SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS AND PRE-TEENS from At The Core

compiled by Beth Probst, At The Core

[some national, some Ohio]

The “dog days” of summer are a great time to explore a student’s interests away from the daily grind of school–what do they like to do, what skills do they want to explore–all great stuff when thinking about their future! We’ve gathered up a few of our academic/career-minded favorites to share with you.

Important quote we read from one college admissions counselor…“It’s not the program/job/internship/experience – it’s what the student takes from it. There is no ‘hierarchy’ that says one experience is ‘better’ than another.” Just something to keep in mind–counselors will not view a program more favorably simply because it costs more money.

Be aware…some of these programs haven’t posted their new dates for 2018 yet so tuck this email away somewhere you can find it later. Pay attention to deadlines, pricing, and age restrictions.

Can you please take a moment to [share this] with your friends? It’s one of the most popular we do every year. They can join our mailing list too!

(We apologize to our out-of-town friends for lots of Ohio ideas. Use these ideas for a Google search to find similar programs in your area!)

Aerospace engineers:

• Space Camp in Huntsville, AL
• Illinois Aerospace Institute Summer Camp
• Air Camp in Dayton – Dates TBD

Offered by OSU:

• John Glenn College of Public Affairs Internship – Fall of HS senior year – Application deadline is 4/1.
• MD Camp
• 4-H Youth Development – leadership, camp counselors, science, sea, & shooting camps
• Ohio Supercomputer Center Summer Institute
• Summer Institute for Discovering Nursing
• Ross Mathematics Program
• Stone Lab Introductory Biology Coursework
• Explorations in Neuroscience
• Improving Diversity in Optometric Careers
• Humanities & Cognitive Sciences High School Summer Institute

STEM – Offered by Nationwide Children’s Hospital:

• Exploring the Scientific Method and Careers in Medical Research
• Mechanisms Of Human Health And Disease

More STEM:

• Stratford Ecological Center – Junior Camp Counselors (ages 13-17)
• Mount Carmel Explore Nursing Day – NOT a summer thing – March 10 – (How to register was unclear…Questions? Contact Mt Carmel email on webpage.)
• Ohio Wildlife Center – Wild Academy (ages 13-16) Eco Warriors
• B-WISER Science Camp – Buckeye Women In Science, Engineering, and Research Institute at the College of Wooster
• University of Dayton Engineering Outreach Programs – Several different choices
• Sally Ride Science Junior Academy for Girls
• Math Plus Academy Camps – CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON – include brain games, LEGO robotics & engineering, video game design, Shark Tank, chess, computer programming, STEMcraft, inventor’s workshop, girls only camps, & pre-algebra prep.
• Pharmacy Camp – University of Toledo
• Summer STEM Program US Naval Academy
• Worchester Polytechnic Institute
• iD Tech Camps at OSU – computer programming, coding, game design
• Robot Academy
• Game U – Coming soon
• Career Cornerstone Center – a national listing of programs

Foreign Language:

• Summer Linguistics Institute for Youth Scholars
• Camp OFLA (Ohio Foreign Language Association) – Coming soon

Reading/Writing:

• Advanced Reading Concepts – COMING SOON – Speed reading courses – recommended highly!
• Thurber Summer Writing Camp – Dates coming soon
• E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Summer Workshop at Ohio University

Business:

• Accounting Careers Awareness Program
• Ohio Business Week
• Junior Executive Business Program for Diverse Students

Arts:

• Columbus Museum of Art – Has some choices for middle schoolers
• Ohio Craft Museum – Teen summer art workshops – Dates coming soon
• University of Cincinnati DAAP Camps – Globally recognized College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
• Summer Music Programs at Oberlin College
• Columbus Children’s Theatre – Summer programs not posted yet.
• Ohio State Marching Band Clinic
• Music For All Summer Symposium – New this year–Music Production!, Plus Band, Color Guard, Leadership, Middle School, Orchestra (Our own Vanessa H. can answer your questions about this camp–her daughter attended.)
• University of Cincinnati Summer Arts Immersion program – Musical theatre, voice, acting, ballet, & piano

Multiple program choices:

• The School of the New York Times Summer Academy – 33 different program choices
• Olentangy School District’s Summer Experience camps for grades 1-8 haven’t been published yet.
• Tolles and Delaware Area Career Center both have excellent camps with lots of program choices. 2018 dates have not been announced yet.
• Dublin and Powell both have summer programming (not announced yet)
• Columbus Academy Summer Experience –  wide variety all ages
• Village Academy Summer Program – 2018 not posted yet
• Rustic Pathways – an example of study abroad type student experiences
• Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) – variety of programs for gifted students of all ages (Beth’s son did two sessions in Chicago. She can answer questions about it.)
• NUMATS Online programs and courses – WIDE variety of courses for every grade level
• Inspiring Girls Expeditions – Wilderness!

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Ohio Wildlife Center
• Dublin Area Summer Volunteer Opportunities
• Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program offered by the Red Cross – Students coordinate a blood drive and gain leadership & community service experience.
• 50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers
• Volunteer at your local library – Delaware County, Westerville, Worthington, and various Columbus Metro branches. Check your local branch.
• Volunteer Match:  lists tons of ever-changing volunteer opportunities in your area; can filter by age and area of interest

Get a job

• 7 Tips for Finding Great Summer Jobs
• Job Search Tips
• 5 Reasons to Look for a Summer Job

Service:

• FBI National Academy Youth Leadership Program
• Westerville Youth Police Academy
• American Legion Buckeye Boys State – For current juniors

Not to be missed…At The Core’s summer programming!!

• Guided Self Assessment is booking NOW for summer slots. Book a free family meeting to learn more.
• Heads Up! – Special workshop for 7, 8, & 9 grades – Summer dates coming soon (Workshop available in February)
• Tips for the College-Bound – Summer dates coming soon (Don’t wait until summer–Winter dates in February and March.)
• College Application Workshop – For class of 2019! Save the date…June 13 & June 27 tentative workshop dates. Details coming soon.

