LD Podcast

It’s A Miracle- We’re Back!!!

2011-03-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, I’m bringing the LD Podcast back!

I’ve gotten a bunch of great and supportive emails from folks, letting me know they miss the show. And now that my book is finished, it’s time to dust off the microphones and hit Reboot!

While I can definitely say some tech problems helped delay our comeback, including an upgrade to Windows 7 and incompatible drivers essentially meaning I had to transfer all my files and gear over to my Mac, we’re back in the saddle again!

During the time off, the boys are further along in school, and I was asked by Jossey Bass to write a book. Together with Jenifer Fox, we’ve written The Differentiated Instruction Book of Lists, a book that helps teachers figure out ho to help differentiate instruction and personalize learning for all kids in the classroom. In addition to the book, we’ve put together a website on differentiation over at www.differentiatedinstruction.co, and we’d love to have you check it out!

This show willgive you the update on what’s been happening, and we’ll have my interview with Anne Ford and her great new book, A Special Mother, next week!

Thanks again for all your support and sorry for the extended holiday. If I’ve learned anything, it’s to never overlook your community.

Feel free to also connect with me on social networks- @ldpodcast on Twitter, and Whitney Hoffman on Facebook!

Click here to download the show, or find us over at iTunes!

Dale Brown, Part III

2009-07-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

Apparently, there was some problem with the order of the shows and the feed, so I am reposting this episode, Dale Brown, Part III. Sorry for the shows being out of order. I blame the summer.

Click here to listen to Dale Brown, Part III

Dr. Richard Selznick- the Shut Down Learner

2009-07-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

The next few shows will feature an interview I did with Richard Selznick PhD. Dr. Selznick is a psychologist and head of the Cooper University Learning Center in New Jersey, and has written a great new book entitled "The Shut-Down Learner". The Shut-Down Learner deals with the middle-school/early highschool aged kids who begin to turn off from school. They start to feel beaten down by the system, and are no longer fully engaged by school. As a result, these kids can easily become behavior problems or potential drop-outs, as they cease to find school worth their time and effort.

In the first part of our interview, we discuss how parents first come to see someone like Dr. Selznick. We discuss how much Moms tend to be the person who first thinks help is needed, and the Wheel of Professionals who each see the child through their own lens and perspective, but only the people at the hub of the wheel can see the whole child. We also discuss what a shut-down learner looks like, and that it's often an accumulation of many years of tension, anxiety and failures that tend to catch up with a child as they progress through school. Dr. Selznick sees lots of families in distress because of the constant battles about homework and school issues, with the underlying tension being caused by a child's learning disability and misunderstanding the cause of the problems.

Click here to listen to Dr Richard Selznick- the Shut Down Learner, Part I

Dale Brown- growing up LD Part II

2009-07-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Dale Brown is the former director of LD Online, and helped found the self-help movement for people with learning disabilities.

In this show, we talk about how important it is for people to be able to tell others about their learning issues, both to seek help, and to help other people understand where they struggle, so people don't make false assumptions about what people may be doing to compensate for their own processing issues. We talk about trying to help people find ways to help themselves, and how to use these successes to help others.

We also talk about contextual learning, and how hard it is to judge how hard other people are working- and how hard these criticisms can be for kids.

Next time, we'll finish up with our interview with Dale, talking about LD Online, changes in the LD community, and how we need to start supporting the resources we can take for granted, because without support, they will start to disappear.

Click here to listen to Part II, Dale Brown

Dale Brown- Self Help for Learning Disabilities

2009-06-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

When Dale Brown was young, she struggled in school. This was long before the term learning disabilities became common. She did what she could to get along, but she often found the way her mind worked and the way she perceived things got in the way.

In this three part series, Dale will tell us what it was like for her, to grow up with learning disabilities long before they were as widely recognized and understood; Starting the self help movement for people with learning disabilities, and working as the director for LD Online, the largest LD website online.

