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Does My Child Need a Learning Check-Up?

Feb 3, 2017
 
 

As parents, we are all familiar with the yearly well-visit to the pediatrician’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 Card

It’s common for families to think of report cards and state test scores 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 visualizing 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:

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

Poor performance in science, history/social studies, math, 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 center 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, labored 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 individualized instruction plan to make school easier.

The Lindamood-Bell Learning Evaluation includes:

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

Our learning centers help students of all ages learn to read, comprehend and do math to their potential. Get in touch: 800-233-1819.

Connect with us
The Lindamood-Bell Academy Virtual Open House is now available on demand! Discover the unique, dynamic school experience your child can thrive in this year:

✓ Evidence-based programs
✓ Personalized K-12 curriculum
✓ Engaging instruction—available in person or live online

🌟 Special Offer: Enroll now and save 15% on one month’s tuition!

👉 Watch now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Unlock your child’s potential with Lindamood-Bell Academy, our accredited California K-12 private school! 
✓ Evidence-based programs
✓ Personalized K-12 curriculum
✓ Engaging instruction—available in person or live online
🌟 Special Offer: Enroll now and save 15% on one month’s tuition!
👉 Watch our Virtual Open House to learn more. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #privateschool
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month! Explore how our Learning Center instruction helps individuals with dyslexia learn how to read to their potential.
 
Back-to-School offers:
Apply your evaluation fee to the cost of instruction
Save up to 15% on sessions through May 2025
Online students may qualify for 20% off their first week
 
Learn more and start today! Link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 New Blog Alert: Understanding the Signs of Dyslexia 📚
 
Dyslexia affects reading and spelling, making early identification crucial for success. In our latest article, we explore common signs of dyslexia, including difficulty sounding out words, remembering sight words, and reading fluently.
 
At Lindamood-Bell, we believe everyone can learn to read to their potential. Our evidence-based instruction targets the sensory-cognitive skills essential for reading and comprehension.
 
👉 Read the full article to learn more about the signs of dyslexia, our personalized instruction approach, and how we can support your child’s reading journey. Together, we can unlock your child’s full potential! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📅 Join us on Thursday, October 3, for the Lindamood-Bell Academy Virtual Open House! Discover the unique, dynamic school experience your child can thrive in this year.
 
✓ Evidence-based programs
✓ Personalized K-12 curriculum
✓ Engaging instruction—available in person or live online

📍This Zoom event will also stream live on Facebook.
 
👉 Register today at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell helps students of all ages and abilities catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math. Contact your local learning center today for special Fall savings on both in-person and online instruction! Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell gives students the confidence and skills they need to succeed in school and beyond! ✨📚

Our personalized instruction in reading, comprehension, and math is effective for learners of all ages and abilities. 🌟 Start your child's learning journey today! 🚀

Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🌟"My seven-year-old with dyslexia is reading!" 🌟
 
Visit our website to hear Roan's inspiring journey. His mom, Ruth, shares how Lindamood-Bell transformed their lives:
“I have my son back now. He no longer struggles with behavioral issues at school. He’s no longer depressed.”
 
🎥 Watch their story at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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Our unique, sensory-cognitive approach helps students make years of progress in literacy and learning skills in a matter of weeks. Contact your local learning center today for special Fall savings on both in-person and online instruction!
🎧New Podcast Episode! 🎧
In this episode, pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Oren Boxer shares his personal and professional journey with Lindamood-Bell. He discusses how our evidence-based instruction not only aligns with his professional expertise but also helped unlock his own child’s learning potential. ✨
Listen now and subscribe to Lindamood-Bell Radio at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#LindamoodBell #podcast #testimonial
At Lindamood-Bell Academy, we tailor learning plans to each student’s needs, using unique sensory-cognitive instruction to unlock their full potential. 🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and save 15% on one month of tuition!
📅 Don’t miss our Virtual Open House on Thursday, October 3. Discover more and secure your spot through the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell
Lindamood-Bell provides tailored instruction for students of all ages and abilities in reading, comprehension, and math.

✅Customized one-to-one sessions
✅Available both in person and online
✅Effective for students with learning challenges, such as dyslexia, autism, and ADHD

⭐Hurry for Back to School Savings: Apply the cost of the evaluation to instruction! 💡Plus, online students may qualify for 20% off their first week. Don’t miss out — Speak with our learning center today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #dyslexia #testimonial
📚 Unlock the Benefits of Daily Reading! 🌟
 
Did you know that just 20 minutes of reading each day can have a profound impact on your child’s vocabulary, comprehension, and overall academic success? Whether it's fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, consistent reading helps broaden their knowledge and understanding of the world.
 
Discover how daily reading builds lifelong learning skills and why skipping those 20 minutes is not an option! 
 
Read more in our latest blog post, follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📅 Join us on Thursday, October 3, for the Lindamood-Bell Academy Virtual Open House! Discover the unique, dynamic school experience your child can thrive in this year:
 
✓ Evidence-based programs
✓ Personalized K-12 curriculum
✓ Engaging instruction—available in-person or live online

🌟 Special Offer: Enroll now and save 15% on one month’s tuition!
👉 Register today at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
At Lindamood-Bell Academy, we tailor learning plans to each student’s needs, using unique sensory-cognitive instruction to unlock their full potential. 🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and enjoy 15% off a month of tuition!

📅 Join us on Thursday, October 3, for our Lindamood-Bell Academy Virtual Open House. Learn more and register at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell
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