LDA 54th Annual International Conference

February 5, 2015 by

tiger tuesday booth 507 learning disabilities conference in chicagoWe’re excited to be attending the Learning Disabilities Association Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel February 16-19, 2017.

We will be exhibiting the Tiger Tuesday® Reading Program

We look forward to meeting people from all walks of life but with a common interest of helping people with learning disabilities and ADHD.

  • Adults with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Parents of children with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Teachers of special education and general education
  • School Principals and Administrators
  • Counselors and Social Workers
  • Researchers, Medical and Mental Health Professionals
  • Education Policy Advocates

[Read more…]

Filed Under: ADHD, Events, News

Not Up to Grade Level

January 26, 2015 by

4th Grader Hates to Read. Or Does He?

Sometimes it looks like a child doesn’t like to read, but as Dr. Linda Silbert tells two worried parents, sometimes it’s something different. Read on to learn what things may masquerade as hating to read.

4th grader hates to readDear Dr. Linda,

I read your column about the boy who loved books but didn’t read very well. Your comments about dyslexia and phonics explained a lot for me. But we have a different kind of reading problem with our 4th grader. He is certainly not up to grade level. Aiden’s been tested, and he isn’t dyslexic. His reading isn’t great but he can read. However he’s not up to grade level.

The problem is he just hates to read. I know you’ve written about this before but now that school is starting can you please give us some suggestions for motivating him. We’re not asking him to like reading or even to read more than his teachers require, but we do want him to do well in school.

We’ve been told there’s more reading in 4th grade. We’re afraid his poor reading will hurt his grades. We appreciate your good advice.  

Signed,
Worried Parents

Dear Worried Parents,

I understand your concern. We all want our children to do well in school. And you are correct. As I mentioned last week, kids are required to read more in 4th grade and to read in subjects like social studies and science, not just reading circle. So yes, poor reading skills can affect grades.

However, with help children who don’t read or don’t read up to grade level can improve a lot. Several factors contribute to children disliking reading. For many of these children, it’s not that they dislike reading, they dislike that reading is hard for them, and that they aren’t very good at it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Comprehension, Fluency, Learning Disabilities Tagged With:

Learning the Alphabet Case Study

January 24, 2015 by

Case Study: How Henry Learned the Alphabet

learning the alphabet case studyHenry, who had just turned five, came into my office with his mom. Mom was concerned that Henry didn’t know all the letters in the alphabet. She said that Henry had been in preschool since two years old and therefore had enough exposure to the alphabet that he should have learned the letters by now.

When I assessed Henry, he was in the above average range of intelligence, but only knew five letters…H E N R Y. As I watched Henry it was obvious that he became totally engaged when he was playing and having fun. So, I took out the Tiger Tuesday Alphabet Lotto game and invited him to play the game with me. He wanted his mom to join us and she did. Each one of us had four Lotto boards, each with different letters of the alphabet. Henry chose which boards each would get.

He then wanted to be the caller. Of course I was delighted. It meant more practice in learning the letters. As he picked up each alphabet card with an upper case letter of the alphabet, he quickly looked at his boards to see if he had that letter. When his mom got one of the letters he’d jump up and down and tell her that she was doing great. But, the final result was that Henry won.

I told him that he could keep the game. When it was back in the package he stood hugging it. As they were leaving, his mom told him that she was taking him to Toys R Us because he had done such a good job. He then said, still hugging the game against his chest,  “Can I take my alphabet game with me into the store? I love this game.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: beginning readers, Case Study, Dyslexia Tagged With: ,

Organizing Student Work

January 23, 2015 by

An Organized Student is a Happy Student

Organized student workingWhich makes you a happy parent!

This post originally appeared in Dr. Linda’s syndicated newspaper column on September 4th, 2014 at the start of the school year. Getting students organized is beneficial anytime. Helping kids get organized, especially if they have ADHD, will help improve grades and make for a happier school year for both your young student and you!

Dear Dr. Linda:

A couple years ago you wrote a column about organizing student work, especially all that paper they bring home from school. You explained a system for helping kids organize this mess. I didn’t pay much attention at the time because my kids were little. One of them wasn’t even in school yet. But now that they’re older, what a disaster. I just found a paper about a school event I would have gone to but never saw the announcement. Could you please write about your paper organization again?

Thank you. Trish

Dear Trish,

I certainly sympathize with you and am happy to explain my paper organizing system again. It’s not so bad during the first couple months of the school year, but by mid-year, all that paper can be overwhelming. And what’s worse, lost assignments, notes from teachers, misplaced instructions for science projects and so forth can affect a child’s grades. [Read more…]

Filed Under: ADHD Tagged With:

Parenting Holiday Stress

January 19, 2015 by

Holiday Parenting Stress Tips

The holidays can add to the normal stress that parents suffer throughout the year. In this Q&A, find out what Dr. Linda recommends to alleviate parenting stress and get a free resource to help your kids learn to study.

holiday parenting stress tips for any time of year.Dear Dr. Linda,

I know the holiday season is supposed to be a joyous and fun time for kids and adults. But I have to tell you that I begin dreading the holiday season around Halloween and don’t calm down until after New Years. Every year seems to be the same. I end up getting crazy with shopping, baking, gift wrapping, sending out holiday cards, etc.

My youngest, Evan, now in fifth grade and my daughter, Maddie, now in eighth grade, always seem to start doing poorly in school at this time of the year. I know why. I usually help them with their homework and stuff, but I don’t have the time or strength to help them during the holidays. My husband is rarely around because he travels for business.

Well, this year’s not any different. Last night, Evan was so confused by his homework that he needed more help than usual. I was so stressed out that I couldn’t figure it out either. The combination of the homework and my inability to help caused him to have a total meltdown. Then this morning I got a call from Maddie’s school counselor to tell me that her teachers would like to have a meeting with me to discuss Maddie’s recent drop in grades and her attitude.