Colleges offering a variety of choices:

• Ohio Wesleyan OWjL Camp – Junior League (grades 6-8) – mathematics, logic, computing, science, humanities & creative development
• Wright State University Residential Camps: Architectural engineering, physics, digital photography, theater, leadership, and creative writing
• Ohio Northern Summer Camps – Honors institute, engineering for girls, Japan camp, music, & piano
• University of Dayton Entrepreneurship 101 program
• University of Findlay – Equestrian, pharmacy, theology, forensic science (waiting list),
• Education Unlimited – Various universities covering: public speaking camps, summer college admissions prep programs, science camps, summer acting camp, creative writing camp, computer camp, video production camp, and East Coast college tours.
• Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Summer Program  – Architecture, art, design, drama, music, & game academy.
• Otterbein University Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and Talented – arts, sciences and humanities
• University of Toledo Global Leadership Experience – Public health, human trafficking, civic engagement, public education, mental health, clean water, power & fuel sustainability. 2018 dates 7/23-28 but webpage not up-to-date.
• Miami University (OH) Summer Scholars Program
• Duke Summer Sessions
• Stevens Institute of Technology Pre-College Programs – Cybersecurity, engineering design & architecture, pre-med biomedical engineering, pre-med biology, computer science, coding, game design, electronic music production, STEM law & policy, virtual reality, entrepreneurship, business explorer

Prefer to review a summer planning guide?

• Granville School District provided this great list with lots of choices!
• Teen Life – National database of programs

Summer Camp Expos to Explore Lots of Options (Thanks Advanced Reading Concepts for the share!)

• 2018 Summer Camp and Activities Expo – Olentangy Orange Middle School – March 15 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
• Worthington Mall – February 11 – noon to 3:00 pm
• Upper Arlington at Tremont School – February 22 – 5:00 to 8:00 pm
• Grandview at Edison Middle School – March 1 – 6:00 to 7:30 pm
• Westerville North High School – March 7 – 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Teen drivers? (Want some tips? DWV Tips for Parents Teaching their Teens How to Drive)

• Tire Rack Street Survival – Ohio date in April
• Honda Teen Defensive Driving Program
• Bloom Driving Car Control Drills Program – 2018 dates not published yet
• Distracted Driving Resources – for reading

And one just for fun…Hoover Sailing Club – one of the longest running and most successful Learn to Sail Programs. Each summer, they teach approximately 300 campers (ages 7-17) the sport of sailing.

Quite a list! We hope you find it useful and that it sparks some family conversation. Thank you to local guidance counselors who provided us with some of these programs!

Thank you Beth Probst

this is copyrighted; www.GettingAtTheCore.com

Orton-Gillingham tutoring in Columbus, OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

9 ways parents can empower a child who has learning issues

(Amy Matsushita-Beal/For The Washington Post)

BY PHYLLIS L FAGELL  January 10 at 9:00 AM Washington Post

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Brian and Daniel raced down the sixth-grade hallway, scribbling on anyone they could ambush with Sharpies. By the time they got hauled into the main office, they were covered in ink. The principal let them have it, then paused to answer his phone. That was when Brian noticed the stamp. By the time the call was over, Brian had branded Daniel’s forehead with the words, “From the Desk of Principal Brent.”

Brian had been impulsive in elementary school, but sixth grade brought bigger challenges. He buckled under the pressure of multiple classes and no recess. A psychologist diagnosed him with attention-deficit disorder, and his school gave him a Section 504 Plan. His formal accommodations, which included frequent breaks and preferential seating, helped him meet the increased demands of middle school.

[10 ways to take the struggle out of homework]

As a school counselor, I often hear from parents whose children are struggling academically or behaviorally. They have questions that vary from the logistical to the personal. Should they consult a professional or give it time? How can they know if their expectations are realistic? Would a diagnosis kill their child’s self-esteem?

Bob Cunningham, head of the private Robert Louis Stevenson School in Manhattan, advises parents to trust their instincts and take action when their children’s grades decline, their behavior changes, they resist going to school or their friends start ditching them. “Don’t let small slips add up to big problems,” he says. Research shows that identifying problems early can improve a child’s outcome, adds Howard Bennett, a pediatrician and author of “The Fantastic Body.”

As parents embark on the journey to identify and address learning or attention issues, here are nine ways they can support and empower their child.

Treat kids as the expert in their lives (but interview others)

“Most questions delivered to kids are really accusations with a question mark at the end,” says Ned Johnson, president of PrepMatters and co-author of “The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense Behind Giving Kids More Control of Their Lives.” “Ask: ‘Do you think this is harder for you than other kids? Are you the last one done on a test?’ ”

Keep a log and talk to counselors, teachers and other adults in your child’s life to identify patterns.

Parents might discover that symptoms change depending on the classroom setup, the skills required in a specific class, the teacher’s behavior management skills or their relationship with the child, says Melanie Auerbach, the director of student support at Sheridan School, a private school in the District. “If the teacher is highly distractible and the student likes to rap his desk with his knuckles, that’s not going to be a good combination,” she says. “Testing makes sense when there’s been a persistent and chronic issue across settings, as opposed to situational behavior.”

Partner with the school

Provide the school with work samples, the historical record and any diagnostic information, says Amanda Morin, author of “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and an expert for Understood, an organization that supports parents of children who have learning and attention issues. Be specific. Parents can say, “My child isn’t reading at grade level,” or “English causes more outbursts than math.”

Be deliberate in how you communicate.

Don’t fire off accusations or present a list of demands. Ann Dolin, founder of Educational Connections Tutoring in Fairfax, Va., suggests that parents use the words “I’ve noticed” instead of “you.” As in, “I’ve noticed that even with my help, Jimmy is spending two hours on Spanish homework.”

