFTER you read a section:
• Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read, or summarize, in your own words, what you read
• Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words.
• Underline or highlight important points you've just read.
• Reciting: The more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read.
For example: “Triple strength” learning: Seeing, saying, hearing
“Quadruple strength” learning: Seeing, saying, hearing and writing!

5. REVIEW---This is an ongoing process

(Source: Study Guides and Strategies---SQ3R Reading Method http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm)

The steps involved in the SQ3R method make it an ideal tool to use when attention and memory may be issues for a student. For this reason and others, the SQ3R method may be particularly helpful to students challenged with ADHD because it promotes better understanding and retention of what is read and learned. However, to follow each of these steps, it will take time and patience, two things with which those with ADHD are already challenged. Support from others could go a long way in implementing this method. Parents and teachers as well as tutors and ADD coaches would be doing students a great service by introducing them to this SQ3R method of reading and study as well as providing ongoing support.

Additional SQ3R Resources

Strategic Reading Resource Center---Strategy Toolbox: Combinations---SQ3R
There are several strategies related to questioning. The following sources on this page provide some background on questioning, including the SQ3R Method.
http://www.iptv.org/pd/strategicreading/rws_stratcombo.cfm

Studying More Effectively
SQ3R helps you think about what you want to get from a document, study it in an appropriate level of detail, and remember information well.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_02.htm
More information at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_02.htm#sthash.e9n7U6gu.dpuf

Other Related Resources

ADHD: What Is It? (Slideshow)
This online presentation from WebMD defines and describes ADHD, a condition that the National Institute of Mental Health estimates 3% to 5% of U.S. children may have. However, some experts believe the figure could be as high as 10%. Learn more by viewing the presentation via this link.
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/ss/slideshow-adhd-in-children

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: http://www.focusandread.com/blog/post/3537480

Is Your Child Working TOO Hard Just to Read?

Tips & Tools to Help Struggling Readers

Is FOCUSING a struggle for your child or students when they attempt to read? Or is COMPREHENSION more of a problem? Could the root of the issue actually be memory and RETENTION?

Teachers are well aware that from Kindergarten to second grade, children LEARN to READ. However, beginning in third grade, children READ to LEARN. There is a significant difference between the learning objectives for these two stages of a child’s academic development. When children have LEARNED or mastered the skills to READ, they begin to APPLY those reading skills to all other learning. Unfortunately, if a child has not yet mastered the ability to read, all other learning can be quite challenging or even significantly delayed.

As a result, the third grade is very often the time when student reading issues begin to be noticed. If you are a teacher, you may already have some concerns about a few students struggling to read even though it is very early in the new school year. As the parent of a challenged reader, you may have noticed that attempting to read a story or do homework are almost painful for your child---AND you! You may see that your child appears to be working TOO hard just to READ.

What can be done to begin to help a struggling child or student with these focusing and reading challenges? We have gathered a few tips here involving "color" that we think will give you a place to start. We hope they will help your child or students to enjoy much more reading SUCCESS!

Colorful Tips & Tools for Struggling Readers

1. Reading Focus Cards---These customizable tools combine all the features of many other traditional reading tools and more. The Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) isolate 1 to 2 lines of text on a page (depending on font size) AND block out more surrounding text than any other tool available. In addition, these tools allow the reader to change white page backgrounds with a chosen colored filter (included in each package). Because of these features, the Reading Focus Cards can be especially helpful for:

-ADHD
-Dyslexia
-Convergence insufficiency
-Autism
-Low vision
-Stroke recovery or TBI issues
-Other conditions that impact reading success.

The inexpensive Reading Focus Cards can also be used with e-readers like Kindles, Nooks, etc. (Model #001-Shorter) and e-tablets like iPads, Android tablets, etc. (Model #002-Longer) to promote even more focus and concentration. For more information about these unique reading tools, visit http://www.focusandread.com/products.

2. Colored Paper---When reading printed media such as worksheets and other documents, consider requesting that they be copied on colored paper instead of the traditional white paper. Your local school or office supply store will usually be able to provide a ream of several colors to try in one package. Try a DIFFERENT color of paper each week until the BEST color for reading is determined. This color will promote more FOCUS and EYE COMFORT than the other colors. As a result, not only will the individual reader experience more focus, but better comprehension and retention will also be possible.

