All posts by Amy Kessler

Begin the New School Year With Confidence

Australia, Learning Difficulties,

It’s almost time to go back to school!

If you’re like most parents, you are spending the last few weeks of summer with your family: relaxing and reconnecting and enjoying your time together. Maybe you went away or possibly, you preferred a stay at home holiday.  You may have scheduled trips to the local library and bookstore for your kids to prevent the “summer slide.” This is the perfect time for them to check out and buy books that interest them and capture their attention—including topics such as animals, sports heroes, mysteries, or adventure, allowing them to travel to new places or reintroduce them to familiar but forgotten passions.

 

However your time was spent, your kids are most likely exhausted from holiday programs, beach days, and play dates. And, you know they’ve spent far too much time watching television, snap chatting, texting, and playing video/computer games.

 

Now, with summer coming to a close, it’s time to buckle down and get ready to go back to school. Unfortunately, you may have a child who doesn’t view this time of year as exciting. Your child may be feeling stressed about the increased level of academics in the classroom this year. Their struggles may have surfaced throughout the previous school year: you noticed your child having difficulty with reading words in context (trouble sounding out unfamiliar words), or maybe demonstrating a weakness in remembering what they read or listened to; their spelling skills may have begun to deteriorate with the introduction of multi syllable words; or perhaps their maths skills declined due to increasingly difficult concepts.

 

If reading and spelling are difficult for your child, they may be suffering from weak symbol imagery–the ability to visualise letters and sounds within words. Weak symbol imagery will cause difficulty in establishing sight words, contextual fluency, and spelling.

 

If reading or language comprehension are difficult for your child, weak concept imagery—the ability to image a gestalt (whole)—may be the cause. Weakness in concept imagery will interfere with reading and listening comprehension, memory, oral vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing.

 

Your child’s maths skills may be suffering as well due to an inability to create a gestalt image for the concepts underlying maths processes. Individuals often attempt to memorise facts instead of being able to think, reason, and problem solve with numbers. Symbol imagery and concept imagery are necessary sensory-cognitive functions that underlie reading, comprehension, and maths skills.

 

This time of year should be exciting, not worrisome. The last thing you want is to have your child dread going to school when it hasn’t even started yet. As a parent, what can you do? You might want to consider having your child evaluated in order to see what is causing the difficulties. Once the area of weakness has been determined, it’s important to know that treatment is available. Lindamood-Bell’s sensory-cognitive programs develop the necessary skills that underlie reading, comprehension, and maths.

 

Your child’s backpack is full. More importantly, let’s make sure her skill set is full by going back to school with us!

 

For information on how to contact us in order to get your child prepared to go back to school with confidence, please see the listing of our Learning Centres.

 

Tips for Your Young Learner: Ready or Not, School is Coming!

Australia, Comprehension, Kindergarten,

A generation ago, kindergarten days were filled with activities like finger painting, “Hide-and-Go-Seek”, making friends and learning to be peaceful at nap time.

 

And, while reading and spelling may have been introduced in grade 1, there was nothing like today’s pressure for students to be performing according to grade-level standards. Sure, there is still art, music, and games, but the specific expectations of teachers—and students, has amplified academic life all the way down to preschool.

 

You may be wondering, “Is my child ready for next year’s classroom?” Or, “Will they be able to keep up?”

 

What to Expect

Today, preschool, kindergarten and grade 1 classrooms offer more academics than in the past. To some degree, your child will definitely be working on:

 

■      Identifying letter names and sounds

■      Sounding out for reading and writing

■      Sight word recognition and spelling

■      Printing letters and numbers

■      Understanding stories

■      Listening comprehension

■      Oral and written communication

■      Counting and understanding numbers

■      Addition and subtraction

 

Get Some Practice

Whether or not we adults feel great about the “new normal” for primary grades—now is the time to familiarise your child with the activities they will be exposed to—so they can feel great about the new year.  Try activities like:

 

■      Read simple books together

 

Start by reading aloud while guiding your child to follow along with their finger. Have your child start to sound out some of the words. Increase their share of the reading as skills grow.

 

■      Read stories aloud to your child

 

Read some sections without showing your child the pictures. Ask your child what they are imagining for a character or action.

