Families who have children with learning differences struggle every day. Similar to families without learning differences, the one major variation is children or a child in the household have a very difficult time learning. A learning difference is defined in Wikipedia in the following manner; in the United States and Canada, the terms learning disability, learning disabilities, and learning disorders (LD) refer to a group of disorders that affect a broad range of academic and functional skills including the ability to speak, listen, read, write, spell, reason, and organize information.
The LD Online website (LD Basics) defines an LD as: a learning disability is a neurological disorder. In simple terms, a learning disability results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired". Children with learning disabilities are as smart or smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways.
A learning disability can't be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue. With the right support and intervention, however, children with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to successful, often distinguished careers later in life. Parents can help children with learning disabilities achieve such success by encouraging their strengths, knowing their weaknesses, understanding the educational system, working with professionals and learning about strategies for dealing with specific difficulties.
When a child begins to learn, families begin to heal and become whole. The process of testing, observing and diagnosing begins the process of Navigating Learning Today. Once information is available the parent is able to make decisions on what the next steps will be.
http://www.navigatelearningtoday.com/id1.html
Here are some simple steps to begin Navigating Learning Today:
1) Where is your child today?
2) Where would you like to see your child in the next 3 to 5 years?
3) What was the most mastery your child exhibited in an activity, using their imagination or any life experience in the last year?
Please post any ideas or thoughts you may have on this subject.
2 comments:
How do I evaluate where my child is today? Should this be done professionally?
Diagnosing a learning difference takes time. Professionals, teachers, family members, and friends usually bring it to your attention. There is a real process of awareness and acceptance that needs to germinate in order to begin to own the learning difference for the individual and the family. Obtaining an evaluation from a Neuropsychologist, observation and testing with a professional begins the data gathering stage. Diagnosis is the beginning of Navigating Learning. This can take time and probably will take time to decipher. Evaluation will be an ongoing process with learning. Once you have an evaluation completed and the report, data, testing information, observation reports and or a diagnosis. The simple steps I described in my post can begin the process of Navigating Learning Today.
What steps have you taken so far? Are you ready to begin Navigating Learning?
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