This winter has been filled with lots of snow and time off school for many parts of the country. Some kids may sit in front of a device or lounge in bed on these chilly days. Take advantage of snow days by helping your child strengthen their reading, writing, and math skills with the ideas detailed below.

Reading

To help your child develop their reading skills, try finding a snow-themed article from a newspaper or online source. This article could be a weather report on the anticipated snowfall, an article about snowfall affecting businesses, or a passage about post-snow hazards – really anything related to snow can work. Teach your child that there are three elements they should look for when reading: the topic, main idea, and important details. Have them take out blue, green, and yellow highlighters and explain to them that they will highlight each of these elements in a different color. A topic is typically one, two, or three words describing the passage, like snow, winter, or hot cocoa. They should highlight the topic in blue. The main idea is what the author is saying about the topic. For example, if the topic is snow, the main idea might be: one of the greatest snowfalls in recent history. They should highlight the main idea in green. Finally, they should look for important details describing the main idea, and highlight them in yellow.

Have your child read the passage first, then go back and highlight the topic, main idea, and important details. Next, ask them inference questions about the passage, like, “What do you think will happen after the snowstorm?” or “How do you think most people will prepare for the storm?” They can either tell you their response orally and you can have a discussion about it, or they can write their response in the form of a paragraph on a separate sheet of paper or on a computer.

Writing

Help your child build stronger writing skills during a snow day! Teach them the structure of a simple paragraph, which is comprised of a topic sentence, three detail sentences, and a conclusion sentence. Explain that when they write, they should start by brainstorming, then write, and finally self-check their work. Give them a topic, like: should schools be canceled tomorrow? Have them start by brainstorming their ideas and include three details on why school should be canceled (if that is their stance). For example, they might use web bubbles to write: safety, time with family, outdoor exercise. Then they should work on writing their paragraph using the information from their brainstorm webs. Their topic sentence should introduce their stance, like: School should be canceled tomorrow due to the snowstorm. Then they should write their detail sentences, ideally using transition words. For example, they might write: First, it likely won’t be safe to drive on the roads. Next, a snow day would allow me to spend quality time with my family, baking or reading together. Finally, I can get some exercise if I play outside in the snow. For the last sentence, they can wrap up their ideas with a sentence like: Since we will be getting a lot of snow, I feel strongly that schools should be closed. As a last step, have your child self-check their writing using the COPS checklist, which stands for capitalization, organization, punctuation, spelling.

Math

To build your child’s math skills during a snow day, try making snow-day word problems! Create problems like:

Hot chocolate costs $1 per packet. If there are four members in a family, how much will it cost for everyone to have a cup of hot chocolate?

or

Two inches of snow will likely fall each hour for four hours. At this pace, how much snow will we get?

When solving these math problems, teach your child to circle the key words, highlight the relevant numbers, then break down the problem into four steps. First, they should write down the relevant numbers. Next, they should choose which operation to use. Then they should write the number sentence and solve the problem. Finally, they should write their answer as a full sentence, using proper capitalization and punctuation.

Don’t let snow days stop your child from learning! Have fun with these activities, while still building your child’s reading, writing, and math skills.

EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one in person and virtual tutoring for students in grades pre-K-12 with specialized learning needs. They use research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, to develop students’ reading, writing, math, note taking, test taking, and executive functioning skills. Each student is evaluated and then receives an individualized learning plan to address their specific academic needs. Learn more at http://www.eblcoaching.com/.

Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, is happy to hear from anyone who is in need for their child. You may reach her through her website, and mention you heard of her through MotherhoodLater.