Click here to listen to Part 1, Dale Brown- Growing up LD

Kevin Carroll- Rules of the Red Rubber Ball Part 2- Fail Better

2009-05-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

In the second part of our conversation with Kevin Carroll, we talk about the concept of "fail better". Part of the important aspect of play is that it lets you experiment and riff in a safe environment, where failing and retrying, tinkering, and treating things as your lab is well tolerated. In contrast, work environments tend to be much more high risk, and making mistakes are something full of shame- it's what makes people try to cover up errors, rather than own them, understand them, and do something different next time.

Great companies that focus on design and innovation like IDEO (known for the ipod, swiffer, and other great products) they start with Understanding the problem or situation at hand, followed by detailed Observation, Brainstorming and prototyping solutions. We have to remember this same process can work for organizing our kitchens; talking to our kids about getting a homework center that works with them rather than against them, or any other problem at hand. Innovation comes from creativity and being willing to take risks and as Kevin states, being willing to Fail Better than ever before.

Click here to listen or download Show 110- Kevin Carroll, Katalyst- Fail Better

Show # 109 Kevin Carroll- Katalyst- The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball

2009-05-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!

We took a bit of a haitus, in part due to construction going on at my house (recording would have sounded like I was living in traffic) and a brief trip overseas I took with my husband.

The good news is that I am back, rested, and have a ton of wonderful interviews to bring you in relatively rapid succession!

First up is our two part interview with Kevin Carroll. Kevin has written a new book, The Red Rubber Ball at Work, where he looks at what Dr. Stuart Brown would call play histories of successful adults. Surprisingly, much of what kids enjoyed and made them happy as kids finds its way into their work. And apparently, LEGO has some sort of magic, but listen to hear more!

In the first half of the interview, Kevin and I talk of his growing up outside of Philadelphia, and how a red rubber playground ball saved his life. Kevin's had a remarkable life so far, and serves as a real inspiration. His book, The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball is one of my favorite gift books- the books I pass on to people I care about, and people who need it's message of finding your own red rubber ball- that special thing, and then how to use it to build success in your life.

While our previous show was all about the importance of play, this show is about connecting the dots- and brings home the idea on many levels that our childhood and how we learn to create, what makes us excited, helps shape who we are and informs what we do as adults.

At the end of today's show, we also have two minutes of out-takes, talking about the National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, a place I often take my kids when we're visiting my mom. The Strong Museum/National Museum of Play also publishes an academic journal about the importance of play, that educators really should take a look at, if they have not already.

Click here to listen to Show #109, Kevin Carroll, Rules of the Red Rubber Ball

Show #108 Dr. Stuart Brown Part II- Success, Practice, and Grandparents

2009-03-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

In today's show, I talk a little bit about the importance of working memory, and then we hear the second part of the interview with Dr. Stuart Brown, as we finish our discussion about the importance of play and imagination in developing critical thinking and social skills.

I've also recently reworked my Guide for getting Good Grades into a PDF, available here for download.

The picture to the right is from our recent trip to the newly renovated Smithsonian Museum of American History, where they have a fantastic exhibit on science, invention and play. We have to remember that so much of an adult's later success can depend on what interests they developed in childhood. Our children, even if they struggle in some aspect of school, have many talents and areas where they are special. We need to find these, but moreover, give our children the opportunity to find these things on their own- to try, to experiment, to fail and to try again on their own.

That's what we can all learn from play, aside from the true joy it brings to our lives.

Click here to listen to Show #108- Dr. Stuart Brown- The Importance of Play

Show #107- Dr. Stuart Brown- National Institute for Play

2009-03-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Dr. Stuart Brown is a physician and psychiatrist who has been studying the importance of play for many years, and is the founder of The National Institute for Play. He's written a wonderful new book, entitled "Play: How it Shapes The Brain, opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul" which should be on every parent and teacher's book shelf.
Over the course of his clinical career, he interviewed thousands of people to capture their play profiles. His cataloging of their profiles demonstrated the active presence of play in the accomplishments of the very successful and also identified negative consequences that inevitably accumulate in a play-deprived life.

