Although it is completely accurate to state that depression and anxiety increased during the Pandemic, studies show that from 2016-2019 depression and anxiety increased among adolescents and children by 24-27 percent. Students experience anxiety at a higher percentage than depression. The students I work with deal with learning differences which cause them varying degrees of anxiety in the classroom every day. Some may only experience occasional minor instances, while others experience extreme anxiety. How can we help them? First and foremost, it is important to identify signs of anxiety. Everyone… Read more Reality of Anxiety Among Students →
Sight words can be very difficult for individuals with Dyslexia. Sight words are words that do not follow spelling rules or that are borrowed from foreign languages. This is why sight words are so difficult. They require memorization. Therefore, it is very important to provide students with a multisensory approach to study sight words. This can include visual, auditory, verbal and kinesthetic. These can be combined to keep it simple. Write the word on an index card with the challenging part of the word in red. Allow the student to… Read more Sight Words →
Reading fluency is how a skilled reader reads aloud. A fluent reader reads rapidly, with good pronunciation, and good understanding. At least four correct readings are necessary for automatic recognition of a word. Fluency is crucial for bridging the gap between decoding and good comprehension. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 44% of fourth graders are not fluent readers. This is an alarming statistic, especially since fluency is expected by the end of second grade. What can we do to effectively teach reading fluency? The National Reading Panel… Read more Reading Fluency →
We are experiencing a lot of chaos right now in our world. Don’t think for a minute that your children aren’t attuned to everything going on. Two weeks ago in my community, a tornado destroyed homes and schools and left more than 20 people dead. Now we are dealing with a virus that has shut down schools and businesses. It’s amazing the ways anxiety can wreak havoc on our lives. Some of you may be worried about your jobs, your health, and your future. This level of anxiety can be… Read more How to Help Children Cope with Anxiety →
We all know that eating healthy is important. Today I want to address how nutrition influences learning. Studies show that eating a nutritious breakfast increases concentration, overall academic performance, and improves classroom behavior. While most children eat breakfast, they may not be eating a nutritious one. Better nutrition has a positive impact on students’ academic performance and behavior by increasing brain function, reducing absences, and improving behavior. Good nutrition improves learning by increasing brain function, cognitive ability, and intelligence levels. Good nutrition involves a variety of nutrients that include protein,… Read more Nutrition and Learning →
Dyslexia can cause students and adults to feel anxious in so many situations. Reading and spelling are both a big part of our daily lives. We read menus, grocery store packages, and road signs everyday. Filling out job applications, writing reports, and texting/emails are just some of the examples of times when spelling is important. In the school setting, students are required to read, write, memorize, and retain information daily. Anxiety is common in students with learning differences and can make learning difficult by creating uncomfortable learning environments, impacting working… Read more How Anxiety Affects Learning →
Studies show that students with learning and attention difficulties are at a greater risk for anxiety. Students with dyslexia may feel anxious because they don’t understand why reading is so hard for them. They see other students reading with ease and feel embarrassed because of their inability to read fluently. Fear of reading in a group or fear of other students seeing their writing/spelling is intense and very real. Self-loathing can eat away at their self-esteem. Many of my students exhibit anxiety to a certain degree. The amount of mental… Read more Anxiety in Students with Learning Differences →
Reading Within Reach 