Are you searching for guidance regarding expectations and how to advocate for your child with an IEP?  The Dyslexia Network of Forsyth County is holding a workshop to clarify this process.  Parents and administrators will be present to share stories of their journey and answer questions.  It’s sure to be a meaningful and empowering experience for all attendees.  I have featured the meeting details below.  I would love to hear of your experiences after the meeting!

                                Tuesday, September 23, 2014  at 7:00pm
                                Forsyth County Board of Education, Drive Lab 1 & 2
                                1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, GA 30040 

    I have had the opportunity to work with many families searching to provide authentic opportunities for their children to write.  Often, a journal is implemented to provide this opportunity.  While I applaud the implementation of this tool, some students require
further inspiration to write.  In these instances, sensory rich experiences can be used. 
I have outlined several types of these experiences below. 
 
     One of these experiences is nature immersion.  Throughout the Atlanta, Georgia area there are various parks and nature preserves. Within these special spaces lay a variety of animals, insects and plants to be discovered.  Leading your child in a guided
exploration of these areas can provide a truly fulfilling experience.  All senses are engaged as nature naturally unfolds before you.  This experience can also lend itself to the opportunity for your child to research further about the living creatures you encountered while exploring.  In the slideshow below, I have featured a few pictures from my favorite spots around Atlanta!

    I also encourage you to establish shared experiences with your child.  During one summertime lesson, I created ice cream with a student. This experience later motivated the child to write about the steps in the process.  She also wrote a beautiful story about
a town made solely of ice cream. It was a true delight!  A favorite trip or vacation spot can also lead itself to wonderful stories.  Often, I will use treasured storybooks to provide a catalyst for writing. Providing students the opportunity to rewrite the end of a familiar story, create an original version,  or change the setting excites students and inspires writing.  

    I firmly believe, tapping into children’s interests brings learning alive for students.  One of my favorite writing activities to provide students with an interest in the arts is “Scribble Writing.”  As the name implies, students are given the opportunity to construct a large scribble on a blank paper.  Using their creative talents, they form a unique picture depicting an object based on the scribble.  The picture is then used as a catalyst for writing. Many of the students I guide enjoy Legos.  I recently came upon art and writing projects incorporating these toys at Homegrown Learners. 
   

     Guiding children in becoming inspired writers can be facilitated by sensory rich experiences.  Allowing the child to fully experience the enjoyment of the trip,
activity, and craft facilitates the natural flow of future writing ideas.  Guiding child to enjoy rather than mandate a piece based on a specific writing topic lays the foundation for
students to become lifelong writers.  What activities do you enjoy establishing to facilitate writing inspiration for your child?

    Writing provides a foundation for communication.  Through writing, authors are able to share ideas and vivid details that may escape the conventions of casual conversation.  Due to the nuisances of language and grammar, I have guided students who carry a fear of writing.  For some, this fear of writing is ingrained; others simply find the process tiresome and dull.  Therefore, in the next few blog posts, I will provide ideas to guide children into becoming better equipped and more inspired writers. 

Create a Space

    Creating a space is essential for guiding budding writers.  One would not think of going to the hardware store to read a novel or visit the library to practice their drum solo.  Creating a space for writing is equally as important.  I have had the opportunity to guide several students in the process of strengthening their writing skills.  I found providing a means of collecting all their brilliant ideas centering on a specific topic to be an essential first step.  Therefore, having 2-3 favored brainstorming tools available for the writer is important.  I will explain in further detail in my next post directions for guiding students in the use of both the Circle Map and Bubble Map featured in the picture below.   

    I also ensure that colorful, developmentally appropriate writing paper is available.  I have noticed colored paper excites and motivates students.  However, the hue of the paper can influence the writers’ mood.  Research suggests that colors including light blue and green create a mood of calm and centeredness.  While red and orange create moods of vibrancy and excitement.   Check out the University of Georgia article on the impact of sensory details on student learning.   http://sdpl.coe.uga.edu/researchabstracts/visual.html

    It has been my experience that including in this space a personal word wall is beneficial.  This word wall can be centered on a specific topic including “Water Words.”  It may include words that the student has struggled to record previously.  Grade level sight words may also be featured.  Displaying this word wall in a prominent location is essential to facilitate its use.  I encourage the creation of the word wall to be a process shared between you and the writer.  When children are actively involved in the process of creation, they are more likely to use this tool.

    Including within this space the opportunity to fidget is also important.  Many students require movement while brainstorming and explaining their writing ideas.  Squish balls, balance ball chairs, and visuals can be used to provide opportunity for movement and tranquility within the space. 

    A carefully planned and well-organized space is ideal for guiding children into becoming inspired writers.  When the writing process is looked upon with excitement and passion, students are more likely to write with eagerness.  The space provided for children lays the foundation for future writing experiences.