The National Institute for Play includes a catalog of information and research on play in humans and animals; play profiles, and more. You can find out more by going to the website by clicking here. Dr. Brown and his work has been featured in articles in the New York Times (The 3 R's, a Fourth is Crucial too- Recess) and numerous other publications. Dr. Brown founded the Institute back in 1989, and was surprised that much of the play-related research he reviewed was fragmented and lacked quantitative confirmation of factors readily observed clinically. A science and evidence-based way of understanding and suggesting how to improve play hygeine was and still is lacking. He turned to animal play research to gain insights into human play.

With the support of the National Geographic Society and Jane Goodall, he observed animal play in the wild. He became acquainted with the premier animal play experts in the world, and began to see play as a long evolved behavior important for the well being and survival of animals. He subsequently came to understand that humans are uniquely designed by nature to enjoy and participate in play throughout life.

Many of our kids, even in affluent homes, are often deprived of the free play and free time they need to develop skills in critical thinking they will need later in life. Play is fun, but it's also a very serious subject for good emotional and social development in kids, and I think it's one of the things we can often forget about when we try to help improve our kids who struggle in school. We may think extra work is the answer, but extra play might help even more.

In the first part of our interview, we talk about how play is important for kid's development; in the second part, we discuss how Grandparents and play; how important hands on learning is for kids, and how this seemingly "wasteful" activity may be where most of their most important learning comes from. I know you'll really enjoy Dr. Stuart Brown- his new book helped me think about play and how we incorporate it in our lives in a whole new way.

Click here to listen to Show #107- Dr. Stuart Brown- The Importance of Play

Show #106- Dr. Russell Barkley :Understanding ADHD

2009-02-20T03:30:00.000-08:00

This show features the second half of my conversation with Dr. Russell Barkley. We talk about many critical things parents and educators need to know about ADHD, but the most critical is this:

Kids with ADHD tend to be 30-40% delayed in developing executive functions, and if we can adjust our expectations of our children, setting expectations based not on their age but their developmental stage. By adjusting our expectations to what the child can actually do takes lots of stress, pain and unhappiness out of the often tense situation caused by ADHD and its performance problems.

Dr. Barkley is one of the most respected, internationally recognized experts in ADHD and is well known as the primary investigator in on of the longest continuous studies about ADHD known as the Milwaukee Study, following kids from childhood through age 28 (and the study continues to follow this cohort today.) Dr. Barkley's full credentials can be found on his informative website -you can find it at www.russellbarkley.org.

I've excerpted part of his credentials here for you:

After serving in the United States Air Force Dr. Barkley obtained his Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973. He then attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he received his Masters Degree in 1975 and his Ph.D. in 1977 in Clinical Psychology, receiving the Distinguished Dissertation Award for his research on the effects of medication on children with ADHD. He then attended the Oregon Health Sciences University for internship training in developmental, learning, and behavioral disorders of children. Thereafter, in 1977, he joined the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCOW) and Milwaukee Children's Hospital where he worked in the Child Neurology Division and eventually founded the Neuropsychology Service at MCOW. He served as its Chief and as Associate Professor of Neurology until 1985. Dr. Barkley then relocated to the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he served as the Director of Psychology and as a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology (1985-2002). While there, he established the research clinics for both child and adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. In 2003, Dr. Barkley relocated to the Charleston, SC area where he became a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2005, he joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.

Dr. Barkley has been awarded a Diplomate (board certification) in three specialties, these being Clinical Psychology (ABPP), Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN, ABPP). He is a clinical scientist, educator, and practitioner who has authored, co-authored, or co-edited 20 books and clinical manuals. He has published more than 200 scientific articles and book chapters related to the nature, assessment, and treatment of ADHD and related disorders (see Publications). In 1993, he founded a bimonthly newsletter for clinical professionals, The ADHD Report (Guilford Publications). He has created seven professional videotapes on ADHD and defiant children, three of which have won national awards, including the 1992 and 1994 Golden Apple Award for educational videos from the National Education Association. Dr. Barkley has served on the editorial boards of 11 scientific journals and as a reviewer for numerous others. He was the President of the Section of Clinical Child Psychology, Division 12, of the American Psychological Association (1988), and was President of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (1991).

