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When Your Child Doesn’t Want to Go to School

Mar 16, 2018
 
 

The first time Daniel complained of a stomach ache, he was allowed to stay home from school to rest. But when Daniel’s stomach started to hurt almost every day, his mother Sharon began to suspect that it was more than just a “bug” or a virus going around.

 

Hoping to find out why her friendly, bright fifth grader no longer wanted to go to school, Sharon began doing some research. She scoured the Internet for information on stomach aches, asked her pediatrician if there were medicines Daniel should take and tried to gauge if other moms were having the same experiences.

 

She asked Daniel if there was anything he wanted to talk about. Daniel said everything was fine — he just didn’t want to go to school. Finally, Sharon reached out to Daniel’s teacher who said Daniel seemed to be having trouble keeping up with his peers.

 

“I didn’t want to tell anyone it was too hard.”

Daniel felt stupid admitting he needed help, so he didn’t say anything or ask questions when he wasn’t sure. During Social Studies, Daniel struggled to read the text fast enough; there were just too many words he didn’t know.

 

He didn’t know how to sound out the word “colonization,” let alone what it meant… so how could he write a five paragraph essay on it? Daniel was ahead of the class when it came to math, but the rest of his days were filled with long chapters he couldn’t really read and questions he couldn’t really answer.

 

It was easier to just feign a stomach ache and avoid all of the frustration and embarrassment.

 

Getting to the Root of the Problem

For students like Daniel, it’s important to determine the underlying cause of school challenges. Daniel has difficulty sounding out new words and every time he sees one, he has to begin the laborious process over again. A cause of difficulty in establishing sight words and contextual fluency is difficulty in visualizing letters in words. This is called weak symbol imagery.

 

A significant number of students—even those who have well-developed phonemic awareness—have difficulty with rapidly perceiving sounds in words, and are slow to self-correct their reading errors.

 

Being able to comprehend what you’ve read is a separate skill and can be difficult for students with or without decoding challenges. 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. Daniel often misses jokes or forgets what his teacher has asked him to do as a result. It’s also hard for him to remember what words like “colonization” mean, as he is unable to create mental imagery for new words or concepts independently.

 

Unlock Your Child’s Potential

At Lindamood-Bell, we believe that all students can be taught to read and comprehend to their potential. We start by identifying strengths and weaknesses that may be affecting school performance; our instruction is based on an individual’s learning needs. The school year is a great time to address those learning needs — helping your child develop the underlying foundational skills for reading and comprehension will ensure that they don’t start to miss curriculum-based content because they’re unable to decode or comprehend it.

 

For a student who has fallen behind, the way to close the gap is often intensive instruction. Click here to learn more about how we’re able to make years of gains in weeks of our research-validated one-to-one instruction. Students can do instruction in one of our learning centers or online from their home or school.

 

Hear from Lindamood-Bell co-founder, Nanci Bell, about how instruction in our learning centers is a Magical Learning Adventure — and one of the most important gifts you can give your child.

 

 

To learn more, contact your local Learning Center or call (800) 300-1818.

 

Connect with us
Diagnosed with dyslexia in fifth grade, Miss Massachusetts 2024, Kiersten Khoury, first came to Lindamood-Bell as a student. Today, she’s using her platform to advocate for literacy and inspire others on their reading journey. Learn more at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbelllofficial.

✨ Imagine what your student could achieve with Lindamood-Bell! Discover our unique, sensory-cognitive approach and get started today. Special offer through September: Apply the cost of your evaluation to instruction! 💡 Plus, online students may qualify for 20% off their first week. Don’t miss out! ⏳Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #testimonial #dyslexia
🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎙️
In this episode, Dr. Pasternack discusses the role of tiered intervention in preventing unnecessary referrals, the importance of teacher preparation and professional development, and the necessary components of effective literacy instruction. 
👂Listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #podcast #scienceofreading
Attention Educators! Join us this October in San Luis Obispo, California, for in-person Lindamood-Bell Workshops! 🌟
 
Discover evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
📅 Register by 9/30/24 and enjoy a $100 discount on any workshop!
Use code: back2school100 at checkout.
 