Chris Nardi, principal of the Thomas W. Pyle Middle School in Montgomery County, tells parents and educators to pick up the phone or meet in person whenever an email exceeds a paragraph. He recently emailed his son’s teacher with a concern. When her response was terse, he knew there was a disconnect. “I said, ‘Can we go offline and talk, because I think we’re misinterpreting our tones?’ ”

Everyone wants to do what’s best for your child, Nardi says. “Call a teacher or counselor, share your concerns and ask them to help you understand.” Gather data from other sources, too. Know the special education process and your rights. Section 504 and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are legally binding documents, and parents are equal participants on the team by law. Parents can find more resources and information about support groups at Understood (understood.org) and Parent Center Hub (parentcenterhub.org).

 Identify the right issues

Kids with specific learning disabilities can have attention issues, and children with attention issues can have anxiety. The root of the problem isn’t always obvious. Parents might think their child is anxious because math is a struggle, but math may be hard because of their anxiety.

Ella Tager, a seventh-grader who was diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade, notes that she has symptoms that are typical of someone with attention-deficit disorder. “Sometimes I need to move to process the frustration of not knowing what’s going on,” she explains. “It gives me time to get unstuck.” The right strategies and interventions will vary by child and change over time.

Don’t ignore the social sphere

“If your child has poor impulse control and says whatever is on his mind, it doesn’t take much to imagine the social implications,” Cunningham says. If he’s late or disruptive, a teacher may punish the entire class. If he doesn’t pull his weight on a group project, his social standing will take a hit. Parents can role-play scenarios at home, such as forgetting to meet a friend. “Help her say, ‘Jenny, I know that was a problem for you when I was late. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful to you — that’s something I’m working on,’ ” he says.

Professionals often emphasize the importance of having one or two close friends, but that may be a mistake for kids with social difficulties. “Deep friendship can be hard for the target friend,” Cunningham says. “A lot of kids with social issues will have significantly improved lives if the goal is more comfortable interactions with a broader range of classmates or teammates.”

Change what you do first

Parents need to think about what they can do to provide a better situation for their children who are struggling. “If your child isn’t getting to school on time, you might have to get up earlier, or check that your child is in the shower before you start making lunches,” Cunningham says. “Your expectation is still that your child is going to get to school on time, but you need to offer more scaffolding.”

Cunningham tells parents to try one new strategy at a time and stick with it for three weeks. Maybe your child has a separate alarm that reminds them it’s time to pack up, or uses lists to help prioritize their “must do’s,” “should do’s” and “could do’s.”

Capitalize on kids’ strengths and interests

 

Make sure teachers know where your child excels. If your kid is strong socially but has weak literacy skills, group work might be a good choice. Schools can offer children leadership roles that highlight their skills, build their confidence and influence the way others view them. Challenges often come with built-in strengths, says educator Laurel Blackmon, the founder of LCB Consulting, which works in the D.C. area. “Kids with dyslexia can make connections across big ideas, and kids with ADHD bring energy and dynamism to a classroom,” she says. When teachers draw on kids’ interests, they build their capacity to sustain attention.

Model self-advocacy skills

Miriam Tager, Ella’s mother and an assistant professor of early-childhood education at Westfield State University in Massachusetts, says her daughter knew how to ask teachers whether they had read her IEP by the time she was in fifth grade.

“My parents were constantly advocating for me, so I figured out how to use teacherly language,” Ella says. “Teachers take you more seriously when they see you understand and want to learn.” By sixth grade, she was implementing her own strategies. “I used my study hall to watch a video on evolution and cells, so when they came up in the text, the visual popped into my head.”

Take the ‘I do, we do, you do’ approach

Supports should be removed as kids learn skills. “Is your goal to make sure they’re getting everything right, or to teach them how to do it independently next time?” asks Donna Volpitta, founder of the Center for Resilient Leadership in Pound Ridge, N.Y. Parents can contact the school for their child, then guide their children as they write their teacher an email, then step back when they can do it on their own.

Morin tells parents not to overcompensate: “I know I’m doing too much when I’m making three trips to the school to bring sneakers and a textbook, and it’s interfering with the rest of the family’s functioning.”

Be direct but sensitive

A professional can help children understand how they learn without judgment, Auerbach, of the Sheridan School, says. “They can say: ‘Know why it’s so easy for you to memorize those math facts? Because you have really good long-term memory. It’s harder for you to remember six plus seven when you’re solving a word problem because your working memory is not as strong.’ ”

Parents may need to work out their own issues so that they can be calm and empathetic. “Your child is exquisitely sensitive to your reaction,” says Rachel Simmons, author of “Enough As She Is.” “We have to check ourselves and make sure our disappointment about a limitation in our child is not about an unresolved wound or an over-identification with our child’s success.”

Mary, whose seventh-grader Zoe has attention-deficit disorder, sought therapy because she had trouble coming to terms with her daughter’s diagnosis. Her psychologist helped her understand that Zoe will be consistently inconsistent. “She’s like a 9-year-old who has no filter and doesn’t recognize the boundaries of privacy,” says Mary, who wanted to use only her first name to protect her daughter’s privacy. “It was liberating to let go of expectations that were setting us both up for failure.”

It’s not always easy to take the long view, but Ella hopes parents will embrace her attitude. “Disability stands for something you can’t do,” she says. “I can read and learn, just differently. When I grow up, I plan to be a rocket scientist or an astrophysicist.”

Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC, is the counselor at Sheridan School in the District and a therapist at the Chrysalis Group in Bethesda. She tweets @pfagell and blogs at phyllisfagell.com.

Orton-Gillingham tutoring in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

Review: David Crystal’s Book on Grammar

MAKING SENSE: The Glamorous Story of English Grammar, by David Crystal

281 pp. Oxford University, $24.95.