The post Snow Day Activities That Build Reading, Writing & Math Skills appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Access to specialized tutoring

Many students require specialized tutoring, such as Orton Gillingham tutoring for students with dyslexia, multi-sensory math instruction for students with a math learning disability, or executive functioning coaching for those with ADHD. In some geographic areas, tutors who specialize in these methods may not be available. Alternatively, there may be only a few specialized tutors in your area who have limited availability, offer tutoring at an undesirable location, are completely full, or aren’t a great personality match for your child. Virtual tutoring gives you access to specialized tutors from around the world who may be a great personality fit for your child and who specialize in specific skills and techniques that your child needs.‌

Interactive Digital Tools

With the rise of online instruction, many new digital tools now exist. For example, as part of an Orton Gillingham lesson, students might work with their tutor on blending sounds together to form words using digital magnetic tiles with sites such as https://www.reallygreatreading.com/lettertiles/. Tutors and students can also use virtual whiteboards such as Ziteboard or Miro when working together to go over new concepts. Additionally, multi-colored highlighting tools can be used for building reading comprehension, active reading, and other related skills. For example, to build a student’s reading comprehension skills, a tutor can teach them that when they read, there are three elements they should look for. The first is the topic, which is one, two, or three words describing the passage. Students should highlight the topic in blue using a digital highlighter. The second element they should look for is the main idea, which is what the author is saying about the topic. They should highlight the main idea in green using a digital highlighter. Finally, they should identify the important details and highlight them in yellow using a digital highlighter. Students tend to enjoy using these interactive digital tools and the tools can be very effective when integrated into virtual tutoring sessions.

Screen sharing

Screen sharing is also a benefit of virtual tutoring. Many teachers and schools now use online portals to post homework assignments and upcoming exams. During virtual tutoring sessions, the student can share their screen with their tutor, allowing them to show the tutor their online school portal. Together, they can review any current and upcoming assignments and come up with a plan for completing them in an organized fashion.

Flexible scheduling

Virtual tutoring generally allows for more flexible scheduling. While in-person tutors might have limited time slots available on certain days, times, and locations, virtual tutoring usually offers more flexibility. Tutors don’t have to build in travel time in between sessions and can generally fit more students into a given day. Students also don’t have to travel to a tutor’s office or home, maximizing the tutoring time and reducing extra time spent traveling to and from sessions.

Virtual tutoring can be a great option for many students. It offers numerous advantages that can help students have efficient, effective tutoring sessions and thrive in school.

The post Is Virtual Tutoring as Effective as In-Person Tutoring? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, relaxing days, and outdoor play. Yet the school year is just around the corner and many children have trouble with the transition from a laid back summer to a more structured fall. Try some of the ideas below to help your child jump start the new school year on a positive note.

Set routines

During the summer, many kids enjoy less structured free time with fewer routines. While this can serve as a well-needed break for children, once they transition back to the school year, having structured routines typically becomes the new reality. Begin setting routines before the school year starts to avoid a challenging transition. You can start by changing your child’s sleep schedule. If they’re used to going to bed and waking up late, set an earlier bedtime two weeks or so before the school year starts and have your child follow that new time so they get used to it before school begins. You may want to also discuss with your child a morning routine that they will adhere to once the school year starts. This might include getting dressed right when they wake up, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, and making sure their backpack is filled with everything they need for the day. You can even discuss breakfast options with them before the school year starts to avoid any delays in decision making over what to eat. The more routines you can set now, the easier the transition to the new school year will be.

Homework timing

Before the school year begins, it’s helpful to discuss with your child what time they plan to work on their homework each day. Some kids prefer doing their homework right when they get home and are still in “school mode”. Others like to have a small snack or physical activity break before beginning their work, and some enjoy working at night, after dinner. Any of these options can work; the key is setting a regular homework time and sticking with it. If there are days when you know your child will have an after school activity or event and won’t be able to complete their homework at their usual time, set an alternate time for those days so a plan is in place for the week.

Set up a study space

At the start of the school year, it’s important that your child has a designated clutter-free spot in your home for completing their homework. Ideally this should be a desk in their room, but it can also be a spot at your kitchen or dining room table if a private space isn’t available. Make sure they have all the supplies they need for completing their work at this spot, including pens, pencils, paper, scissors, and so on. If their supplies run low, refill them right away to prevent your child from wandering around your home looking for supplies mid-homework session. If their designated homework spot is on a common table, create a transportable homework bin for them containing all the necessary homework supplies that they will carry to and from their bedroom. Some kids also like having a reading nook in their room, or a designated spot devoted just to reading, separate from their homework space.