 

Give Your Child a Boost

Students can spend a few weeks at a local Lindamood-Bell Learning Centre to work on the basics that will make next year easier. We work to strengthen the imagery-language connection as a foundation for reading, spelling, comprehension, and maths. Your child can get a boost in time for school and have plenty of time for a great summer holiday.

 

And, if a young child already seems to be struggling with essential skills, such as sounding out words or understanding stories, addressing those issues before school starts can make all the difference for a great school year. We believe all students can learn to read and comprehend to their potential. We can give young students the foundation they need for a confident start and a successful school year!

 

Let’s talk about boosting your child’s learning before school starts:

 

Double Bay: (02) 9328 7119
Sydney-Chatswood: (02) 9410 1006
Melbourne: (03) 9815 2949

Make a Fresh Start: Tips and Solutions for a Great School Year

Helpful Tips, , , , ,

It’s the right time to make a fresh start! We are providing tips for how you can support your child’s learning at home. We also outline how Lindamood-Bell helps students during the year, whether they need a complete turnaround or ongoing homework help to stay on track.

 

Fresh Start at Home

 

Establishing good homework habits can help your child make the most of this school year. We recommend focusing on just a few areas that can help no matter how busy your family schedule becomes:

 

  • Refresh backpack and binder organization


Talk with your child about what worked well for them and what has been a challenge. For example, how often were they missing the right book they needed? Have your child visualize a few solutions and choose what will work best for them.

 

  • Create a distraction-free homework zone


Eliminate the “stops and starts” and you can maximize crucial time on what matters. Check out this video to get started.

 

  • Make a plan for busy evenings


A simple weeknight schedule can make a difference. Talk about when homework happens, and check for understanding ahead of time.  You can ask questions that prompt your student to visualize—the key to good comprehension. For example, you can ask questions like, “What do you picture us doing when we get home?”  

 

It’s wise to also plan for ongoing skill-building activities so your student can benefit, even when it gets busy.

 

 

Fresh Start Support

We hope a fresh start puts your student on the path to a great year. The truth is, for many busy families, protected homework time is not always practical, at least not for every night of the school week. Whether it’s a work schedule that keeps us from homework help until after dinner, or the myriad other family activities bustling around the studying child—our best laid plans for homework time can quickly go out the window. Families partner with Lindamood-Bell to give their student the best chance for a fresh start—and a great school year.

 

Our learning center can discuss which school year support might be right for your child. New to Lindamood-Bell? In a thorough consultation, we will discuss an individualized learning plan to make a fresh start and make school easier.

 

Homework Matters at Lindamood-Bell

Homework Matters is supervised homework help, 1-4 afternoons per week.

We create an environment that motivates and focuses students on getting their homework done. Our skilled instructors take the struggle out of homework for families by helping students get their work done. We can answer your child’s questions and assist when necessary.

 

Academic Prep at Lindamood-Bell

Give your student the learning skills needed for success when entering a new grade or facing an academic challenge. Students benefit from our expertise in learning and cognition. We teach:  

 

    • Note taking
    • Writing
    • Study Skills
    • Test taking strategies
    • Organization skills

Academic Prep is enrichment instruction for students who do not require remediation.

 

Kindergarten Boost at Lindamood-Bell

Your child can discover the Magic of Learning right from the start. Kindergarten Boost is instruction for our youngest students who need to get going with literacy.  We help jumpstart the skills they need for this school year or next:

 

      • Letter names and sounds
      • Sounding out for reading
      • Sight word reading
      • Printing letters and numbers
      • Listening comprehension
      • Communication skills

 

Kindergarten Boost is enrichment instruction for students who do not require remediation.

 

We Start Where Your Student Is

Students who need a fresh start may have a weakness that is affecting learning. Unfortunately, these students typically fall further behind as the year goes on. Students with poor comprehension, critical thinking, writing and memory may have weak concept imagery—the ability to create an imagined gestalt (whole) from language; students who are poor decoders and spellers, or slow readers, may have weak symbol imagery—the ability to visualize letters in words. These difficulties are not only frustrating for a student, but prevent them from accessing school curriculum.