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Peter Sokolowski, NY Times: “The indefatigable linguist Crystal’s latest book, “Making Sense,” is a surprisingly entertaining historical and scholarly tour of the mechanics of English.

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Grammar can seem as technical and off-putting as math or physics to many people who nevertheless can speak, read and write very well, and while some books on language prey on readers’ insecurity with lists of word-choice peeves and classist language shibboleths, Crystal efficiently punctures such snobbery.

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His approach is to explain the points of grammar and their natural acquisition in the order in which a toddler develops language skills, a brilliant strategy that allows him to begin with the most basic concepts and build upon them while simultaneously exemplifying the descriptive nature of his work.

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He illustrates the lingering “pernicious” effects of trying to fit the square peg of English into the round hole of Latin grammar, responsible for centuries of confusing information about how English works.

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Discussions of semantics (what we are trying to say) and pragmatics (how we are trying to say it) give a more concrete nature to grammar, and are used effectively here to explain away the silly admonition against the passive voice in writing.

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A primer on corpus linguistics and a short explanation of how our language evolved from Old English help complete Crystal’s masterly telling of why a living language’s grammar, like its vocabulary, is not only unfinished, it is unfinishable. One could not have a more genial guide for such a tour.”

source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/25/books/review/wordplay-emoji-slang-puns-language.html?mcubz=3

Reading/Spelling tutor in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021, or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

25 Ways to Ask”How Was School Today?”

by Liz Evans, Huffington Post

This year, Simon is in fourth grade and Grace is in first grade, and I find myself asking them every day after school, “So how was school today?”

And every day I get an answer like “fine” or “good,” which doesn’t tell me a whole lot.

AND I WANT TO KNOW A WHOLE LOT!!!!

Or at least get a full sentence. So the other night, I sat down and made a list of more engaging questions to ask about school. They aren’t perfect, but I do at least get complete sentences, and some have led to some interesting conversations… and hilarious answers… and some insights into how my kids think and feel about school.

1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)

2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.

3. If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)

4. Where is the coolest place at the school?

5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)

6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?

7. How did you help somebody today?

8. How did somebody help you today?

9. Tell me one thing that you learned today.

10. When were you the happiest today?

11. When were you bored today?

12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?

13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you’ve never played with before?

14. Tell me something good that happened today.

15. What word did your teacher say most today?

16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?

17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?

18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?

19. Where do you play the most at recess?

20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?

21. What was your favorite part of lunch?

22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?

23. Is there anyone in your class who needs a time-out?

24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?

25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.

*****

So far, my favorite answers have come from questions 12, 15 and 21. Questions like the “alien” one give kids a non-threatening way to say who they would rather not have in their class, and open the door for you to have a discussion to ask why, potentially uncovering issues you didn’t know about before.

And the answers we get are sometimes really surprising. When I asked question 3, I discovered that one of my children didn’t want to sit by a best friend in class anymore — not out of a desire to be mean or bully, but in the hope they’d get the chance to work with other people.

As my kids get older, I know I am going to have to work harder and harder to stay engaged with them — but I know it’s going to be worth the work.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-evans/25-ways-to-ask-your-kids-so-how-was-school-today-without-asking-them-so-how-was-school-today_b_5738338.html?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-evans/25-ways-to-ask-your-kids-so-how-was-school-today-without-asking-them-so-how-was-school-today_b_5738338.html?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004

Reading/Spelling Tutor in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards, O-G Tutor 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

Math Strategies for Dyslexic Students

By Marilyn Zecher, M.A., CALT

June 2017

Students with learning challenges begin to fall behind in math quite early, often before third grade. We know that learning to recognize and use quantity patterns is a core deficit in math. Students must learn the composition and decomposition of basic quantities such as what makes seven and what makes nine. They also need to understand how our place value system is organized and then to apply those early patterns across place value. If two plus three equals five, then twenty plus thirty equals fifty. By the time our students with dyslexia are in eighth grade, many are not proficient in math. Yet, they are expected to attempt algebra, a crucial course, armed with little reasoning ability and a calculator accommodation.

Parents and teachers worry about their ability to access grade-level content with below grade-level skills. And, with new approaches, students are introduced to multiple models when they do not fully comprehend one.
There are, however, some strategies that can help students with dyslexia understand core concepts and make sense of their pre-algebra and algebra content.

Let’s begin with the language. Students need to understand the meaning of key terms such as variable, equation, expression, and square. Don’t head for http://www.dictionary.com since most formal definitions are not
student friendly. Offer your student some non-math examples that will help him or her link to the math meaning.

Example 1: “The weather is variable at this time of year.” A variable is a letter representing a quantity that can change. Sometimes it is an unknown that we can discover, but it can also be something that can change. We use variables to create expressions and equations for making predictions and modeling. “Wow” and “oops” are expressions in English. They convey meaning but they are not complete thoughts. The math expression 2n+7 is not a complete equation. It lacks an equal sign and therefore can only be used to “evaluate” different choices or options.

Example 2: Now, let’s make a word web of all the ways we can think of to say “plus” or “add”: plus, increased by, added to, 7 greater than, 7 more than. We can also say multiplication many ways. Think of two times a number, the product of two and a number, twice a number. Now let’s construct all the ways we can say 2n + 7.

Most teachers begin with the math and expect students to comprehend the words. With students who have language challenges, begin with the words. The numbers are often easier.

The same is true for linear functions. Begin by helping your student build a model for a real life situation. Use linking cubes or even different colors of construction paper squares.

Example: If Tim pays a $10 fee to enter the climbing gym and then $2 per hour, how could we model that? Let’s build the ten as our starting value and then use different colors of paper squares to model that constant rate of change.

Using simple manipulatives, you and your student can build linear functions in slope intercept form without ever using resorting to equations. Meaningful math begins with real life applications. Reasoning mathematically is at the heart of becoming fluent in math.