✨Register today! ✨Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🚀 Unlock Your Child’s Potential with Lindamood-Bell Academy! 📚

Our unique sensory-cognitive approach helps students learn to their potential. We tailor learning to meet your child’s unique needs, in person or live online. Watch your child soar academically and build confidence like never before.

🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and enjoy 15% off a month of tuition!

Don’t miss this opportunity—visit our website for more details and start the journey toward success! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #lindamoodbellacademy #testimonial
📚 Join Us for a Special Live Parent Forum!
🗓️ Wednesday, September 25
🕖  10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT/6 PM BST

📍This Zoom event will also stream live on Facebook
 
Emmy’s mom, Alyson, will share how Lindamood-Bell’s online instruction helped her energetic kindergartener catch up in reading and spelling. Lindamood-Bell’s Director of Research and Development, Paul Worthington, will be on hand to review how student gains from online instruction are equivalent to gains from in-person instruction. ✨ Don’t miss this inspiring story! Register now. ✨ Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Tips for Students with ADHD
Attention challenges don’t always exist in isolation. Students with ADHD often face additional challenges with literacy and learning. At Lindamood-Bell, we provide personalized instruction that addresses the root causes of these difficulties.
✨ Special offer through September: Apply the cost of your evaluation to instruction! Plus, online students may be eligible for 20% off their first week.
💡 Discover more strategies and tips in our latest blog post! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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

👉 Help your child build confidence and achieve academic success. Discover more and get started today!

Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #autism #autistic #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell workshops prepare teachers to use evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
📅 Register by 9/30/24 and enjoy a $100 discount on any workshop!
Use code: back2school100 at checkout.
 
Learn more and get started today!  Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Our Newton Learning Center recently welcomed Miss Massachusetts 2024, Kiersten Khoury, a former Lindamood-Bell student and passionate literacy advocate. Her inspiring journey with dyslexia made a lasting impression on our students.
Kiersten’s visit kicked off a book drive, a community initiative to foster a love of reading by collecting new children’s books for local literacy programs.
Visit our website to learn more and hear Kiersten’s incredible story—it’s sure to inspire learners of all ages! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
We’re honored to be part of your journey, Kiersten, and can’t wait to cheer you on as you continue to Miss America! 👑🎉
Students of all ages and abilities thrive at Lindamood-Bell Academy! 🎓✨

We tailor learning to meet your child’s unique needs with proven, evidence-based instruction, in person or live online. Watch your child soar academically and build confidence like never before.

🌟Special Offer: Enroll now and enjoy 15% off a month of tuition!

Don’t miss this opportunity—visit our website for more details and start the journey toward success! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #lindamoodbellacademy #testimonial
📚 Educators, Let's Partner for Success!
Looking to elevate your next teacher inservice? Partner with us and receive complimentary follow-up support all year long! 🌟
Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. It’s proven effective for all students—early learners, struggling readers, and those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and more.
🔍 Get the details and request a quote for your school or district today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎧 New Podcast Episode! 🎧
Shelly, a Lindamood-Bell Academy parent, shares how she found the perfect school for her daughter, Brooklyn, who has dyslexia. Discover how our supportive environment helped Brooklyn thrive academically while nurturing her curiosity. ✨
Listen now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
.
.
.
#LindamoodBell #LindamoodBellAcademy #podcast #dyslexia #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell offers personalized instruction in reading, comprehension, and math for learners of all ages and abilities. Our unique sensory-cognitive approach is proven effective for everyone, including students with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.

👉 Discover how your child can achieve remarkable results, whether they attend in person or live online! Visit our website to learn more. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #dyslexia #testimonial
Attention Educators! Join us this October in San Luis Obispo, California, for in-person Lindamood-Bell Workshops! 🌟
 
Discover evidence-based programs proven to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Our approach, grounded in the cognitive science of learning, aligns with the science of reading and structured literacy.
 
Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or private specialist, our workshops in reading, comprehension, and math are tailored to your needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your skills! ✨Register today! ✨
 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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