Meet your child’s teachers

If your child has historically struggled in school or has an IEP or 504 plan, make sure you communicate this information to their teachers at the start of the school year. When the year begins, try setting up a meeting with your child’s teachers and any service providers to tell them about your child, along with strategies that have or have not worked for them in the past. Additionally, set up a plan for communicating with them on a regular basis to discuss how your child is doing – perhaps once per month via email, phone, or in-person meetings. Try to be proactive rather than reactive; don’t wait until later in the year to find out your child is struggling. Stay on top of communicating with their teachers to help ensure they continue to thrive.

The transition back to school can be a challenging one, but try these ideas and your child will be on their way to a successful new year.

The post Tips to Help Your Child Get a Positive Jumpstart on the School Year by Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, EBL Coaching appeared first on EBL Coaching.

For some children, the transition back to school is seamless. They look forward to the excitement of reconnecting with friends, meeting their teachers, and starting new after school activities. Yet for other students, especially those who are neurodivergent, the transition back to school can be challenging. Help your neurodivergent child start the new school year strong with the ideas detailed below.

Routines

For many children, summer is filled with free play, outdoor activities, and unstructured days. When the school year begins, however, routines become paramount. Rather than springing this transition on your child, start to integrate elements of their fall routine now, before the school year begins. You can discuss wake-up times and bedtimes with your child, both for school days and weekends. If they have been waking up closer to 9am in the summer but need to wake up at 7am during the week once the school year starts, have them set an alarm progressively earlier in the summer until they reach 7am right before the school year begins. The same applies to bedtime; if they have been going to bed later in the summer, have them start to go to sleep a little earlier each night. You can also create morning and afternoon checklists for tasks they’ll need to do once the school year begins. For example, their morning checklist might include getting dressed, brushing their teeth, eating breakfast, and preparing their backpack for school. You may want to come up with a list of menu items for breakfast and have them decide what they will eat for breakfast each day at the start of a given week, so you can prepare accordingly.  Their afternoon checklist might include having a snack when they get home, completing their schoolwork, turning in or putting away their homework in their backpack, eating dinner, and going to bed. The more structure you can integrate into your child’s day now, before the school year begins, the better!

Get organized!

Having strong organizational skills is a key component to school success, especially for neurodivergent children who may struggle with executive functioning skills. Shop for school supplies with your child as early as you can so you have plenty of time to organize them. You may want to color code items by subject. For example, you may select green for science, blue for math, yellow for social studies, and so on. For each subject, there should be a folder and a notebook in the color that corresponds to that class. Encourage your child to write down their homework daily in an assignment book when they are at school, and perhaps highlight the assignment for each subject in its corresponding color. You may want to designate one day per week as a “clean out my backpack and folders day” where your child cleans out any items or papers from their backpack that they no longer need to be carrying with them.

Distraction-free workspace

Neurodivergent students often become easily distracted when trying to complete their homework. Before the school year starts, set up a distraction-free work zone where your child will do their homework every day. This could be a desk in their room or a spot in a communal area, like a kitchen or dining room table. Make sure they have all the supplies they need for completing their homework, like pens, pencils, paper, a calculator, scissors, and highlighters. When the supplies run low, refill them right away to avoid having your child wander around in the middle of a homework session looking for more supplies. If they plan to work in a communal area, they can carry a portable supplies bin from their bedroom to their homework spot and back when they’re done, containing all the supplies they will need to complete their homework.

Connect with your child’s teachers

Most neurodivergent children have very unique needs. Before the school year begins or right after it starts, set up a meeting with your child’s teacher and their other service providers if relevant. Tell them about your child, including which techniques have and haven’t worked for them in the past, and set up a line of communication going forward. Perhaps you will check in with them once per month via email or set up regular phone calls to discuss your child’s progress. Additionally, you should consistently advocate for your child; while they may be doing well in school at one point in time, that could change quickly and their academic performance could take a downturn. Don’t wait for your child to struggle. Be proactive in helping them succeed and seeking additional support for them if needed. If the school year progresses and your child continues to struggle academically despite these interventions, you may want to consider private tutoring, which can be custom-tailored to your child’s needs and help them thrive in school.