My favorite models for linear functions involve high priced athletes with signing bonuses and per game salaries or depreciation of VERY expensive luxury cars. Make up some wonderful examples for working with your child and then have some fun with math.

 

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Marilyn Zecher is a nationally certified Academic Language Therapist and former classroom/demonstration teacher, Ms. Zecher is a specialist in applying multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-based strategies to a variety of content areas. She trains nationally for The Multisensory Training Institute of the nonprofit Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center in Rockville MD and is a part time instructor at Loyola University, Baltimore.

Source:  https://dyslexiaida.org/multisensory-math/

Orton-Gillingham literacy tutoring in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards, 614-579-6021, or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

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EXECUTIVE FUNCTION: tips

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION suggestions:

* ask teachers to check if child wrote assignments in agenda

* post schedules and directions and SAY THEM OUT LOUD

* give step by step directions and HAVE CHILD REPEAT THEM

* use checklist and color-coded supplies

* break projects into smaller pieces with OWN DEADLINES

* use graphic organizers or mind-mapping software

* follow daily schedules with built-in times for breaks

* with your doctor, consider ADHD medication

 

source: http:www.understood.org, adapted from Thomas E Brown PhD

Reading / writing tutor in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

Applying for Accommodations on College Entrance Tests

IDA FACT SHEET  (International Dyslexia Association)

The application process for individuals planning to enter college can be a daunting experience. For individuals with disabilities who are requesting testing accommodations, this can be even more challenging, as it often requires assembling necessary documentation, completing additional paperwork, and anticipating deadlines. This IDA Fact Sheet gives a broad overview of the process in order to assist individuals who are requesting test accommodations on high stakes tests such as the SAT and ACT. It provides guidance about what forms to submit, how to provide sufficient disability documentation, and how to gather supplemental information if needed to support accommodation requests. Keep in mind that each testing agency sets its own requirements for requesting accommodations.

The Application Process

• Test takers should read the test information on the program’s website. Many tests are administered on computer and incorporate functions such as a built-in calculator, clock, etc. Additionally, most testing agencies provide supplemental information or a handbook for test takers with disabilities.
• The testing agency website will give specific information about how to apply for accommodations. This should be read carefully to determine which accommodations are necessary (e.g., additional testing time, or breaks, separate room, a reader, etc.).
• Special Services and/or counseling staff in the student’s high school or district may be able to assist in completing the application and acquiring the required documentation.
• Early submission of applications is important, as it’s not unusual for testing agencies to request additional scores, updated testing, or clarification, which can cause delays. This is particularly true during peak application periods.
• Once the agency receives an application for accommodations, it may be two months before the applicant is notified. If additional testing or an appeal is needed, all this must be accomplished and submitted at least 60 days in advance of the test date.
• Since most testing agencies no longer “flag” scores obtained under non-standard conditions, it is important to request accommodations that are needed.

Documentation

• Typically, all documentation should be sent in one complete packet. This pertains to supporting documentation (IEP, transcripts, letters re: past accommodations).
• Testing agencies often require current documentation according to their individual “recency” criteria. For example, many testing agencies request documentation for learning disabilities to be dated within the last three to five years to reflect the test taker’s need for specific accommodations. Test takers should review the documentation guidelines posted on the website.
• Often, a current, comprehensive evaluation is needed, as an adult version of some tests may be required. For example, most testing agencies will not accept a handwritten prescription-pad note from a doctor. Documentation should be complete, dated, signed, in English, and on official letterhead. Disability documentation should address all of the following:
  • The existence of an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, as compared to most people in the general population
  • A diagnosis of the disability and the current impact of impairment and how it limits the student’s ability to take the test under standard conditions
  • A rationale for why the requested accommodations are necessary and appropriate. For example, if extra time is requested, the evaluation must say how much extended time should be provided and on what basis.
  • The accommodations that are requested should generally match those provided in the past.
• Some accommodations may not require prior approval, such as braces or crutches, eyeglasses, insulin pump, etc. Lockers that can be accessed during breaks are typically provided for storage of food, water, and/or medication, if applicable.
• If sufficient disability documentation is unavailable or outdated, it may take up to nine months in advance to find a qualified professional with a qualified professional with experience and expertise in diagnosing and documenting the disability in question. That evaluator will need relevant historical information, including:
  • Letters documenting a history of accommodations in school, such as IEPs or 504 plans, or proof of accommodations on statewide assessments.
  • A description of tutoring or coaching services provided in the past.
  • A comprehensive evaluation report for diagnosis of the disability and accommodation determination.
• Additionally, school records from elementary and high school as well as teacher comments will help support a history of a disability. High school transcripts may provide good evidence if they showed the impact of the disability on grades (e.g., dropped classes, withdrawals, incompletes, or failing grades). It is not always the case that accommodations in the past will automatically continue. An ongoing need for accommodations can be described in a personal statement.
• Many colleges and universities with strong school psychology programs perform evaluations at a reduced fee if a private evaluation is not feasible.

Types of Decision Letters

There are three basic types of decision letters that the testing agency sends:

1. Approval—This type of letter will list the accommodations that have been approved.
   • Once accommodations have been approved, directions on the approval letter regarding how to schedule the test and other pertinent information.
   • Be aware that extra time may be needed to schedule the test after approval for accommodations. For example, extra time may be needed to secure a reader or scribe.
2. Request for Additional Information—This type of letter is not a denial of the request. It specifies that the agency needs more information to complete the review.
3. Denial—If the testing agency finds the documentation insufficient to support the accommodation request, this letter will explain the decision and will include options for requesting further review.
   • Appeal Process: Each testing agency has established a procedure to allow an appeal of its decision. The information on how to appeal a decision is typically stated in the denial letter or on the agency’s website. When the requested information is submitted, the request will be reconsidered.

