Tuesday, June 26, 2012

10 Common Methods In Modifying Academic Tasks

As we have progressed in education, so has our methods in evaluating an individual's understanding of the curriculum. Some students may have a difficult time with producing the same results with the standard assessment models

Here are some common modifications used to see if your student understands the information that has been presented to them.

1.  Reduce the number of questions or problems assigned to the student. 

2. Highlight key words, phrases or sentences for the student to read.

3. Remove workbook pages and present them to the student to reduce their anxiety.

4. Read tests/quizzes aloud.

5. Rearrange information and/or problems on a page (for example - create more space when needed in math)

6. Rewrite directions at a more accessible level

7. Allow additional time to take tests

8. Use graph paper for math - developmentally appropriate writing paper for handwritten assignments

9. Tape record directions

10. Have peers give directions or paraphrase explanations


Sunday, June 24, 2012

10 Tips For Students Who Have Limited Memory Skills

Do you think that your child has limited memory skills? If so, here are some easy to use tips and strategiest to help them remember things a little more easily!

1. Have your child question any directions, explanations or instructions that they do not understand.

2. Ask your child to review their morning and afternoon activities and then have them repeat the sequence.

3. Play concentration games (such as Memory or Pairs - a card game) with a limited number of symbols. Increase the number of symbols as they show success.

4. Reinforce successful demonstration of remembering to have materials such as pens, pencils, paper and textbooks.

5. Use multiple modalities when presenting information (auditory, visual, kinesthetic).

6. Practice dictation for the 21st century!  Record a message on tape or your phone and then ask  your child to write the message. Increase the length of the message gradually.

7. Ask your child to practice repeating information to increase short term memory skills by using family phone numbers, names, dates of events, etc.

8. Give your child an object to play with for a few seconds - take it away - then ask your child specific attributes of that object (shape, size, color, etc.)

9. Deliver directions in a clear manner and at an appropriate pace for understanding.

10. Have them take notes if they cannot remember.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

Overachiever - or just great genes? A doctor by 21..

I had an amazing educational experience - minus the one year that I skipped when I had entered elementary school. It's a story that my mother tells me that I can't remember, one that involves my dad enrolling me in school and fibbing to the school registrar that I had already attended Kindergarten. 

Little did he know that they put me in a first grade class and I had to learn everything that a typical first grader had to learn, in one month. I shake my head to this day thinking that I could have had a totally different life experience if I had graduated a year later and had entered college at the age of 18 instead of 17.  Regardless of what had happened when I was younger, the experience has lent itself to developing the person that I am now.

As I looked at this article, it is apparent that this individual was destined to be a doctor at the ripe age of 21. No matter what was told to him in his life, he had the skills and motivation necessary to become a professional at that point in time. His parents did not drive him to be successful; it was something that many successful people will say, "came naturally".

Monday, June 11, 2012

Can your child prepare for the JATP?

Many parents in Atlanta - and outside areas ask themselves, "Can my child prepare for the JATP?". If you happen to be one of the parents that find yourself in this group - the more important follow up question would be: "What would happen if my child did not prepare for the JATP?"

As I have worked with many parents, caregivers, and school administrators, it has been apparent that many children lack the skills that are needed in order to enter kindergarten - let alone a private school. In one conversation that I have had with several parents I have adamantly told them, "Your school is doing the best job that they can do - and that is to be a school. The skills that your child will need in order to be prepared for the JATP is an entirely different process."

It is rather saddening for me to hear that a student did not get into a school because of the day that they walked into the office to be tested and felt "tricked". My goal is not to give them answers to tests, but to help the student feel more at ease in the process. Whether the task is to give parents the right direction when they go to the bookstore, or to help them with an outline on how to be a more engaging parent - those that really want the best outcomes in preparing for the JATP will actually, seek help.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help with your child's private school educational goals, please feel free to contact me at christine@learningridge.com.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

From Zero to Gifted...

Parents have it tougher now more than ever. When I was growing up, we had enough television to keep us plugged in for 24 hours. If something happened at school, the only way that you would learn about it was "word of mouth" - and I mean that literally. The most technologically advanced item that my school had at that time was a scanner - and it took me years to figure out what that fine piece of technology was.

As we progress in society- I feel for parents who have the dream of watching their children exceed their expectations. They buy them applications, video games, and devices in hopes that they can become the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Donald Trump. However, it seems that the more that some parents give, the less their children perform.

This is not always the case. In one parent that I have observed over the last few months - her children have gone from shy, indecisive 3rd graders to resilient, completely confident 4th graders. Her son had come to me with problems in spelling and in handwriting. Through hours of targeted instruction and a listening ear, he has become a changed young man with the skills of a child years ahead of his time. The younger daughter was so quiet and timid when I had met her that I thought it would take years to come up with a breakthrough. After just a few months, her true personality came shining through and as a result - she had become accepted into the Gifted and Talented program.

I am so happy to know that I was part of this process and am proud to see these children grow in this last year.