PLUK News feed

Learning to Spell — A Challenge for Elementary Students with LD

Link: Spelling

Spelling is especially difficult for students with learning disabilities (LD), so it is important that schools provide explicit, systematic spelling instruction on a regular basis throughout elementary school for these students. In order to evaluate spelling instruction in your child’s classroom or to consider how you might help your child improve spelling skills, it helps to have some understanding of the skills students need in order to become competent spellers, and the types of activities that promote these skills.

How Learning Disabilities Affect Family Dynamics

Link: LD

The focus of identification and management of learning disabilities (LD) has been and continues to be primarily academic — how children’s strengths and weaknesses affect achievement in school. Yet parents often report that LD affects life at home, as well. In this article, Betty Osman, Ph.D., describes how learning disabilities impact family dynamics.

Fair and Equitable Grading Practices for Students with LD Who Have IEPs

Link: Grading

When parents, teachers, or schools raise issues of grading fairness and equity, it is often the result of confusion regarding the purposes for grades, and whether a “one-size-fits-all “grading system can work for learners with special needs, including those with learning disabilities. For a grading system to be fair and equitable, it must have as its philosophical basis a belief that fairness is defined as maintaining equity and meeting individual needs — not necessarily as “equality,” which is treating all students exactly the same.

Summer School — Better Late than Never

Link: Summer School

This article looks at the routes local school administrators can take to help students who are lagging behind their peers, including: retention; special education and diagnosing learning disabilities; credit recovery programs; and summer school.

Special Education Help on Internet

Link: Internet
For years, parents of kids with learning disabilities have had to work the phones to find out which public schools had the right therapies for them. Now, city officials are trying to make it easier. Starting this week, the city is posting special education "service delivery reports" on the website of every public school.

Parenting Tip of the Week: Supporting Children with Learning Disabilities

Link: Learning Disabilities

This parenting column discusses ways to support your child, including understanding their disability, finding their strengths, and identifying ways to work with the disability.

NJ.com: How to advocate for your learning disabled child

Link: NJ.com
When our daughter's kindergarten teacher suggested that Allison be tested for ADHD I felt a burst of panic in my chest.
I barely knew what the initials stood for (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). And the thought of taking her to a pediatric neurologist, who makes the diagnosis, was terrifying.

Rich.com: Perseverance pays off

Link: Rich.com
"A lot of kids with learning disabilities don't think success is theirs to achieve," Beatrice Bell said. Jessie Bell did.
Beatrice Bell thinks her daughter Jessie's story could be anyone's.

RTI Website Up! RTINetwork.org

Link: RTINetwork.org

The RTI Action Network has launched its Web site, RTINetwork.org. This site features informational resources as well as opportunities to interact with top researchers, experienced implementers, and colleagues. Content addresses implementation of RTI from preschool to secondary, with information for administrators, teachers, specialists, and families.

Wrightslaw.com: Legal Requirements of IEPs

Link: IEP

If you are like many parents, when you receive a notice about an IEP meeting for your child, you feel anxious. During IEP meetings, you may feel confused, overwhelmed and anxious. The best antidote to negative emotions is accurate, reliable information.

Because parents are not professional educators, many don't realize that they have a unique role to play in the IEP process. What is your role? As the parent, you are the expert on your child. That is why you are a member of your child's IEP team.

What can you do to feel more confident in IEP meetings? You can let Pete & Pam Wright teach you about the legal requirements of IEPs.