Also in today's show:

Please check out the dysTalk website, a UK based website dealing with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Donna, a listener, particularly recommends the video on the Emotional Side of Dyslexia, and I have to agree that it's wonderful. Please send your recommendations, ideas and the like to us at LDpodcast@gmail.com and I'll feature them on the show!

Click here to listen to show #106- Dr. Russell Barkley, Part II

Dr. Russell Barkley- ADHD Insights, Part 1 Show #105

2009-02-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

Back in November, I had a chance to sit down with the very well known Dr. Russell Barkley, one of the true giants in the field of ADHD research. Dr. Barkley is one of the principal investigators in the longest term study on ADHD to date known as the Milwaukee Study, following kids diagnosed with ADHD from childhood now through early adulthood.

In this first part of our two-part conversation, Dr. Barkley and I talk about:

The History of ADHD
Why it's so hard for people to accept that ADHD is a biologically based behavioral disorder, not just a result of poor parenting or bad social environments.
When we understand the origins of ADHD, there's a change from moral indignation at behaviors to compassion when we realize that the child can't help some of their behaviors- it's due to their brain function and neurological reasons, not a wilful choice to annoy you.
Kids to change over development- so while we don't care that a three year old has no sense of time, this is something that becomes crucial as kids get older and certainly for adults. What was always a problem remains, even though we might have expected that they would simply "outgrow" the issue over time. This the contours and problems of ADHD change over time and over development, and the diagnostic criteria are still a bit behind in adapting to our understanding of how the face of ADHD changes over the course of development.
Skills build on top of one another, so weak skills early on get exacerbated over time.
Brighter people with ADHD often figure out different ways to get the job done and it may take them longer; less bright may simply give up or avoid the task all together. It's easier to give into your ADHD than try to constantly compensate for it.
Impairments are situation specific, even if symptoms remain the same, like putting a ramp in front of a building; You can arrange the environment to allow people with ADHD to be more successful and remove the disability, by working around their style- shorter bursts of work, over longer period of time, for example.
Kids should be allowed to have a quality of life, too, and that play and socialization should be reason enough to let kids play versus have large amounts of homework every night.

And much more. I know you will find this conversation and content compelling. Dr. Barkley has given me much more insight into how ADHD changes over time, and I know I'm changing how I approach issues with my own children.

Click here to listen to Show #105- Dr. Russell Barkley, Part 1

Show #104- Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy- Remediation and the Future of Education

2009-01-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

In the third part of my conversation with Dr. Susan Johnson, head of Commonwealth Academy, we talk about the difference between teaching a child with accommodations versus remediating weaker skills and how to accomplish both; we also discuss what she would recommend as suggestions of how to change education.

Ultimately, I think we have to look at education as an important part of raising an educated public, and as a vital part of our national infrastructure. We have to decide if education is important, and if so, then we have to make the changes necessary to do it well. But the one thing we will never be able to get rid of is the importance of students feeling mentored and cared about on a personal level by their teachers. If we want this to happen, we have to be prepared to help create smaller and more intimate classrooms, where students and teachers get to know each other- because without this, education can be little more than an assembly lime disguised as a school.

I hope you enjoy today's show, and we'll be back to you next week!

Click here to Download Show#104- Susan Johnson- Remediation and the Future of Education

Show #103 Dr. Susan Johnson- Commonwealth Academy- Advisory and Organization

2009-01-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

One of the most amazing things I learned by visiting Commonwealth Academy is how everything in the school is student-centered. The advisory program is one piece of that puzzle, where kids are mentored and supervised on how to keep themselves organized and prepared for class, and where discipline is handled pro-actively and rarely interferes with the learning of the other students. This is possible because the faculty and staff really know the students, and can anticipate their needs, much like parents do. But like good parents, the goal is to make the kids independent over time and able to stand on their own. Another important part of this equation is developing a sense of trust with the students and with their parents, which can be a challenge after some rough previous school experiences.