 

Sensory-Cognitive Instruction at Lindamood-Bell

We start by identifying strengths and weaknesses that may be affecting performance in reading, comprehension, and math.  And, we make recommendations for individualized instruction plans that create learning gains. Sensory-Cognitive instruction is available at the learning center or online.

 

Contact the learning center for information and to get started 800.300.1818

Find Out About the Lindamood-Bell Academy

Academy, Webinar, ,

 

The Lindamood-Bell Academy offers differentiated, process-based education to students in grades Kindergarten through 12. Applications are now being accepted for the 2017-18 school year.  

 

Click below to watch a video of our Open House presentation, where we discuss the Academy’s philosophy of education, the imagery-language foundation, and how our hybrid model works.

 

 

Literacy Solutions for English Learners

For Schools, For Schools Webinar, Professional Development, , , , , , ,

literacy-solutions-for-english-learners-blog-cover

Teachers of English Learners face a unique challenge—to quickly develop language and literacy skills in a differentiated manner. To address the needs of English Learners, teachers can add instruction that develops the imagery-language connection. English Learners can acquire the skills and knowledge they need, more quickly.

 

By addressing the skills that underlie reading and comprehension, teachers can boost language learning for all students, while providing specific instruction to address the needs of those students who have learning challenges—even in their first language.

 

Our programs support best practices in English Language development and have been shown to accelerate skill acquisition:

 

COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY

Visualizing and Verbalizing and Talkies develop the underlying skills necessary for:

  • Oral Language Development
  • Acquiring Academic Vocabulary
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

READING & SPELLING

Seeing Stars and Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing(LiPS) develop foundational decoding skills:

  • Phonological Awareness
  • Phonics and Word Recognition
  • Reading Fluency
  • Spelling

[CASE STUDY] Colorado School Implementing Lindamood-Bell Instruction Closes the Achievement Gap in Reading for English Learners

 

Background

Haskin Elementary School in Center, Colorado, serves a large percentage of English Learners who are at-risk of reading failure. From 2010-14, Haskin implemented Lindamood-Bell instruction to address the specific needs of this student population. The first three years of this project, 2010-11 through 2012-13, were funded through a federal School Improvement Grant (SIG). Haskin students received Seeing Stars and Visualizing and Verbalizing instruction to develop symbol imagery and concept imagery for reading and comprehension. Instruction was delivered by Haskin teachers who were trained in the Lindamood-Bell programs. Gains for English Learners were measured with the reading portion of the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program and the results were compared to gains made by non-English Learners.

 

haskin-elementary-el

 

Results

English Learners at Haskin achieved a 50-point increase in reading proficiency from 2010 to 2014. This was the largest change of all elementary schools in the state. Additionally, the achievement gap between non-English Learners and English Learners was closed by 20 points. Statewide, the gap was closed by 4 points over this same period of time. The results of this study illustrate that providing Lindamood-Bell instruction in the Seeing Stars and Visualizing and Verbalizing programs leads to improved reading and comprehension in English Learners, which is essential to achieving success with school curricula.

 

Profile

School Years: 2010–14

Number of Schools: 1

Grade Levels: 3rd–5th

 

Lindamood-Bell Programs Implemented:

Focus of Lindamood-Bell Services:

 

Lindamood-Bell instruction integrates and strengthens  RtI and EL services. Explore our professional development workshops and contact us with any questions or to discuss how your school can get started: 800-233-1819.

 

For information on how to address core standards learning for all students, watch our recent webinar,  Beyond Expectations: Language Comprehension and Thinking for State Standards Curriculum.

How and Why to Make the Most of Bedtime Reading

Comprehension, ,

Blog-Image-Bedtime-Reading-101

Bedtime reading can take children to a safe and enchanted world for a few minutes each night; and when kids are cosy and comfortable, reading aloud to them can help them “de-compress” from any worries from the day. Reading to your child is also a special time to be close to your child and bond with them. A wonderful and magical moment for the two of you to spend together with no interruptions, a precious time in this extremely busy and fast moving world we live in.

 

And as if that weren’t enough … there are several important benefits to their learning, too!

