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Is a Learning Check-Up What My Child Needs?

Jul 27, 2017
 
 

As parents, we are all familiar with the yearly well-visit to the paediatrician’s office. The hearing and vision screenings, in particular, can offer insight about a child’s struggles in school. Catching an issue early can stop problems before they start. For many students, a learning check-up can be equally essential. Identifying and addressing an underlying weakness in reading or comprehension, preventively, can make all the difference for a child’s successful school year.

 

Waiting for the Report

It’s common for families to think of reports and tests like NAPLAN as a learning check-up. Unfortunately, these assessments are essentially the opposite—they only reflect your child’s performance, not their learning ability. Test scores don’t tell you why your child is struggling.

 

Grades, while important, don’t help change learning for a child. Even when they prompt positive action, like getting a tutor for a tough subject, grades may not give parents the big picture. If a student has a real weakness that is making school hard, the gap between performance and expectations may continue to grow as the school years march on.

 

Low grades in the areas of language arts and spelling may be a sign of an underlying weakness in language processing skills. A cause of difficulty in establishing sight words and contextual fluency is difficulty in visualising letters in words. This is called weak symbol imagery—the ability to create mental imagery for sounds and letters within words. A significant number of students have difficulty with rapidly perceiving sounds in words and are slow to self-correct their reading errors. This causes weakness in:

 

  • Memorising sight words
  • Sounding out words
  • Orthographic awareness
  • Phonemic awareness
  • Contextual reading fluency
  • Orthographic spelling

 

Poor performance in science, history/social studies, maths, writing, and homework, may reveal weak concept imagery—the ability to create an imagined or imaged gestalt (whole) from language. This weakness causes individuals to get only “parts” of information they read or hear, but not the whole. It’s important to note, weak decoding skills can also affect grades in subjects that require a lot of reading. Weak concept imagery causes weakness in:

 

  • Reading comprehension
  • Listening comprehension
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Following directions
  • Memory
  • Oral language expression
  • Written language expression

 

Underlying language and literacy skills must be intact for students to tackle school subjects.

 

We already know the diagnosis. . .

Perhaps you have done testing with a professional diagnostician or learning centre in the past. That information can be invaluable for composing a comprehensive plan for your child. Even so, because scores on many assessments are calculated by age, it is important to regularly check up on your child’s abilities; monitor that they are making adequate progress in their current academic placement.  It is especially important to keep track that skills are catching up.  If, for example, a student scored one year behind peers on a test of reading last year, and is now a year and a half behind—the deficit is growing. It is our belief that all students can learn how to read and comprehend to their potential. Students should not be falling further and further behind.

 

Specifically, it is important to note progress toward independent reading. Extra help typically focuses on phonics, or sounding out words, and spelling patterns. While these activities have value, students can continue to exhibit slow, laboured decoding, word substitutions (e.g. ‘production’ for ‘perfection’), and weak sight word recognition. Learning check-ups can keep instruction on track; reading needs to be fluent enough to support comprehension.

 

A Check-Up Like No Other

We hope you add a learning check-up to your child’s annual routine. Identifying strengths and weaknesses is the first step toward helping your child have a successful school year.

 

If school is hard for your child, you need to know why and that there is help.  A learning evaluation will uncover the strengths and weaknesses that are affecting school. In a thorough results consultation, we will discuss an individualised instruction plan to make school easier.

 

The Lindamood-Bell Learning Evaluation includes:

  • Assessment of reading, comprehension, and maths
  • Identification of strengths and weaknesses  
  • Consultation to review results
  • An individualised plan to change learning

 

Our learning centres help students of all ages learn to read, comprehend, and do maths to their potential. Get in touch:  Double Bay (02) 9328 7119 | Chatswood (02) 9410 1006 | Melbourne (03) 9815 2949

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Educators: Lindamood-Bell for Schools can help you mitigate learning loss and accelerate recovery in MATH. Our unique approach is proven effective with disadvantaged learners and students in special education. Visit our website to learn about workshops and professional development that can help you make a difference. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Searching for the perfect school where your child can learn and thrive? Our positive school environment sets the stage for academic success! Lindamood-Bell Academy features personalized learning and real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Whether they attend live online or in person, students are engaged with learning and have ample opportunity to socialize. 
🗣️Hear from our students—NEW VIDEO at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell Academy is a great fit for many students—especially those struggling with reading. We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online.
Enroll now for 2023-24 and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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This summer, students of all ages can catch up or get ahead in learning—and go back to school with confidence. Our evidence-based instruction results in years of growth in a matter of weeks! Register for a free webinar about Lindamood-Bell Summer Learning. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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📣Now hiring for summer! 📣
We’re seeking energetic, positive individuals who want to make a difference for students.  The Clinician(Tutor) role includes paid training in our evidence-based approach. View our open positions and get started! Link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #nowhiring #hiring #summerjob
Lindamood-Bell Academy is an accredited K-12 school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. Enroll now for the 2023-24 school year and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy  #privateschool #lindamoodbell #covidslide #personalizedlearning #virtuallearning #remotelearning
Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
Enroll soon for special savings on Summer Instruction! 
Watch the entire new testimonial and get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial. 
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #dyslexia #dyslexic #adhd #tutor #testimonial #summerslide #summerslump #covidslide
Our learning centers are hiring! Learn more about the Clinician(Tutor) role and get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial .
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#job #jobvacancy #nowhiring #hiring #hiringnow
Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
Enroll soon for special savings on Summer Instruction! 
Watch the entire new testimonial and get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
New Podcast Episode!
Many states have passed laws to standardize how schools identify and help students with dyslexia. Lindamood-Bell for Schools Director of Development, Dave Kiyvyra, is joined by Dr. Andrea Stolar, Director of Special Education for Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts. They discuss how schools align literacy instruction with dyslexia legislation and the Science of Reading. Listen & subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
Lindamood-Bell Academy is an accredited K-12 school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. Enroll now for the 2023-24 school year and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
📣 Teachers and Parents, Celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month with a free lesson packet from Gander Publishing! Enjoy Visualizing and Verbalizing (V/V) stories and activities designed to develop imagery as a basis for comprehension and critical thinking. Use with V/V or any curriculum. Free download at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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If your child is currently struggling, we can help. Lindamood-Bell summer learning improves reading, comprehension, or math in a matter of weeks. Attend in-person or live online and return to school in the fall with better skills and new confidence. Learn more at our free online event—Sign up now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Looking for a life-changing summer job? Our learning centers are hiring!
Visit our website for details and locations. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #summerjob #jobs #nowhiring
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