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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

Connect with us
Lindamood-Bell Academy provides personalized instruction in a positive learning environment. All students can experience success with our one-of-a-kind school. Learn more with our Virtual Open House! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy #privateschool #personalizedlearning #customizedlearning #lindamoodbell
Imagine what your child could accomplish with improved reading skills and new confidence! Get started today—with in-person or live online instruction. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbelloifficial.
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#googlereview #fivestarreview #lindamoodbell #testimonial #tutor
Lindamood-Bell helps students catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math.
Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online. Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell Academy can be ideal for students diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. We develop foundational skills and offer a full K-12 curriculum. Enroll now! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #EnrollingNow #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
🎧New Podcast Episode🎧
Dr. Ronda Beaman(“Dr. B”) discusses Fit2Learn, a new addition to Lindamood-Bell Academy. Research shows the value of movement in learning, retention, and academic success. Fit2Learn aims to provide engaging, high-quality fitness classes emphasizing and reinforcing Lindamood-Bell instruction. Listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #lindamoodbellacademy #podcast #testimonial
We're dedicated to helping individuals of all ages catch up and get ahead in learning. Contact us for a personalized plan to help your student have a great school year. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbelloifficial.
.
.
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#googlereview #fivestarreview #lindamoodbell #testimonial #tutor
Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online! Students everywhere can gain new skills and confidence—and have a successful school year. Get info for your student at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #onlineinstruction #testimonial
We are honored by the success of our amazing students! ✨
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.
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Imagine what your student could accomplish with improved reading skills. Get started today—with in-person or live online instruction. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
#lindamoodbell #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell Academy can be an ideal setting for students previously diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. Now enrolling! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
Lindamood-Bell helps students catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math.
Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online. Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial #dyslexia
Join us on October 5th for a Lindamood-Bell Academy Virtual Open House!
Learn about the personalized school experience your child could have this year.
✓ Evidence-based programs
✓ Individualized curriculum
✓ In-person or live online
👉Details and RSVP at the link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
Lindamood-Bell Academy can be ideal for struggling readers. We develop foundational skills and provide individualized curriculum. Our evidence-based instruction closes the gap between performance and potential. Now enrolling! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #EnrollingNow #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
New Podcast Episode!
New Podcast Episode! Administrators from a large, urban school district describe their experience partnering with Lindamood-Bell to establish a Learning Center on Campus (LCOC). The LCOC model features direct instruction for students. Lindamood-Bell instructors are on-site, providing evidence-based literacy interventions. Listen and subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #teachersofinstagram #podcast
Our learning centers help students go back to school with improved skills and new confidence! Your child can get started today—with in-person or live online instruction. Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #testimonial
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