post
BLOG AND NEWS

“Mom, I don’t feel good.” | When Your Child Tries Avoiding School

Mar 22, 2019
 
 

The first time Alyssa complained of a stomach ache, she was allowed to stay home from school to rest. But when Alyssa’s stomach started to hurt almost every day, her 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
Alyssa should take and tried to gauge if other moms were having the same experiences.

 

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

 

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

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

 

She didn’t know how to sound out the word “colonization,” let alone what it meant… so how could she write a five paragraph essay on it? Alyssa was ahead of the class when it came to math, but the rest of her days were filled with long chapters she couldn’t really read and questions she 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 Alyssa, it’s important to determine the underlying cause of school challenges. Alyssa has difficulty sounding out new words and every time she sees one, she 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. Alyssa often misses jokes or forgets what her teacher has asked her to do as a result. It’s also hard for her to remember what words like “colonization” mean, as she 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
Is your child facing challenges in reading, comprehension, or math? Our evidence-based instruction can help them catch up or get ahead.
✅ Personalized one-on-one sessions tailored to your child’s needs
✅ Available in-person or live online for flexibility
✅ Proven success with students facing learning challenges like dyslexia, autism, and ADHD
👉 Visit our website to learn more and take the first step toward your child’s success!
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
📚 Small Groups, Big Impact! ✨
👩‍🏫 For Educators: Small-group instruction allows you to give targeted support, increase student engagement, and tailor lessons to individual needs.
👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents: At Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers, your child can get the same great results at over 40% off individual instruction! 🎯 Our small-group instruction offers high-quality, evidence-based learning at a more affordable price.
Discover why small groups are a game-changer! Read more at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Make a Difference This Summer! 🌞📚
Looking for a rewarding summer job? Lindamood-Bell is hiring enthusiastic and positive individuals to work as clinicians (tutors)! Join our team and help students build essential learning skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
If you’re passionate about education and ready to make an impact, apply today!
View Open Positions - Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎧 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎧
In this inspiring episode, we meet Ben, a student whose life was transformed by Lindamood-Bell instruction. Once the kid everyone laughed at during read-alouds, Ben shares his powerful journey of overcoming school challenges and gaining confidence. With Lindamood-Bell’s support, he not only improved his reading and comprehension but also cleared the path toward his dream career in the culinary arts! 🍴✨
Don’t miss Ben’s heartfelt story of resilience and success—tune in now! 🎙️ Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Attention, Teachers! 🎓 At Lindamood-Bell, our evidence-based approach helps educators develop their students' essential sensory-cognitive skills, laying the foundation for lasting academic success. Discover how our unique multi-sensory techniques can elevate your teaching and unlock student potential! Link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Make an Impact This Summer – We're Hiring at Lindamood-Bell!

Looking for a meaningful summer job? Join our team and help students build learning skills and confidence! We're hiring enthusiastic, positive individuals to work in our learning centers. As a Clinician (Tutor), you'll receive paid training using our proven, evidence-based approach!

📌 Apply today and make a difference!
🔗 View our open positions and get started! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Experience a school that fits your child’s unique learning needs! 🌟 Lindamood-Bell Academy is a K-12 private school that combines our renowned sensory-cognitive instruction with a personalized curriculum and a supportive learning environment. With the flexibility to attend online or in person, students can thrive in a way that works best for them! 🎓✨ Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
Did you know some people can’t visualize images in their minds? This condition, known as aphantasia, affects an estimated 2-5% of the population.
At Lindamood-Bell, we use evidence-based instruction to help students of all ages develop concept imagery—the ability to create mental images. Learn more about aphantasia and how we support students.
🔗 Read the full article at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Help your child build skills and confidence with Lindamood-Bell! 
Our evidence-based instruction helps learners of all ages improve reading, comprehension, and math, whether online or in person.

🌟 Limited-Time Offer: Enroll now and save 10% on live online instruction!
Don’t wait—give your child the tools to succeed today! 💻📚 Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
We’re Hiring for Summer!

Looking for a rewarding summer job? Join our learning centers as a Clinician (Tutor) and help students thrive. Enjoy paid training in our proven, evidence-based approach. Apply today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
The Science of Reading is transforming literacy instruction—but is it enough?

At Lindamood-Bell, we integrate the Cognitive Science of Learning to strengthen the sensory-cognitive skills crucial for fluent reading and comprehension. Our evidence-based approach develops symbol imagery for decoding and concept imagery for understanding—key components often overlooked in traditional literacy methods.

Visit our blog to explore the Science of Reading and discover how the Cognitive Science of Learning sets Lindamood-Bell apart. 
Link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Join Us This Summer—We're Hiring!
Looking for a meaningful summer job? Our learning centers are seeking enthusiastic, positive individuals to help students thrive. As a Clinician (Tutor), you'll receive paid training in our proven, evidence-based programs.
Explore our open positions and apply today!
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📢 Roan and Sammy’s Story Featured in People Magazine!

Roan, a student with dyslexia, was determined to learn to read so he could share stories with his beloved service dog, Sammy. With Lindamood-Bell’s online instruction, he turned that dream into reality! 🐶📖✨

Now, their heartwarming journey is inspiring readers everywhere. ❤️
Read more on our blog, including the latest People magazine feature. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
At Lindamood-Bell, we specialize in helping students of all ages and abilities learn to their full potential. Our evidence-based instruction is fun and effective, whether you join us live online or in person!
Boost your child’s reading, comprehension, and math skills—for a limited time, join us online and save 10%! 🎉 
Get started now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Request Information

Request Information

When you complete our form, we'll send you to our digital information packet and reach out to you shortly.
You may also call us at

* required

Schedule a Learning
Ability Evaluation

Please fill out the form and we will be in touch to schedule an evaluation.

* required