Dr. Johnson's years of experience in both public and private schools, and her candor about how important developing a sense of trust and community is to their success is palpable in every aspect of the school. I know you'll love hearing about the innovative and often simple approaches Commonwealth takes that empowers the students to find their voice and gives them the confidence to try new things, to risk and to succeed.

In our next show, #104, we'll conclude our interview with Dr. Susan Johnson as we discuss IEP's, remediation and the future of education.

Click here to download Show # 103, Dr. Susan Johnson- Commonwealth Academy- Advisory & Organization (For Students and Parents!)

Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy Show #102

2008-12-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Before the holidays, I had the opportunity to spend the day at Commonwealth Academy, a college preparatory school for children with ADHD and learning disabilities, located in Alexandria, VA. Commonwealth Academy serves children from 6th grade through high school,and is a school that feels very much like a community the moment you walk through the doors.

I got to sit down with Dr. Susan Johnson, the Director of the school, and we talked about everything from how they select their students, to how their curriculum and teaching methods differ from traditional schools. Dr. Johnson has been an educator and has worked with children in special education for over 30 years, and she sat on one of the initial panels that put together the IEP process for the State of New Jersey back in the 1970's. Her experience and perspective on children who struggle in traditional school settings is amazing, and it was an absolute privilege to be able to speak with her, the staff and the students at Commonwealth.

I've split our interview into two parts; the first discusses how important it is to take a child-centered approach to education, and how that's the first step to helping struggling learners to begin to think of themselves as academic achievers. We also talk about how the environment of a school matters, and how it is integral to creating a community rather than just an institution of learning.

We've given away our first handful of books, but we have some more available! Additionally, while you may have missed out on the Marcus Buckingham books here, my friend Carrie Runnals from the Words to Mouth podcast, has a few copies she would love to give away to our listeners! Just click the link and go to Carrie's website and you might win! The Words to Mouth podcast is a great place where readers can find out more about the authors and their work through insightful interviews, done by Carrie, another one of the fantastic ladies from the Divacast!

Click here to listen to Show #102, Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy

Show # 101- Updates and Our Holiday Book Give-Away!

2008-12-03T06:09:00.000-08:00

Firstly, we have a new voicemail line- (206) 350-8626 Please call us- and remember we may answer your questions or use your comments on the show!

Holiday Book Giveaway!
Just like last year, we have books to give away this Holiday season! Marcus Buckingham and his publisher sent us 5 copies of his latest book, The Truth About You. I have a few copies of Marcus' "Go Put Your Strengths to Work" to give away as well. We also have books from Rick LaVoie, Dr. Edward Hallowell, Mel Levine and more- including a few cassette audio books for those that prefer audio books!

In order to win, here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Call our Voicemail line at (206) 350-8626 and leave us a comment or question, OR leave a review of the show in iTunes.

Step 2: Send us an email at LDpodcast@gmail.com with your name and mailing address, so we can mail your book to you! I've mailed books all over the world last year, including South Africa, so everyone is eligible!
The first 15 responders will receive a prize!

In today's show, I talk a bit about the recent seminar I atteneded given by Russell Barkley, one of the leading authorities on ADHD. Much of what I heard made me rethink how I think about ADHD and its wide-spread affects on functioning. I got a chance to interview Dr. Barkley in person, and will share that in upcoming shows. I also included a clip from an interview I did a while back with Rick LaVoie, who even mentions Dr. Barkley, and how we sometimes forget how much of our frustrations daily with our kids may be, in part, the learning disability, not just them trying to drive us crazy- something I think we can all use the occasional reminder about- even me.

Thank you so much for listening to the show and making everything we do to keep the show going worth while. Spread the word, and we'll keeping making the lives of kids struggling in school better, one child at a time.

Click here to listen to Show #101- Annual Book Giveaway

Show #100 Sharon Martin, SLP on Response to Intervention (RTI) and Individualized Education Programs (IEP).