3. Colored Overlays---Try placing a colored yet transparent plastic sheet over a page of text to be read. These transparent but colored plastic sheets can be purchased at some office or art supply stores. Consider trying a variety of different colored sheets, one color at a time with a resting interval between each color’s trial. There is a good possibility that one particular sheet color may provide more focus and eye comfort for the reader than other colored sheets. Experiment with pastel colors as well as bright ones. Introducing the best or most helpful color can positively impact the appearance of the printed text for a reader with symptoms of dyslexia or other reading challenges. With the use of the most appropriate color, an individual reader may report that the letters “stopped moving”, “waving out” or “shadowing” on the page of text.

These three tips employ color to change white backgrounds on pages of text. A white background can cause what is often called visual stress for some readers. This can be especially troublesome when the text on the page is black. The contrast between the text and the background can be too stark. As a result, such readers often struggle with focusing, which also affects attention and comprehension. These visually-stressed readers can also experience fatigue much sooner, and their retention is often significantly impacted.

If you try the strategies described above here, and the reading problems persist, consider visiting (or suggesting a visit to) a developmental optometrist. This medical professional can test, evaluate, diagnose and treat children, teens and adults with vision-related reading challenges. Please keep in mind that an individual of any age can have 20/20 vision (determined by a traditional optometrist or optician) and yet still have a vision-related reading challenge. To locate such a developmental optometrist in your area, please visit the website of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) at http://covd.org.

Sources

Press Release - Patented ADHD Reading Tools Can Help ALL Kinds of Readers
http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/patented-adhd-reading-tools-can-help-all-kinds-readers

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: http://www.focusandread.com/blog/post/3537480

Math Apps & MORE for Challenged Learners!

Teachers are more than a little busy right now getting their classrooms ready for that first day of the new term. Parents are organizing their to-do lists preparing their children for a great academic year. Students are anticipating that first day with a new teacher. Challenged learners may actually be a bit anxious about the approaching weeks. However, everyone is getting in gear for the new school year!

Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, you are most likely interested in helpful apps and ready-to-use resources to help learners of all kinds and of all ages. We thought as a follow up to last week’s article entitled Math Made Easier for Challenged Learners, we would provide you with a list of direct links to all types of math apps, worksheets and other activities that would also be helpful for struggling learners. These can be used before or during the approaching fall term.

Please let us know if you are aware of other apps, downloadable worksheets or printable math activities of this kind. We will be more than glad to add them to the list below.

Have a great school year, everyone!

Helpful Math Apps

Math Apps for Children with Special Needs---from Dr. Gary James
Summaries and direct links to math apps for all kinds of learners
http://a4cwsn.com/tag/math/

Math Apps and Learning Tools for Kids (Apps listed for ages 2-14 years)
Learning and practicing math is always more fun when it’s part of a game. We like these apps and other related learning tools for how they use creative methods to teach kids math concepts.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-lists/math-apps-and-learning-tools-for-kids

Apps for Special Needs (Math)
Download a complete list of Apps for Special Needs (PDF). Direct links provided to iTunes App Store for each app. When accessing the apps through this link, your will be helping to raise funds for special needs each time you purchase.
http://www.ihelpforspecialneeds.com/iHelpWelcome/Math_Apps.html

Helpful Math Worksheets & Printables

FREE Printable Math Grids and Other Math Helpers-from Do2Learn
These grids are easy to print and help to keep numbers in the correct column when adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. You can write the problem in colored pencil or ink and have the child use a regular pencil. Dot-to-dot number worksheets, a printable multiplication table and number lines are also available via this link.
http://www.do2learn.com/activities/mathhelpers/

FREE Math Worksheets-from K5 Learning
Printable worksheets for each grade level from K-6 are available via this site.
http://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets

FREE Math Printables for Special Needs-from SENTeacher
Many excellent math printables are available here for all kinds of learners.
http://www.senteacher.org/print/mathematics/

Helpful Math Activities & Other RelatedResources for Special Needs

Math for the Fun of It!-from www.math.com
Here you will find a variety of enjoyable activities to assist you in teaching your child a few basic math concepts.
http://www.math.com/parents/articles/funmath.html

Math activities for special needs children
Here you will find e-books available online that include math activities and related resources for children with special needs.
http://www.mybookezzz.com/math-activities-for-special-needs-children/

Make Math More Fun for Your Special Needs Students with These Card Games!-from BrightHub Education

by Anne Vize
Most teachers in special education like to have a grab bag of ready-to-go activities they can pull out at a moment’s notice. These card games and activities work well with high school learners with low numeracy skills. Kids love playing with cards, and they provide age-appropriate learning skills.
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-inclusion-strategies/12360-five-great-math-card-games-for-special-education-learners/

Reading Focus Card (Model #001) can be used in many math applications, too.(Photo at right)

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: www.BrennanInnovators.com