Easy IEP Help

Posted May 18, 2010 by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help
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Maybe you just discovered that your child is struggling in school. It could be that you noticed it yourself. Possibly, the school told you there may be a problem.

Whatever the circumstances, you’ll soon experience an IEP. But what is an Individualized Education Program (or Plan)? And why am I so scared about it?

This website will examine the various aspects of an IEP and provide Easy IEP Help for parents of students with learning disabilities.

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography




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Define Learning Disability

Posted 2 days ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, Learning Disability
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As parents, we’re more interested in finding ways to help our children learn than we are in trying to “define learning disability.”
define learning disability

Nonetheless, I recently had a parent ask me what the definition was for “learning disability,” and to be honest, I can tell you all about it but had to look up the complete definition.

Here is how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines specific learning disability:

“…a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.”

However, learning disabilities do not include, “…learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” 34 Code of Federal Regulations §300.7(c)(10)

Of course there is more to it than that and I don’t want to sound like the definition is unimportant, but to me it can be broken down to an important point – children with learning disabilities have challenges with one or more of the following:

  • reading
  • writing
  • listening
  • speaking
  • reasoning
  • math

If you suspect your child may have a learning disability, document everything and discuss it with their teacher(s). There’s no shame in having a learning disability, it does not mean your child is dumb, and it does not mean they are lazy, even if they do have a messy room. It means they need help learning and you should do everything you can to help them.




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Fast ForWord

Posted 3 days ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, Individualized Education Program, Learning Disability
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This summer my daughter was enrolled in the Fast ForWord ® summer program to help with reading comprehension and learning proficiency. The program was 5 days a week for 6 weeks for just less than two hours a day. The entire time was spent on a computer, essentially playing games. Obviously they found a way to get the attention of kids.

Fast ForWord for reading comprehension and learning proficiency
Fast ForWord ® is based on over 30 years of research and more than 1,000,000 students have used the program to boost reading and language skills by improving the processing efficiency of the brain.

The program is a computer-based product that develops cognitive skills, memory, attention, processing, and sequencing. Sound like something your child could use help with in school?

As games, or modules, are played, the student advances until the entire module is completed. Some kids fly through certain games while they struggle with others. The games that are difficult relate to the areas or functions of the brain where they need help the most. The program identifies the individual learning weaknesses and adjusts the difficulty automatically.

Fast ForWord for Reading and Learning

All scores are tabulated through a database and weekly accomplishments are recorded and printed out for the parents to review. Each child’s results will vary based on a variety of factors. The program worked well for us and by the end of the summer, we jumped four grades in reading. Can’t wait to put it into practice this year in school.

What are the benefits for the student that completes Fast ForWord?

  • Increased Cognitive Skills that are crucial for Reading and Learning
  • Improved Listening Skills
  • Heightened Engagement in Classroom Discussions
  • Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence in Learning

If your child is struggling with reading or learning in school, he/she may be a candidate for Fast ForWord®. Check with your school to see if they offer the program in the district at your next IEP Meeting.

You can also contact Scientific Learning (the creator of the Fast ForWord® family of products) to see if there is a learning center in your area that offers their products.

Scientific Learning
888 358-0212 Toll Free
www.ScientificLearning.com




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Earobics For Reading Achievement

Posted 4 days ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, Individualized Education Program, Learning Disability
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If your Pre-K through Grade 3 child is struggling with reading, ask your school about Earobics.
earobics

Earobics is a research-based intervention solution that helps with reading achievement for younger students. It is based on over 20 years of research and comes in two versions depending on the age of the child.

The Earobics computer training automatically adjusts to each child’s skill level and a progress chart tracks the skill improvements.

Research shows that most students show improvement from using Earobics for 15 – 20 minutes a day, three times a week.

If your child is having a difficult time with reading, check with your school at the next IEP to see if they offer the program at school.

http://www.Earobics.com

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Easy IEP Help News on August 26, 2010

Posted 2 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, IEP Process, Individualized Education Program
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Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Taj Mahal

Posted 2 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help
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The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) built what is being billed as a “Taj Mahal” school to the tune of $578 million. To be honest, I couldn’t be happier.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Taj Mahal

Photo: Jay L. Clendenin for the Los Angeles Times

Most people are in an uproar over the cost but how can you be upset about putting money into a school? It’s okay to spend $1.3 billion on Cowboys Stadium to house the Dallas Cowboys football team, but spend half that amount on schools and you get an argument. ALL schools should be castles. Period. There is no better place to invest than in schools and education.

The United States is arguably the home to more top universities than any other country in the world. It’s a shame that the same can’t be said for our elementary, middle and high schools.

The LAUSD school is no ordinary school, though. It is part school, part public park, and part historical memorial dedicated to Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The land sits on the former site of the Ambassador Hotel where he was assassinated in 1968.

The money to build this state-of-the-art facility came from a voter-approved bond to be used for building schools. It is not to be used for teacher salaries or other expenses. It may not be right but that’s the way it works.

People who are outraged at the cost only see the black and white of the issue – the cost. Included in the cost are seismic codes (it is Los Angeles) and high-tech equipment like wireless internet, smart-boards, and energy saving, green equipment. These things actually save money in the long run.

For example, one smartboard system could cost $5,000 but it replaces an overhead projector, DVD/VCR player, television, and host of other electronic systems that schools now use to teach. And it works more efficiently while introducing some very cool and effective teaching elements. But if you don’t know, you don’t know.