How do other parents do this?

Mom dreading holidays [Read more…]

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With:

Does my child have ADHD?

December 22, 2014 by

ADHD or Dyslexia? Or could it be something worse?

This week Dr. Linda answers a fairly common but scary question; “Does my child have ADHD or dyslexia?” Here’s what you need to know.

Picture of boy pulling girl's hair.Dear Dr. Linda,

Miles is in the fourth grade. We just had a meeting with his teacher. She said that she felt he had ADHD. Last year, the teacher mentioned it also. We know something is wrong, but we don’t think it’s ADHD. Our neighbor’s son has ADHD, and Miles doesn’t act anything like him. We really think it’s something else. Does Miles have ADHD? How would we know?

ADHD or Not?

Dear ADHD or Not,

There are so many parents that feel something isn’t right with their child, but they are not sure what it is. Could their child have dyslexia? Could their child have an auditory processing disorder? And without fail, the question comes up, “Could my child have ADHD?” Most parents don’t want that label. They continue to tell me that their friend’s child has ADHD, but their own child doesn’t behave like the other child.

Moms and Dads just don’t want to accept that their child’s problems may be coming from ADHD, with or without hyperactivity. The reason may be that ADHD is associated with medicating their child and almost all the parents tell me on the onset that they don’t believe in medication. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Teaching Kids with Learning Disabilities Tagged With: , ,

Reading and Self Esteem

December 19, 2014 by

What to Do When Your Child Says He’s Stupid

famous people with dyslexiaThat’s a bold headline, but if you’re a parent of a child with low self-esteem, it can be heart breaking when it happens and you’ll do anything to help. Dyslexia can contribute to feelings of low self esteem.  In this edition of Ask Dr. Linda, learn how to help boost your child’s self-esteem and that many successful people struggle with and overcome dyslexia. We also have links for more information.

Hi Dr. Linda,

I really enjoy reading your columns and learn so much.  But we have an issue that I don’t think you have addressed and maybe your readers will benefit if you can help us with our situation.

My husband and I are fortunate enough to have three wonderful children. Our oldest and our youngest have always done very well in school. Our middle child is just as bright as his siblings, but he struggles in school with dyslexia.

He’s in 5th grade now and has begun saying that he’s the stupid one in the family. He’s even said that he’s the stupidest one in school. Our hearts break every time he says that. What do we do to help his self-esteem?

Thanks in advance. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dyslexia Tagged With: , ,

Introducing the Best Reading Program

December 17, 2014 by

The Best Reading Program For Preschoolers, Dyslexia, Struggling Readers and Elementary Schools…

        …Because Teachers Tell Us What They Want and What Children Need!

We’ve surveyed teachers, tutors and parents to find out what they need to teach kids to learn how to read. For 2015 and beyond, they said over-whelmingly that reading programs need to be multi-sensory and integrating phonics and whole language components into a balanced literacy guided reading approach. It is interactive & comprehensive.

They want it aligned with Common Core Standards and compatible with the Orton Gillingham Approach.

It also helps that it is “The Funnest Way to Learn How to Read in the Whole Wide World!”

Why should you watch the Tiger Tuesday video? [Read more…]

Filed Under: beginning readers, Encouraging Reading, Multisensory Phonics reading Program Tagged With: , , ,

4th Grade Reading Comprehension

December 12, 2014 by

4-Year-Old Understands More Than His 4th-Grade Brother

A concerned parent wants Dr. Linda’s help for her 4th grade son’s reading comprehension.

low reading comprehension in 4th gradeDear Dr. Linda,

My son is in fourth grade and he loves to read. He even reads the newspaper. But he has no idea what he’s reading! He reads stories to his younger brother who’s four. My four year old can tell me about the story, but his fourth grade brother can’t. I’m concerned there’s something wrong with him.

Janet

Dear Janet,

What’s happening is that he’s learned to read as if he’s reading a word list. He is not visualizing an image in his head nor is he thinking about the story. He also may not be focusing. He’s just reading words. [Read more…]

Filed Under: beginning readers, Reading comprehension Tagged With:

When should we begin teaching our daughter to read?

December 9, 2014 by

What Do Beginning Readers Need and When?

Today’s Mailbag Question comes from parents of a 4-year-old who ask a common question. Dr. Linda has great insights and a few suggestions.

when-should-we-begin-teaching-our-daughter-to-readDear Dr. Silbert,

Our daughter Megan is 4 years old. She’ll go into kindergarten next year. Should we start teaching her to read now so she won’t be behind?  Or is it better just to let the school do it. Of course, we want her to do well in school and will help her in any way that is appropriate. Thank you for your help.

Patti and Mike

Dear Patti and Mike,

Many concerned parents have the same question, wondering whether they should start teaching their kids to read at home.

Megan doesn’t need to know how to read by the time she gets to kindergarten. But as a beginning reader, it’s helpful if she has some basics down and is looking forward to reading.

If she really wants to learn to read now, that’s fine. She should be encouraged as long as it’s fun and not taking time away from playing.

Beginning readers play, run around, skip, sing, and imagine. They love learning new things about their world. They’ve got questions, energy, and enthusiasm.

Most, especially if they’ve been read to or introduced to books, look forward to reading themselves.

What they don’t have is a long attention span. Sitting still and being quiet for long periods of time is not their strength. Boring is out.

So what do beginning readers like Megan need? [Read more…]

Filed Under: beginning readers, Encouraging Reading, games for learning Tagged With: ,


Phonics Centered — Consistent with Orton-Gillingham — Multisensory

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