 

Discover how your child’s learning can benefit from bedtime reading, and how you can maximise the value of your nightly sessions:

 

Increased Language and Vocabulary Skills

Many researchers believe that during this night-time ritual, you’re actually boosting your child’s brain development. Parents can use bedtime stories as a stepping stone for conversation in order to enhance a child’s language skills. For example, while reading with a young child, a father might point to Curious George’s baseball cap and ask questions like, “What colour is the hat? Do you have a hat like that? Can you picture what colour it is?”, offering practice connecting language and imagery. Reading with a child will expand their vocabulary even more than just talking with them will. This is true because books introduce kids to ideas and objects—such as porridge or kangaroos—that may not be in their direct environment and therefore not a part of their daily conversations. Look for stories that contain particularly rich or colourful language in order to stimulate your child’s vocabulary.

 

Improved Critical Thinking Skills

You know the phrase well: “One more time, please!” It might seem like this only serves to delay bedtime. But what kids—and parents—may not know is that reading a book repeatedly may help a child develop his critical thinking skills. The first time children hear a book, they may not fully understand what they listened to. But as they hear it again and again, they start to notice patterns and sequences in the story. Children learn the components of a story, they learn how to predict events that happen in a story, and they learn how to recall events in a particular sequence about stories they have heard. You can further this benefit by asking questions after “The End” like, “What do you think will happen next? How do you see that happening?” or “What do you think would have happened if … and what would that have looked like?”

 

By exercising critical thinking skills during bedtime reading, you are providing a skill set that will be beneficial all through their educational years.

 

Development of Reading Comprehension Skills

Most parents think the bedtime story stage is over once their snuggler learns to read. It doesn’t have to be! Continue this ritual and you can help her become an even better reader than she is right now. In fact, it’s during this time that your child develops reading comprehension skills. To ensure that her reading comprehension is intact, ask her what the story was about, or what she thinks will happen next, or how she would end the story differently. This is the time to confirm that your child is reading for meaning. If she doesn’t understand what she’s reading or listening to, she’s lost the meaning. Experts suggest that parents continue the tradition of bedtime reading even into the teenage years. By choosing books that are slightly above a teen’s skill level, you’ll continue to expose them to new words to add to their vocabulary. And books you’re reading with your child can turn into topics of discussion during dinner time conversation, which continues to be a critical time for connecting with your child.

 

Improvement of Reading Skills

As your kids reach the upper-elementary grades, their reading demands increase, yet one-on-one reading instruction for competent readers doesn’t. Listening to you read more advanced books shows her strategies that will help her at school. By listening to the stories that you read, she can see and hear important sight words and learn how to pronounce words correctly. You read aloud with expression. You pause for punctuation. You raise and lower your voice in tune with the action. You speed up or slow down to indicate the degree of tension in the text. All of these components are necessary in order to become independent, global readers.

 

_______________________

 

Bedtime reading can be an opportunity to develop the imagery-language connection as a foundation for your child’s learning skills. However, if you have any concerns about your child’s ability to understand stories, we’re here to help. Contact us for ideas: (02) 9328 7119

The Imagery-Language Connection at Home: Tips for Parents Whose Kids Have a Comprehension Weakness

Comprehension, Helpful Tips,

Blog Image-The Imagery Language Connection-01

When a student has an identified comprehension weakness, parents might pursue help for their academics. Unfortunately, language comprehension troubles can affect family life, too.

 

A primary cause of language comprehension problems is difficulty creating an imagined gestalt. This is called weak concept imagery. This weakness causes individuals to get only “parts” of information they read or hear, but not the whole.

 

Check out some examples of how concept imagery issues can affect school and home:

 

Blog Image-Imagery Language Connection Table

The Imagery-Language connection is key to good thinking and communication. You can help your child understand what he/she is hearing in the following ways:

 

1. In Conversation

During discussions with your child about their day or current events in the news, use imagery stimulating questions.  For example, instead of asking, “What do you think about…?” you can ask, “What did you picture for that story in the news today?”  or “What are you picturing for what might happen next?” You can expand upon these questions to dive into their images even more.