Preparing for the Test

Whether or not an accommodation request is approved, it is important for the student to become familiar with the upcoming test.

• Most testing agencies have a wide range of practice materials at no or low cost available to test takers.
• Areas of particular focus are the test format, the types of questions used, and the test directions for each type of question. This can reduce the amount of time spent familiarizing oneself with instructions on the test day. Alternate-format practice materials can be requested if this is one of the desired accommodations.
• The sample test questions can be practiced with and without the requested accommodations. The goal is to increase the number of questions correctly completed within the time limit. As you practice, try to increase the number of questions you can complete correctly within the time limit.
• Test sites differ, so it is a good idea to check out the location in advance.

Resources

• AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) This is a professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. www.ahead.org
• Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html
• Rights and Responsibilities of College Students with LD (Learning Disabilities Association of America) https://ldaamerica.org/rights-and-responsibilities-of-college-students-with-learning-disabilities-ld/
• Educational Testing Service http://www.ets.org/disabilities
• ACT Test website http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/accommodations.html

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The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) thanks Loring Brinkerhoff, Ph.D., Nancy Cushen White, Ed.D., BCET, CALT-QI, and Diana Sauter, Ph.D., for their assistance in the preparation of this fact sheet.

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© Copyright The International Dyslexia Association (IDA). For copyright information, please click here.  IDA site: https://dyslexiaida.org 

Reading / writing tutoring in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

Teaching Students about Their Learning Strengths and Weaknesses

by Michelle Garcia Winner, Social Thinking

Over the years, I have observed so many students get upset by the fact they had “autism” or “Asperger syndrome” or “ADHD.” While they could verbalize these terms aloud, they still didn’t seem to understand what their learning challenges actually were.

I have also observed many adults explaining to students that the reason they were having difficulty socializing, studying, and learning was because they had “autism” or “Asperger’s syndrome”, or “ADHD.” I thought this was a really abstract way of explaining to students with limited abstract thinking how best to understand their own learning challenges. I also have observed that many of our smart but socially not-in-step students were using their label as an excuse for not working at learning new ideas; they interpreted the fact that they had a diagnostic label as a reason to not continue to learn.

I have also been inspired by the writings of other professionals who describe learning abilities and challenges within a framework of “multiple intelligences” (see Howard Gardner). Essentially this means that each of us have different types of intelligences and we each have our strengths and weaknesses with regard to our own brain’s design.

Strengths and Weakness Lesson

The lesson I developed is about teaching our students and adults how to understand their social learning challenges in the context of their overall abilities and then how they can use their strengths to learn more strategies related to their weaknesses. I have done this lesson with students as young as eight years old and as old as they come.

The lesson is very simple. To save explaining it all with words, see the chart below.

Here are some basic things I do as I develop this type of chart with the student:

1. Each chart is completely personalized for the person I am developing it with. It is not about recording test scores that purport to show competencies. The chart is about how the student perceives his or her own strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, you create the chart using any areas that are individualized to the student.
2. To determine the ideas/areas to post on the chart, take time to talk to students and listen to what they enjoy doing and what they feel they do well.
3. Always start by graphing out their strengths. It is good to show many perceived strengths. Again, strengths are not about listing academic tasks exclusively. If a student says she is really good at playing a specific computer game or Legos then we make that a category and talk about what number to give it on the chart.
4. It is also important to find some areas where students perceive they are just OK – their skills are not good or bad. They perceive themselves to be similar to the average person in that area of functioning, or a “5” on the scale. With kids, you can use language such as:
   • “First tell me what you think you are really good at compared to other kids you know.” After you and the student have listed three to five areas on the chart then say,
   • “Now tell me something you are just OK at – you’re like most other kids during playing or learning.”
   • “Now tell me some things that your brain doesn’t make easy for you…things you have noticed most other people can learn easier than you.”
5. • Who talks a lot in your class?
   • Who doesn’t tend to do their homework?
   • Who is really good in math?
   • Who is super friendly?
   • Who is mean?If students aren’t used to thinking about how they function compared to others, I will shift gears to explore the idea that we all think about what others around us are doing. At this point, I will ask the student to tell me things like:

   By having this discussion, you help them notice that they are aware of others’ strengths and weaknesses. This often helps them put their own abilities in perspective.

6. If students can’t answer the questions, I go back and suggest ideas similar to my earlier conversation with them. Ultimately I am doing this to help them put their learning challenges in context. Our students with social emotional learning challenges are usually not good at spontaneously describing what they don’t do well; this is not something people usually talk about. Some ideas I ask them to consider include:
   • How do you do with keeping track of your homework assignments and doing the homework?
   • How do you do with writing paragraphs or reports (writing short responses on paper may have been a strength, while writing longer information is often a challenge)
   • How do you do making guesses about what you are reading?
   • How do you do with playing in a group?
   • How do you do with getting into a group?
   • How do you do talking to other kids?
   • Or I may just ask them about their “social skills”

   It’s important not to overwhelm students when discussing things that are harder for them to do. This is uncomfortable for most of us! Choose some main idea to explore based on what concerns exist with a particular student. At this point, students are usually willing to list these as weaknesses compared to the other areas on the chart.