The transition to the new school year can be challenging, especially for neurodivergent children. These strategies can help your child get excited for the new year and start school on a positive note.

The post Help Your Neurodivergent Child Prepare for the New School Year appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Your child was diagnosed with a learning disability, and you don’t know where to turn. There may be some extra support your child’s school offers for building academic skills, but many students with learning disabilities benefit from specialized learning disability tutoring outside of school. What should you look for in a tutor for students with learning disabilities?

Specialized instruction

Students with learning disabilities typically need specialized tutoring, not generic tutoring or homework help. This tutoring should use research-based, multi-sensory methods and be catered to your child’s individualized needs. It is important that your child’s tutor learns about their diagnosis and areas of challenge and uses methods that are appropriate to their needs. Students with dyslexia, for instance, benefit from Orton Gillingham tutoring. Orton Gillingham is a research-based, multi-sensory technique that helps students develop their decoding and spelling skills. With this method, students typically learn the names of the letters and corresponding sounds using multi-sensory tools such as colored sand, audio-visual flash cards, and shaving cream. They then learn to blend these sounds together to form basic words. Later, they learn how to read and spell words containing blends, consonant digraphs, vowel digraphs, silent e patterns, r-controlled patterns, and so on, following a structured, systematic approach that integrates previously taught concepts as new ones are introduced.

Students with dyscalculia, or a math learning disability, typically benefit from specialized tutoring that is multi-sensory and integrates manipulatives specific to each concept, such as counters, base ten blocks, five frames, ten frames, fraction tiles, and so on. Those with dysgraphia, or a writing learning disability, also benefit from specialized tutoring catered to their needs – whether it’s learning to write a simple sentence, expanded sentence, simple paragraph, extended paragraph, or five paragraph essay. They should learn how to brainstorm, write, and self-check their work using a concrete, systematic approach, and should be given ample practice with each concept.

Structured plan

With learning disability tutoring, it’s important that a structured plan is in place. The tutor shouldn’t just help the student with homework or bring in random reading or writing sheets or workbooks. They should follow a systematic plan, starting with the child’s current levels and building upwards from there. For instance, if a child is able to read words with consonant-vowel-consonant patterns (like cat, rug, or mit), but struggles with words containing blends (like slug, frog, or blimp), their Orton Gillingham tutoring should begin with words containing blends and move upwards from there. Likewise, with other skills such as writing and math, the learning disability tutor should identify the starting point based on your child’s levels and come up with a structured plan to build their skills starting from where they are and moving upwards.

Review the child’s evaluation

Students with learning disabilities are typically evaluated in order to identify their diagnosis and specific needs. This may be an evaluation done at school or a more comprehensive private neuropsychological evaluation. For effective learning disability tutoring, the tutor should thoroughly read the child’s evaluation to gain a picture of their overall profile and academic needs in order to best help them. Many students with learning disabilities who have been evaluated have IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs) detailing their needs, goals, and necessary services. Others have a 504 plan detailing accommodations they should receive at school. The learning disability tutor should also read these documents and integrate any relevant information about the child’s profile into the tutoring.

Build a rapport

Having chemistry and a strong rapport is a key part of learning disability tutoring. Tutors for students with learning disabilities should get to know the child and their interests before delving into academic work. Many children with learning disabilities have experienced negativity surrounding school and their academic performance, so the tutor should try to be as positive and uplifting as possible when working with the child, building not just their academic skills but also their overall self-esteem.

Knowing what to look for in tutors for students with learning disabilities can be challenging, but using specialized instruction, having a structured plan, integrating information from the child’s evaluation, and building a strong rapport are key elements of successful learning disability tutoring.

Learn more about learning disability tutoring at

https://eblcoaching.com/tutoring/.