    To remember a date, item, or event is one of life’s greatest treasures.  Whether it’s a birthday, favorite scene from a movie, or a moment of sheer happiness, remembering is our way of holding onto what’s important.  In the classroom setting, remembering is not only pleasant, it’s vital.  Let’s then take a closer look at memory and methods for improving memory storage. 

    The process for storing vital details can be summarized in a 3-step process.  Information presented is processed and then stored in short-term memory.  Here prioritizing, sorting and discarding are all essential.  Based on the data presented by Paula Moraine M.Ed. 99 percent of the information presented is discarded by the short term memory.  The active working memory acts as a link in connecting the short and long term memory.  Generally, up to seven items can be processed in active working memory.  Long term memory is where facts and details are stored for long term retrieval.  The number of pieces of information that can be stored here are limitless. 

    The memory experiences each individual encounters varies.  Providing tools and strategies that are “just right” must be based on individual memory systems.  I have selected a few of these systems and offer study strategies to enhance student’s learning opportunities.     

                   Visual Memory
                             Those that store memories based on content viewed have a strength in the visual memory system.  To facilitate learning processes for those with visual memory strengths, I suggest using video demonstrations encapsulating dates, techniques and processes previously presented.  Kahn Academy is a great resource in this domain.  This site contains video tutorials on topics including math, art, sciences and more.

                   Motor Memory
                             This memory system relies on action and performance.  Many learners that fall within the parameters previously described as right brain learners demonstrate strength in motor memory systems.  I would recommend visiting my Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/tutorwise for strategies for these learners.  There are games, sensory experiences and various tactile activities for these students.

                   Sequential Memory
                             This memory system relies on the retention of the order of items.  For students studying events in history, battles in the Civil War, or sequencing story events, I recommend creating a timeline to facilitate the retention of essential details.  The website ReadWriteThink offers a tool to create, save, and later retrieve timelines created.         

                    Declarative Memory                            
                                Information stored for speaking and writing relies on the declarative memory system.  For those with a strong declarative memory system, I recommend using Twitter to provide an authentic outlet for communication.  This site provides learners with information relating to world events, current trends, and celebrations.  It will help to strengthen the student’s sense of self as they communicate and receive feedback on their ideas.  I would love to connect with students and their families at twitter.com/tutorwise.    

    With these ideas in mind, I would enjoy learning more about your opinion.  What memory system is predominate for you and/or your child?  What tools and strategies have you found to enhance the learning process?  I look forward to hearing your insights!

      Are you interested in learning more about how the brain impacts your child’s behavior at home?  Are you looking for methods to assist you in guiding your child to become a hard working and responsible adult? The Dyslexia Network of Forsyth County is holding a workshop lead by Mary Hynes Danielak, Psy.D.  This workshop offers parents a 5-step parenting program for enhancing their child's behavior in the home based on brain research.  Further information can be obtained by visiting www.dyslexiaforsyth.com.

In a previous post, I shared the powerful impact visualizing can have on improving student comprehension.  However, this technique is not limited to reading comprehension.  Preview and Review highlighted in “Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions” by Paula Moraine also sheds light on this powerful tool.  While this text and technique are targeting students with executive function challenges, its scope is much larger. This technique can be used to help prepare students for everyday occurrences, building their self-awareness and empowerment.   For example, to begin each student session, I always provide the students with an overview of the lesson and activities that will be encountered.  This provides me with valuable insight regarding student motivation, current energy levels and confidence in approaching the tasks as often students share their thoughts and feelings regarding these activities. Initial session time is also used to review concepts previously visited and clarify any lingering questions that may have been encountered.  At the conclusion of the session, there is always a time for review and a discussion of what’s to come.  I have found this method to be invaluable.  Not only does it allow the student to connect with the material learned and ask questions, it provides them with the opportunity to share their voice.  In sharing their voice, students gain the awareness that this is their learning journey.  I am there to guide them, providing tools and techniques as needed.  However, the student learns more about themselves and their value.  The question then becomes, how can this technique be applied outside of session?  As I shared, the scope of this technique is quite broad and its application will depend on the individual needs of the student.  It could be used as a morning and evening routine to discuss upcoming chores and tasks that will need to be completed around the home.  It could also be used to prepare the child for upcoming assignments and tests.  However, I believe you will find, the individualized application of this technique will yield positive lasting results.

Are you looking to gather further insight into how the Tutor Wise LLC mission is put to practice?  Would you love additional educational activities for reinforcement and practice?  There are two new opportunities to fulfill both these requests.  First, I have an active Twitter page.  This page contains educational research articles, comments on educational ideas and even some celebratory remarks for student successes! Care to check it out?  Visit: https://twitter.com/TutorWise .  Also, Tutor Wise now has a Pinterest page.  Pinterest offers a creative and fun method for collecting educational ideas from teachers, tutors, and parents.  The pins I have collected relate to a variety of topics including technology, reading, and math.  For inspiration or to print out freebies check it out at: http://www.pinterest.com/tutorwise .