We won’t know if all of this will pay off as good for the students and teachers for some time to come. And we also don’t know what other programs and students services will be rolled into the mix just yet. But let’s hope it’s all positive and it becomes a model for other schools across the country.

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Elementary Textbooks

Posted 2 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Accommodations and Modifications, Easy IEP Help, IEP Goals and Objectives, IEP Process, IEP Team, Individualized Education Program, Learning Disability
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Buying Used Elementary Textbooks at the beginning of the school year is a great way to lighten the load in your child’s backpack.

I learned this a few years ago when I watched my youngest daughter struggle to ride her bike to school with a backpack full of books. I thought if we had a second set of books at home she wouldn’t need to shuffle books between school and home.

So one night I copied all of the ISBN numbers from her books into Amazon.com and found ALL of them for $4 – $8 used.

Now every year at the beginning of school I buy used textbooks from Amazon for both of my kids so they have their regular set supplied by the school in their locker and another spare set at home for doing homework.

Another great part about having a second set of books at home is you never hear, “I left my books at school so I can’t do homework tonight.”

As parents we’re not always so smart, but every once in a while a bit of brilliance shines through.

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Learning Disability Resources

Posted by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, IEP Process, Learning Disability
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Let’s face it – for the learning disabled child to truly succeed, most of the time they need more than just tutoring or extra attention in school. Those will “help” them, but they won’t get to the root of the problem.
Learning Disability Resources

The good news is there are plenty of Learning Disability Resources available for students that need help with a wide variety of challenges.

Most kids need some form of remedial program that exercises and focuses on cognitive abilities. There’s no “one” answer as to which program or programs work best.

For some kids with reading difficulties, Fast ForWord works wonders. For others, Earobics combined with PACE might work better.

The bad news is many of these programs aren’t offered by the school and you will need to pay for them or see if they’re covered by insurance. But there are many to choose from with new ones being updated or coming to market all the time.

Below is a sampling of some of the most popular Learning Disability Resources and Companies that provide Cognitive Training Tools:

  • Advanced Brain Technologies
  • AttenGo
  • Auditory Integration Training (AIT)
  • Brain Gym International
  • Brain Performance Center
  • BrainSkills
  • BrainTrain
  • CNS Vital Signs
  • CogMed
  • CogniFit Inc.
  • Cognitive Enhancement Systems
  • Cognitive Labs
  • Dakim
  • Empowered Learning
  • Gemstone Foundation
  • Generation Fit
  • HAPPY Neuron
  • Heart Math LLC
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – Earobics
  • Human Performance Group
  • Integrated Listening Systems
  • Interactive Metronome
  • JWor Enterprises Inc.
  • LearningRx – Think Rx
  • Lexia Learning Systems
  • Lindamood Bell
  • Lumos Labs – Lumosity
  • Meadowbrook Educational
  • My Brain Trainer LLC
  • Pace Learning Systems
  • Posit Science
  • Power Listening Center
  • Psychological Software Services
  • Read Naturally
  • Relax4Life
  • Samonas
  • Scientific Learning- Fast ForWord
  • Sensory Learning Center
  • Sirri SenEx
  • SOI Systems
  • Sound Listening Corp
  • TeachTown
  • Time 4 Learning
  • Unique Logic + Technology

It’s a fairly long list and some of these companies offer more than one program. In the near future I’ll try to break some of these down with basic descriptions of what they offer.

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Learning Disability Strategies

Posted 3 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, IEP Goals and Objectives, Individualized Education Program, Learning Disability
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School is about to start again after a much needed summer break. That means the beginning of IEP Season is near. Do you have your Learning Disability Strategies in place?

learning disability strategies

1) Keep good documentation of all school progress and non-progress.

2) Get to know your child’s teachers and let them know of any concerns or things to watch for in school.

3) Show up for the IEP and be involved. You as a parent are your child’s biggest advocate and know them better than anyone.

4) Work on healthy eating habits. This may be a no-brainer but good nutrition is for the body AND the brain. Studies have shown that a proper diet and some added extras like Omega-3s boost brain activity.

5) While you’re at it, make sure your child gets ample physical exercise to open and maintain pathways in the brain.

6) Due your diligence and learn everything you can about your child’s disability. It will pay off.

7) At the IEP, find out if the school or district offers any programs that your child is eligible to take such as Fast ForWord, PACE, Earobics, or any other programs that boost cognitive abilities.

8) Make sure your child gets adequate sleep.

9) Setup a quiet place to do homework.

10) Most of all, communicate with your child about the difficulties they may be having in school. These may be academic or social.

These are just some of the learning disability strategies you can utilize to ensure your child’s success in school. They may sound simple, and they are, but they need to be put into use to be effective.

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Are Learning Disabilities Common?

Posted 3 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help, Learning Disability
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Are Learning Disabilities Common?

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Annual Report to Congress, approximately 20%, or 1 out of every 5 people in the U.S. has a learning disability.

As many as 3 million children under the age of 21 receive special education in school because of a learning disability.

These are some pretty big numbers and more importantly, learning disabilities last a lifetime. If a child has a learning disability, chances are good that one of their parents has one too.

The fact that learning disabilities are so common would lead one to believe that there must be a major source of funding for them in the schools, but contrary to what many parents hear, schools are under-funded when it comes to resources for special education.

The kids that need help the most often times don’t receive it because the schools can’t afford to help them. Many times it’s up to the parents to find help outside the schools.

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Easy IEP Help News on August 16, 2010

Posted 3 weeks ago by Easy IEP Help, under Easy IEP Help
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