The post What Should I Look for in a Tutor for Students with Learning Disabilities? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

As students move through school, the executive functioning demands increase rapidly. Their school work will typically require stronger executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, task initiation, time management and other related skill areas. Without well-developed executive functioning skills, students may have difficulty excelling in school. Help your child develop stronger executive functioning skills with the ideas detailed below.

Visual Schedules

Children with executive functioning difficulties often become easily overwhelmed with a large workload and struggle to complete all the tasks they need to do in a given day. Help your child feel less overwhelmed and more in control of their day by creating a visual schedule. Start by creating a poster for morning tasks; list each item they need to complete when they wake up, such as brush their teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, and put their belongings in their backpack, and draw a picture next to each item to visually display the task. You might even add check boxes next to each item for every day of the week so they can check off each item as they complete it. Create a similar checklist for tasks they might do when they get home from school, like have a snack, complete their homework, go to an activity, eat dinner, shower, and brush their teeth, along with the corresponding visual images. The more structure and order you can bring to your child’s day, the more you can improve their executive functioning skills.

Distraction-Free Workspace

It’s important that your child has a quiet, distraction-free workspace that they use each day for completing their homework. This might be a desk in their bedroom or even a spot on a communal table, like in a kitchen or dining room. Make sure they have all of the supplies they need for completing their homework, including pens, pencils, paper, highlighters, scissors, and so on. When the supplies run low, help your child re-stock them before they start their homework to ensure they don’t wander around your home mid-homework session searching for supplies. Also set a consistent homework time, which might be right after school or after a short snack or movement break. Try to make the time and space where your child completes their schoolwork as consistent as possible.

Time Management

Many students with executive functioning challenges struggle with time management. Help your child develop stronger time management skills with the ET/AT strategy, as follows:

Have your child choose one assignment to start with and ask them to predict how long they think it will take to complete that task, and write the ET, or estimated time. Then have them track how long it actually takes them to complete the assignment and write down the AT, or actual time. They should do this for each assignment, comparing the ET to the AT, and they will likely note that when they first start using this strategy, there will be a big difference between the ET and the AT. However, the more they practice this strategy, the more realistic they will become with their time and the more these times will start to merge.

Incremental Breaks

For children with executive functioning challenges, sitting for long stretches of time to work on homework can be extremely difficult and can feel overwhelming. As a result, they might do anything possible to avoid starting their work. Try an incremental break strategy, where your child sets a timer and works for 20 minutes, then takes a 5 minute break. Have them do this cycle three times: 20 minutes of work followed by a 5 minute break, then take a longer break, around 20-30 minutes, and then start that cycle again until they are done with their school work. This approach helps them chunk their workload into smaller increments so it feels less overwhelming and more manageable.

Working Memory

Working memory is an aspect of executive functioning that plays a role in many academic tasks. It involves one’s ability to hold and manipulate information in their mind, which can affect most aspects of school, including reading, writing, and math. You can help your child build stronger working memory skills by playing games! Try playing the game Memory, where you flip over a series of cards and each player has to match two of the same cards to make a match. This game requires your child to remember the placement of a previously turned over card while looking for a match. You can also play a family story telling game, where one family member starts a story and the next person repeats what was already told in the story and then adds the next few lines, then moves onto the next family member, and so on. It’s a great game to play with friends as well!

Executive functioning skills become increasingly important as children move through school. Help your child develop stronger executive functioning skills with these ideas and they will be well on their way to success in school.

The post Help Your Child Develop Stronger Executive Functioning Skills appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common mental condition that often leads people to experience inattention and hyperactivity—but Paris Hilton sees the mental condition partly as a benefit.

“ADHD isn’t a limitation; it’s a superpower,” Hilton said. “It’s my secret weapon in a world that often tells us to play it safe.”

She is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels.

“ADHD is the reason I’ve been able to anticipate trends, it’s given me the creativity to build an empire, the drive to keep pushing the limits, and the empathy to connect with people on a deeper level,” she said. “One of the most powerful gifts of ADHD is the ability to hyper-focus on things I am passionate about.”

