Amazing 17-month-old

Thank to Kristin Powell for telling me about this story. They definitely touch on the importance of multisensory instruction for language acquisition.

The Northern California Branch of The International Dyslexia Association (NCBIDA)

and Parents Education Network (PEN) present

A Day with the Experts

Saturday, April 12, 2008
San Francisco Day School

Overcoming Dyslexia:

The Science of Reading and Dyslexia

with Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz

ADHD: Beyond the Basics

with Dr. Eric Tridas

Register online at dyslexia-ncbida.org or call 650.328.7667

Assistive Technologies for LD Students

A reminder from Parents Education Network about an upcoming event:

Assistive Technologies for LD Students
Date: 3 April 2008, Thursday
Time: 07:00 PM
End time: 09:00 PM
Location: Fort Mason Conference Center, San Francisco

Are you wondering what technology will help your child in school?

Bob Luke, Technology Coordinator at Charles Armstrong School will discuss and demonstrate the latest assistive technologies for LD students.

Topics will include:

- Internet resources for finding out about Assistive Technology and available products

- Paperless writing environment -- keyboarding, using Inspiration, MS Word and Kurzweil in the Writing Process

- Voice Recognition Software -- Dragon NaturallySpeaking

- Talking word processors -- Kurzweil, WYNN and Write:OutLoud/SOLO

More information at www.parentseducationnetwork.org

Growth Mindsets

MINDSETS: FIXED vs. GROWTH

Some people believe that their intelligence is a fixed trait. They have a certain amount of it and that's that.

Other people have a very different definition of intelligence. For them intelligence is not a fixed trait that they simply possess, but something that they can cultivate through learning.

In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.

Carol Dweck, Self-Theories and Mindset

What kind of mindset do our students have--fixed or growth?

What kind of mindset do you have?

How can we encourage growth mindsets in our students?

Setback for Home Schooling

Big Blow to Home Schooling: Court rules that CA students must be taught by credentialed tutors at home or else sent to full-time schools.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/06/BAJDVF0F1.DTL&tsp=1

TRC's color scheme

An interior design student happened to stop by TRC Saratoga this morning and commented on the cheerful color scheme inside the clinic. She followed up on our meeting with the following e-mail, which I thought was worth sharing with all of you (especially those of us in Saratoga and Palo Alto who are surrounded daily by green, blue, and orange):

Blue is said to encourage thought, contemplation, and meditation, and
so is the color of intellectual activity.  It can be a lively color,
can lower body temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure.

Green is thought of as the most natural color, calming and restful to
the eyes.  A cheerful and stable color that has associations with
health and well being.

Orange is considered happy and cheerful.

So, it seems that the colors are quite appropriate!

Read to the Pig was a hit!

Sebastian Duong reads to Sally, held by Ann Fitts.