 

2. When There’s a Problem to Solve

Help your child monitor his or her understanding of their actions, as well as problem solving skills, by targeting specific images they’re creating while they’re processing oral or written language. Teach them to continually ask themselves whether they understand what the consequences may be of certain actions, and if they’re able to picture the outcome: “If I do this, what might happen? What does that look like?”

 

3. When You Give Instructions

Establish an imagery-language connection through daily life activities to stimulate learning.  For example, when giving your child instructions, such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed, making their bed, ask your child to picture these tasks in their mind before they do them.

 

If you need further information or have questions regarding your child’s language comprehension weakness, we have answers. Please contact us at 800-300-1818 to find out more.

Lindamood-Bell Academy | Parent Voices

Academy

lba-student-profile-blog-cover

Lindamood-Bell Academy is uniquely suited to meet the learning needs of many students. Our unique private school features individualized instruction at our learning centers and/or online. We combine Lindamood-Bell expertise in teaching with a full K-12 curriculum. We attract students of all levels, including those challenged by the curriculum, rigid schedule or social pressure of a traditional setting.

 

Meet a few of the families who have found a home at our Academy!

Families looking for an individualized approach for their child’s whole school experience can choose the Lindamood-Bell Academy. Contact us to learn more about year-round open enrollment and to discuss your student’s needs: 800-300-1818.

Academic Support for College Students

Instruction, , , ,

learning-skills-for-college-blog-cover

Many young adults experience similar challenges as they make the transition from high school to college. Confronted with academic challenges they didn’t experience in high school, they can feel overwhelmed by the new educational environment.

 

Some common experiences are:

  • Struggling to develop time management habits
  • Difficulty prioritizing and keeping up with class demands
  • Trouble acclimating to more challenging academic expectations
  • Difficulty with writing and study skills

 

Solutions:

1. Create a routine place and time for studying. This will help you get into “study mode”. Try to keep these hours free in your schedule, only moving them if you have to.

 

2. Keep a calendar for due dates. Read your syllabus completely so you know what is due when. This will enable you to plan ahead and anticipate how much time is required for reading, writing, and studying.

 

3. Interact with your professors. If you don’t understand a concept or need clarification, ask! Approach your professor after class or during their office hours.

 

4. Get enough sleep. The most productive student is a well rested student. Shoot for between six to eight hours of sleep each night so that you can wake up and feel rested and ready to tackle another day of classes.

 

At Lindamood-Bell, collegiate academic prep can also help during this transition. Our skilled instructors can help give you the skills you need for success. We can help with:

 

  • Supervised homework help;
  • Individualized attention in small groups;
  • Note taking;
  • Writing;
  • Test taking strategies;
  • Study skills, and
  • Organization skills.

Contact your local learning center to get started.

Exceptional Parent Magazine Features Independent Study of Visualizing and Verbalizing and Autism Spectrum Disorder

* News, Autism, Research, , ,

exceptional-parent-blog-cover

The current issue of Exceptional Parent Magazine Features an independent study of Visualizing and Verbalizing and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  “The Science of Improved Language Comprehension: Brain Connectivity and Autism Spectrum Disorder,” summarizes the groundbreaking results of a recent University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) study.

 

In this study, a group of children with ASD received 10 weeks of intensive instruction utilizing the Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking® program. It was found that the instruction “was enough to strengthen the activity of loosely connected areas of their brains that work together to comprehend reading.” The children’s reading comprehension also improved.

 

The article will enable parents, physicians, and education professionals to better understand the relevance of the findings of the study, primarily that deficits in language comprehension can be improved through stimulating and strengthening the connection between the verbal and imaginal centers of the brain.

 

Language comprehension is foundational to learning—both social and academic—in the educational environment. With a better understanding of subject matter and social relationships, students are poised for greater success in all areas of life.

 

Exceptional Parent is a 42-year-old, award-winning publishing and communications company. EP provides practical advice, emotional support and the most up-to-date educational information for families of children and adults with disabilities and special healthcare needs as well as to the physicians, allied healthcare professionals, and educational professionals who are involved in their care and development.

 

Get the article on page 32 of the current issue.

 

exceptional-parent-cover

CLICK HERE

 

Contact us for information about the Visualizing and Verbalizing program including learning center instruction for students: 800-233-1819.