2008-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

In today's show, Sharon and I discuss how you might go about getting help for your child in school. Part of this is understanding the first steps, called Response to Intervention, or RTI. Teachers are supposed to try different, research-based interventions with the child in the classroom, to see if the child improves, before referring the child for possible testing and evaluation for special education services, that might require developing a special education program, commonly called an Individualized Education Plan or Program (IEP).

As part of this show, I have put together a list of common modifications and accommodations that are typically made for kids in the classroom- think of this as a "menu" of sorts of possible, but not exclusive, changes that can be made to help your child. You can find this list and links to other resources under the link "Accommodations Guide".

We have our big holiday book give away coming- and I hope you will are participate! Here are the rules:

1. The give away closes December 15, 2008.
2. We'll have a link at the top of our website for you to enter the drawing-you'll need to answer two questions and information so we can mail out the book to you. The only condition is that you let us know when it arrives! We'd love it if you'd leave us a review in iTunes as well, but that's optional, of course!

We'll have copies of Marcus Buckingham's latest book, The Truth about You, a few audio books, books by Mel Levine, Rick LaVoie, Edward Hallowell, and more!

Thank you so much, each and everyone of you, for making this one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

Click here to listen to show #100- Response to Intervention and IEP's

Show # 99- Elaine Weitzman, Hanen Centre

2008-10-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

In this episode, I talk with Elaine Weitzman from the Hanen Centre. The Hanen Centre is an international organization focused on helping parents and educators enhance the language and literacy skills of young children. The programs they have been developed are research-based and the information they offer parents is practical, easy, every day things we can do to truly enhance how our children learn.

The Hanen centre has come out with a yearly calendar that gives parents and teachers a month by month, week by week resource of how to specifically help build critical language skills for young children. This is a straight-forward, easy to use guide to doing simple things that can have a big, long term impact on your child's education and literacy.

To give you some perspective on how important this is, a recent show entitled "Going Big" on This American Life by Ira Glass featured a segment regarding the Harlem Children's Zone, an ambitious program focused on helping parents help their children in the same way the Hanen Centre does- and it's working miracles in terms of improving children's scholastic outcomes.

It's simple things, like reading to your child, asking them questions, talking about emotions, answering those endles "Why?" questions that help spark your child's curiosity about the world and encourage them to develop these critical skills necessary for later literacy and academic success.

Please contact the Hanen Centre through their website at www.hanen.org. The calendar for 2009 is now available, and sample months are available on their website.

Click here to listen to Elaine Weitzman, Hanen Center- Developing Early Language Skills with your kids

Show #98- Marcus Buckingham, Part II- The Truth About You

2008-10-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

In the second half of my conversation with Marcus Buckingham, we discuss why kids with learning difference don't always fit into a standard model, but how it's even more important that we find things that engage them and make them shine. Every child has something terrific and unique to contribute, and too often, the one-size fits all system ignores what individuals can add to the mix.

We discuss how self-esteem is great, but self-efficacy, performance and contribution are the real measures of success. In the end, success should be defined by finding out where you can make the greatest contribution, not always by external metrics of bank accounts. Many kids with learning difficulties have gone on to be wildly successful by almost every metric as adults, ranging from doctors, like Dr. Edward Hallowell, to actors like Henry Winkler and Tom Cruise, to business people, like Charles Schwab. Part of this success is not about an easy path, but finding where on the path they seemed to belong, and that's what I think we wish for all of our children.

Marcus Buckingham is currently on a book tour across the Country- you can check this out at his website, www.marcusbuckingham.com. Marcus is also hosting an online seminar you can take as time suits as part of Oprah Winfrey's Change Your Life program, which you shouldn't miss. And I guarantee that Marcus's new book, The Truth About You is well worth the purchase price.