7. What to do if students rate a weakness as a perceived strength?I routinely make a chart of my brain’s strengths and weaknesses so they experience their teacher/leader admitting to weaknesses. Then, I’ll write the area they mentioned as a strength on the chart and pause there to discuss it more in the context of the others’ strengths. More often than not, students decide it should be listed as a lower number on the scale. However, I have worked with students who are genuinely afraid to list something as a weakness. In those cases I reassure them that everyone has weaknesses, including me. On rare occasions, I have said to a student, “Actually, this is an area that you are not as good at and this is why you are here today.” Then I lower the ranking on that social area on the scale compared to the other areas listed, while explaining that it is expected and OK that people have learning weaknesses.
8. If you are familiar with the teachings of Social Thinking® you will also be able to explain how socially-based learning weaknesses (organizational skills, written expression, social relationships, reading comprehension, etc.) are all related. Making this connection with our students helps them see how they don’t have all that many weaknesses. Instead, there is a weak root system that leads to different areas of weakness. (For more information on this please read about the ILAUGH Model of Social Thinking in the book Inside Out: What Makes Persons with Social Cognitive Deficits Tick.  This concept is also the focus of the article, “Social Thinking – Social Learning Tree.”)
9. You will find your students are usually pretty honest about themselves. It is often amazing how they are willing to talk about the fact they have strengths and weaknesses when it’s presented this way. When they have strengths in language and learning facts, we can then explain how these abilities will help them learn more information in the areas where learning is not as easy or natural to them.
10. Once the chart is completed, I then go on to talk about what it means to have a learning disability: that the student has relative learning weaknesses compared to their strengths or even the “OK” areas of learning. Remarkably, many of our students don’t understand what learning disabilities or differences are, so they react to their weaknesses with anger rather than understanding they can usually use some of their learning strengths to help them in their weaker areas. I have worked through anger about learning differences much more successfully using this scale.
11. You will find that your students/adults are much more willing to discuss how they learn, what they are good at, and what they are not so astute at learning in this context, compared to simply talking to them about the fact they have ASD, AS, ADHD, etc.
12. Once you’ve reached this point with students, the next step is to discuss specific things they can work at learning to boost their area of weakness to a higher number on the scale. I also explain that they likely will never get their weak area as high as their strong areas, because their strengths are what their brain is naturally good at learning. But they can improve how they do in their weaker areas as long as they work at learning!

Once you make the chart you can refer back to it session after session. It is also a helpful tool when explaining to parents/caregivers what our students’ labels really mean in terms of their learning abilities.

A note on language: The language-based explanation, “Your brain doesn’t make this easy for you,” helps many of our students put their challenges in context. Make sure you regularly point out when they are doing things their brains do make easy for them, and not only talk about their areas of weakness or areas that need improving.

Final, final note: The “art” of teaching is critical in this lesson. Stay in step with your students emotionally while you go through this lesson. Spend some significant time talking about what they are good at and pretty good at, rather than rush to their weaknesses and then spend all your time on this area. Remember, our students are often really talented when we are not demanding they participate in socially-based situations. Take time to celebrate the many things they do well to give them the strength to talk about what they don’t do as well.

Source: https://www.socialthinking.com/Articles?name=Teaching+Students+about+Their+Learning+Strengths+and+Weaknesses&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article_teachingstudentsabout

[My note: Social Thinking is a terrific resource for families and professionals dealing with children who have socializing challenges.]

for Orton-Gillingham reading, writing and spelling help in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

TIPS: Encourage Kids to Ask For Help

by Michelle Garcia Winner, Social Thinking.com

…
Discuss why people ask for help and give examples of the types of people who ask for help. Many of our students choose not to request help because they think it means they’re not smart. Many individuals have been told they are smart for years and feel that smart people don’t need help. What they often don’t realize is that the most successful students are the ones who regularly ask for help/clarification when unsure. These individuals will benefit from observing other students asking for help and then watching the teacher’s response. The reality is that most teachers are usually responsive to students who ask for assistance!

Help the individual develop the ability to recognize when he or she needs help. Some individuals are so used to feeling confused with certain types of academic information that they become desensitized. They simply wait for someone (parent, aide, teacher) to swoop in and clarify on a regular basis. Work with the individual to develop a system so s/he can differentiate between when s/he understands the task or the situation versus when s/he feels confused or lost and may need help.

Establish a system for how to ask for help. Most students in a classroom raise their hand while looking in the direction of the teacher to indicate the need for help. If, after ongoing explanations and clear models of how to get help in this manner the student still does not use this strategy, then it’s time to try another approach. For example, start with having the student simply flip a card on her desk to indicate, “I need help.” Some students may benefit from having a visual cue card to hand to the teacher. These strategies can be very helpful to our less verbose or more anxious students. This is often a concrete, although temporary, solution to an abstract problem. Also, student with selective mutism may be willing to stand by the teacher’s desk as a sign they need help. Continue to brainstorm different choices for different students.

Outline what it means to ask for help versus asking for clarification. Some students need to simply check-in with someone to make sure they are doing the right thing (clarification), which is different from the need to acquire information that is unknown (asking for help). We distinguish between these two concepts as many students may just need clarification – but to them it looks like they need help and they don’t want people to think they need help! These students usually feel they know (or think they know) what to do and just need to clarify! Making this distinction often helps reduce their discomfort.

Help the student understand that asking for help doesn’t imply ignorance. Teach that asking for guidance/clarification on parts of assignments is commonplace for even the brightest and best students. Teach him or her to explain which part of the assignment s/he understands versus which part s/he needs further clarification.

Establish an expectation for how many times one should ask for help during class and at home. If the student is sitting in class and not doing the work like the other students (and has the ability to do so), help to pinpoint this as an expected time to ask for help. For our older students who struggle with this, we encourage them to ask for help once or twice a day in school, and once at home. Reward with praise when they are working to ask for help. Of course, there is always the case where students ask for help too often. This is also an issue and we, as educators and parents, need to teach strategies to help the student do a bit more of his or her own problem solving. For these students, we can encourage them to only ask for help a set number of times during any particular class or for a set period of time. Reward them for figuring out what to do on their own!

Provide more praise when the student asks for help than when he completes his work! Always give the student positive feedback when he is showing improvement in one of the areas mentioned above. This is far more important than giving praising to him for doing something that you know he can easily do well. The research is strong in telling us that the best praise is where we tell students exactly what they did well (e.g., “I love it that you figured out your own problem and solved it” or “I like that you knew you needed help and you asked me! Perfect”) rather than global praise (e.g., “Nice job in math.”).