But not everyone with ADHD has the same resources, notoriety, or outcomes as Hilton, according to Veronica West, a registered and practicing psychologist.

Hilton became a household name after starring in the Fox reality series “The Simple Life” with Nicole Richie from 2003 to 2007.

“Her experience, while positive, isn’t the norm for everyone,” West told The Epoch Times. “Many people struggle with focus and organization, so while ADHD might help Paris ‘build an empire,’ it can feel more like trying to herd cats for others.”

Hilton launched a line of perfumes and colognes in 2004 that has earned more than $2 billion with names such as Just Me, Heiress, Heir, Can Can, Fairy Dust, Siren, and Tease. She also founded the company 11:11 Media, which includes TV, podcasts, digital, licensing, and music projects.

“My mind is constantly buzzing with thoughts, ideas, and distractions,“ Hilton said. ”People often see the glamorous, successful side of me, but behind the scenes, there are days when the noise inside my head can be so loud that it’s difficult to find clarity. I’ve learned over time to manage my tough moments by creating structure around my life.”

One of those structures is listening to everything she reads in audio form.

Books on tape are a great option for not only people with ADHD but also those who have a reading disorder such as dyslexia, according to Emily Levy, an ADHD expert and founder of EBL Coaching, a one-on-one tutoring program.

“Individuals can process more of the information from audiobooks without having to focus on decoding complex words,” Levy told The Epoch Times. “However, some people can become easily distracted when listening to audiobooks and miss important parts of the plot.”

ADHD is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors and is diagnosed more among men than women, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Some 5.4 percent of men are diagnosed compared to 3.2 percent of women.

“Their symptoms don’t show up as the typical male overactivity and inattentiveness,” Cincinnati wellness and education expert L’Taundra Everhart told The Epoch Times. “For females, symptoms can include feelings of overwhelm, anxiety or depression, disorganization, money or time management issues.”

Among teens, between the ages of 12 and 17 years old, 13 percent who are diagnosed are boys and 4.2 percent are girls.

Hilton was diagnosed as an adult.

“I spent years feeling misunderstood, punished for the way my brain worked,” she said. “We live in a world where we’re often expected to fit into boxes, to follow the rules, and to do things the way everyone else does. But my ADHD has taught me that the most magical things happen when you break free from those expectations.”

Breaking too many rules, however, often has consequences, such as arrest, probation, and incarceration.

“The stigma surrounding ADHD—and neurodivergence in general—needs to change,” Hilton said. “We need to stop labeling neurodivergent individuals as ‘disordered’ and start recognizing the unique gifts they bring.”

Hilton herself was arrested during a traffic stop in 2011 when a police officer found cocaine in her possession. She pled guilty to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to probation.

“Substance misuse is a very real ramification of ADHD, particularly if it hasn’t yet been diagnosed,” licensed clinical social worker John Fouts told The Epoch Times. “Impulsivity, risk-taking, persistent tardiness, and being argumentative are not uncommon behaviors associated with ADHD. That doesn’t mean the person is stupid, lazy, or not serious.”

Fouts is clinical director of training with Victory Starts Now, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that supports previously incarcerated people.

“Those with ADHD are much more likely to abuse these substances, possibly because they tend to be more impulsive and struggle with behavioral challenges,” Levy said.

But Levy doesn’t agree with Hilton about eliminating the association of ADHD with labels identifying people’s challenges.

“There are medications that work wonders for individuals with ADHD in helping them stay focused and on-task,” Levy said. “Many neurodivergent individuals need concepts taught to them in certain ways and benefit from specific accommodations tailored to their needs. Without the label, they may not receive the appropriate support.”

Hilton did not reply to requests for comment.

The post Paris Hilton Views Her ADHD Diagnosis as a ‘Superpower’ appeared first on EBL Coaching.

The post Distinguishing Between Autism and ADHD in Children appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Date published: 8/7/23

Listen to the full podcast here

Dr. Levy appeared on this Bodacity podcast with Jannette Anderson to discuss how to build academic skills and self-esteem for students who struggle in school.

