Maria Montessori had it right. Children – and adults – learn by doing, not by listening. It is the active engagement in the environment that creates new neural pathways in our brain, which is what learning means. New connections are made only when we act. The belief that children learn by listening is not correct. Continue Reading
Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia
how learning works and often doesn’t, different types of learning and learning difficulties, and a better understanding of dyslexia
To Love, To Learn, To Enjoy
To love, to learn, and to enjoy. For me, these are the most important things we can do. These are what life is about. I try to keep these as my compass, to remember to stay focused on these, to keep them as my primary intention, so I don’t lose my way, getting caught up Continue Reading
Explaining & Understanding
I learned something very important yesterday. It was a paradigm shift of tectonic proportions. I am still marveling… I was explaining something to a friend. I probably spend more time than most people explaining things, and I tend to think of myself as pretty good at it. But I failed completely. I was explaining a Continue Reading
Neurodiversity & Learning
When I came up with the word “ThinkPrint,” I was speaking to a group of teachers about how to understand the test results from a child’s neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation. I was showing them the graphs of scores of children with different learning and other issues. The different patterns of strength and weakness across the Continue Reading
Some Very Special Schools
Here are links to some wonderful schools: Eagle Hill School: https://www.eaglehillschool.org Franklin Academy: https://fa-ct.org Green Chimneys: http://www.greenchimneys.org Harvey School: https://www.harveyschool.org Kildonan School: https://www.kildonan.org Landmark School: https://www.landmarkschool.org Mead School: https://www.meadschool.org Villa Maria: http://villamariaedu.org Windward School: http://thewindwardschool.org Wooster School: https://www.woosterschool.org
Learning & ThinkPrint
There are as many kinds of learning problems as there are learners. Each of us is wired differently in terms of learning. Some of us learn better verbally – by listening, reading, and talking, others learn best visually – by seeing and drawing things, and others by direct sensory experience and movement, like natural dancers, Continue Reading
Learning Problems
There are many different types of learning problems. In fact, there are as many different types of learning problems as there are types of learners, multiplied by the number of types of learning. Okay, it’s impossible to calculate, but you get the idea. Lots and lots. The idea that someone has a condition, a “learning Continue Reading
Special Education ABCs
The educational program in public school is designed to be effective for most children. Some children, however, are not able to learn in the regular program and require a special instructional program or “special education services.” You as a parent or guardian have a right to refer your child to the district’s “special education committee” Continue Reading