Know your students’ strategies -both constructive and problematic! Teachers and parents should be assessing the strategies a student uses to ask for help as well as avoidance techniques! We should also observe how often the individual uses these positive or negative strategies when doing homework, when working in class, etc. Sometimes students don’t ask for help in a traditional manner but instead appear to have behavior problems (highly distracting to themselves and others) when unsure what to do. You may notice that this same student does not use these behaviors when highly engaged in a task that she understands.

Social Thinking groups can help, but the work can’t all be done in a specialized setting. Students need to take ownership for applying this information beyond one specific room. As your students acquire a better understanding of how to ask for help and why, teachers, clinicians, and parents need to help the student figure out how to apply these strategies in other settings and situations. Work with the student to develop strategies that encourage him or her to remember to use what they are learning in their classroom, at home, in the community and then provide opportunities to practice.

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Source: Social Thinking.com — a terrific resource for teaching self-understanding and social relationships. Specifically  https://www.socialthinking.com/Articles?name=Thoughts+on+Encouraging+Students+to+Ask+for+Help&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article_thoughtsonencouraging

for reading, spelling and writing help in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards, Orton-Gillingham Dyslexia Tutor, 614-579-6021; or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

8 Things You Might Not Know About Vowels

by Arika Okrent

A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y is not all you need to know about vowels. There’s more to these workhorse members of our linguistics inventory than you might think.

 

1. ENGLISH HAS MORE VOWELS THAN THERE ARE LETTERS FOR THEM.

A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y are the letters we define as vowels, but vowels can also be defined as speech sounds. While we have six letters we define as vowels, there are, in English, many more vowel sounds than that. For example consider the word pairs cat and car, or cook and kook. The vowel sounds are different from each other in each pair, but they are represented by the same letters. Depending on the dialect, and including diphthongs, which are combinations of two vowel sounds, English has from nine to 16 vowel sounds.

2. THE MOST COMMON VOWEL IS SCHWA.

The most common vowel sound in English doesn’t even have its own letter in the alphabet. It does have a symbol, though, and it looks like this: ǝ. It’s the “uh” sound in an unstressed syllable and it shows up everywhere, from th[ǝ], to p[ǝ]tato, to antic[ǝ]p[ǝ]tory. You can discover nine fun facts about it here.

3. YOUR SPANISH SOUNDS AMERICAN BECAUSE OF DIPHTHONGS.

In addition to pure vowel sounds, there are diphthongs, where the sound moves from one target to another. American English is full of them. The vowel in the American pronunciation of no is a diphthong that moves from o to u (if you say it in slow motion, your lips move from a pure o position to a pure u position). The vowel in the Spanish pronunciation is not a diphthong. It stays at o, and that what makes it sound different from the English version.

4. SOME SOUNDS CAN BE EITHER VOWELS OR CONSONANTS.

The u sound (pronounced “oo”) is a vowel. It allows an unrestricted airflow through the vocal apparatus. Consonants, in contrast, are created with a blockage of air flow, or point of constriction. A u sound can sometimes serve as that point of constriction, and it that case the u is considered a w. In the word blue, the u is the most open part of the syllable, and a vowel. In want it is the constriction before the main vowel, and thus a consonant. Similarly, an i (or “ee”) can also be a y, which helps explain why is Y a sometimes vowel.

5. MOST LANGUAGES HAVE AT LEAST THREE VOWELS.

Most languages have at least i, a, and u, or something close to them, though it may be the case that the extinct language Ubykh had only two vowels. It is hard to say what the highest number of vowels for a language is because there are features like vowel length, nasalization, tone, and voicing quality (creaky, breathy) that may or may not be considered marks of categorical difference from other sounds, but in general, 15 seems to be a pretty high number of distinct single vowels for a language. The International Phonetic Alphabet has symbols for 34 different vowels. You can listen to the different sounds they represent here.

6. SOME LANGUAGES REQUIRE VOWEL HARMONY.

In English, we can add an ending like –ness or –y onto any word and the form of the ending doesn’t change. I can say “the property of vowelness” or “his speech is very diphthongy.” In languages like Hungarian, the vowels of the ending must harmonize with the vowels in the word it attaches to. For example, the multiplicative ending, for forming words like twice, thrice, etc. is –szor when it attaches to a word with a back vowel (hatszor, “six times”), -szer when it attaches to a word with a front vowel (egyszer, “once”) and –ször when it attaches to a word with a front rounded vowel (ötször, “five times”). Other languages with vowel harmony are Turkish and Finnish.

7. TODAY’S ENGLISH IS THE RESULT OF MASSIVE CHANGE CALLED “THE GREAT VOWEL SHIFT.”

Many words we have today were pronounced very differently before the 14th century. Boot sounded more like boat, house sounded like hoos, and five sounded like feev. English underwent a major change in the 14th and 15th centuries. Words with long vowels shifted into new pronunciations. The changes happened in stages, over a few hundred years, but when they were complete, the language sounded very different, and spelling was a bit of a mess, since many spellings had been established during early phases of pronunciation. The change may have been initiated by the volume of French words that entered English shortly before the shift, or by the movement of populations with different dialects during the Black Plague.

8. YOU DON’T NEED ALL THE VOWELS TO WRITE A NOVEL.

In 1969, George Perec, a member of the French experimental literature group known as Oulipo published La Disparition, a 300-page novel written only with words that did not contain the letter e. It was published in English as A Void, also without using the letter e. The Spanish translation, El Secuestro, used no a. Works created with this kind of restriction are called lipograms, explained here in an e-less lipogram.

Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/88290/8-things-you-might-not-know-about-vowels

Orton-Gillingham Tutoring in Columbus OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021, or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com