Children with learning challenges often have many gifts. Those with dyslexia may be brilliant artists. Individuals with ADHD may be incredible visionaries who go on to be successful leaders or business owners later in life. Getting through school, however, for these students, can be a challenge. You can help your child with learning challenges excel in school with the strategies detailed below.

Take action!

If you notice your child is struggling with a skill or set of skills, such as reading, writing, or math, or is having trouble staying focused, don’t wait to take action! Many parents don’t learn about their child’s struggles in school until parent-teacher conferences or sometimes even the end of the school year. If you notice your child is having difficulty in school, set up a time to meet with their teacher to discuss what you are seeing at home. Perhaps there are some techniques the teacher can use to further help your child, such as sitting them in the front row or checking in with them periodically to make sure they understood the directions for an assignment. If your child continues to struggle, you may want to seek a formal evaluation to see if there are any learning or attentional challenges. Special education tutoring to address their unique needs may also be beneficial.

Seek services

You as a parent should always be your child’s best advocate! Try to seek services to help your child thrive in school. Once an evaluation is completed and it is determined that your child has a disability, either an IEP or 504 plan is typically created detailing the services and accommodations your child should receive. Services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or special education tutoring, depending on your child’s challenges. Accommodations may include preferential seating, extra time on tests, a scribe, modified tests, and many others. Always keep tabs on how your child is doing; certain accommodations may work at a given time but they may need to be tweaked as your child progresses through school. 

Try special education tutoring if necessary 

If your child continues to struggle academically despite receiving support in school, you may want to consider specialized tutoring outside of school. Children with dyslexia, for instance, typically benefit from Orton Gillingham tutoring to build their reading skills. If this approach is not offered at your child’s school, you may need to seek this help
outside of school. Children with writing, math, or executive functioning challenges may need similar research-based tutoring or executive functioning coaching outside of school. Learn more about how tutoring can help your child at Importance of Tutoring to Help Kids Struggling with Reading, Math, Allow Them to Catch Up with Their Classmates.

Many students with learning challenges struggle in school. However, with the right support, you can help your child thrive academically. 

Learn more at Learning disorders: Know the signs, how to help – Mayo Clinic.

The post Dr. Levy on the Bodacity Podcast with Jannette Anderson: How Parents Can Advocate for their Special Needs Child appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Date published: 6/8/23

Listen to the full podcast here

In this podcast, Dr. Levy discusses ways to help children with autism do well in school.

Being a parent to a child with autism can be challenging. These children might be distractable, struggle to communicate, have behavioral challenges, or demonstrate difficulty with transitions. Yet children with autism can have many gifts too – they can be very caring individuals, can have great memories for facts, and are often good rule followers. It is important that you know your child’s strengths and weakness and always advocate to make sure that they receive the most appropriate services.

When your child starts a new school year, set up a meeting with their teacher and any service providers at the beginning of the year. Tell them about your child’s strengths and weaknesses and discuss strategies that have worked well for them and others that have not worked as well. Discuss a plan for regular communication and make it clear that you are fully vested in your child’s success and want to work as a team with them to help foster your child’s growth. Also try to notice how your child learns best. Many students with autism do well with a visual schedule of which activities to anticipate, and students with autism often learn well using a multisensory approach. Discuss the services your child will receive at school. Some students benefit from a shadow teacher to help keep them engaged in class. Others need a behavior plan with strategies in place for if and when they become overwhelmed or demonstrate behavioral challenges. For some students, having one-on-one special education tutoring to build their unique academic needs can make an immense difference in their academic performance. Read more at Organizational Tools for Academic Success – EBL Coaching.

With the right support and services, students with autism have the potential to do well in school. It is important to always be your child’s best advocate and ensure that they are continuously receiving the most appropriate services, both in and out of school. 

Read more at Autism – Tips for Parents – Better Health Channel.

The post Dr. Emily Levy on the Autism Resource Podcast: Tips for Helping Students with Autism Succeed appeared first on EBL Coaching.