For visitors to the website, I am running a special contest! Send an email to ldpodcast@gmail.com by November 1, 2008, with your feedback about the interview with Marcus Buckingham, and you can win an audio book version of Marcus's first book, "First, Break all the Rules", and a copy of The Truth About You. We'll randomly select a winner from all entrants!
Click here to listen to Marcus Buckingham- The Truth about You

Marcus Buckingham- The Truth About You

2008-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Show #97- Marcus Buckingham, The Truth About You, Part 1
I've been a fan of Marcus Buckingham's work for years. Through his books, I've helped to identify what I do best, and it's helped me focus on where I can be most helpful and productive. Marcus has a brand new Kit out called the Truth About You- which combines a book, DVD, small pad to track strengths and weaknesses and links to online material, that is truly excellent. I admit having some initial skepticism, as I am not a big "kit" person, but I was really impressed by everything, especially the DVD material. So much that I sat my kids down to watch as well, to reinforce that they need to start looking at what they do best, every day, for themselves.

The first half of my conversation with Marcus addresses what strengths are, and why this is so much more than just what your child is good at, or some mystic way to boost their self-esteem. A strengths-based approach is trying to help your child figure out where they are most effective- where they contribute the most, as well as what gives them the most joy and success. This is about actual performance and outcomes for kids, not just puffery. And importantly, Marcus also talks about his own experiences with his son, and why we have to help kids honor who they are and make the most of it every day.

In the second half, we talk more about how we need to help kids get really specific about their strengths and where they're most effective. In the DIY culture, we're all supposed to be the est at everything, but in reality, it means we may be a jack of all trades but a master at none. We ask kids to be perfect at all aspects of school, yet do very little to let them really investigate and hone their areas of interest and natural talent. This does not mean doing the easy thing- nothing's harder than continuously honing and improving your skills- and this has the side effect of building resiliency along the way- a one-two punch for setting kids on a path of knowing who they are and realizing how very much they have to offer.

Click here to listen to Show #97- Marcus Buckingham- The Truth About You

LD Podcast#96: Dr. Andy Van Schaack- Part II

2008-10-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

In this second part of my interview with Dr. Van Schaack, we talk about how technology can help students, and what it can't do. One of the most important things we need to remember is that the tech might make some things easier, but it doesn't replace real learning.

The crux of this new "computer in a pen" is that while you are taking notes in a regular spiral notebook (on special paper with a watermark...), it is recording the audio in the classroom, at a meeting- wherever, at the same time. The pen stores your handwriting, diagrams, and notes exactly how you write them, and this will get transferred to your PC as a PDF file- just like you took a picture of your notes. It also syncs the audio to exactly when you wrote those words, so whenever you go back to your notes and tap on the word, online or offline, you can hear the audio recorded at that moment. Moreover, your notes also become searchable, so you can find exactly when the professor was talking about the effects of inflation in the economy, or what would be on the midterm.

So you are saying, "Cool, but is it worth the cost?"

Research into how people learn best shows that notetaking is important in the learning process- but when they looked deeper into why, they found that the value is in having this external storage system for information. And if you know that capture of information is worthless without having meaningful access to it, making all of your notes searchable takes on greater meaning, even if there is no accompanying audio!

Now, good note taking is a skill in and of itself. People talk at 40 -50 phonemes a second, much faster than people can read or write. Studies also show the cognitive load of listening to a lecture and taking notes is as strenuous as playing grandmaster-level chess. So assuming even the best notetakers can't keep up with the lecturer, word for word, maybe we need to alter how notes are taken in class, and add the ability to rehear and fill in details later as a better strategy.

For me, I became intrigued with this "gadget" because I could finally get a handle on what my kids were taking for notes during class, and afterwards, be able to compare what the teacher was saying to what my child was writing- and in the process, we're trying to hep him build a more effective note taking and studying strategy, that he will surely need for high school and college. Factor in his poor handwriting, and this tool can really help make up for a cognitive and fine motor task that is very difficult for him.

This is not really an infomercial for this product, but a show where you can hear about how something like this product might really make a difference in the classroom- also as a tool for teachers to provide meaningful audio feedback to students, that students are more likely to use to change their future performance, as well as understand the time and effort the teacher is putting into reviewing their work- critique becomes more meaningful, even if the student and teacher are not in the same place at the same time.

I'm excited about this product and how it's working so far for us, and I hope you'll find the science behind the learning process as exciting as I do.

Oh, and someone posted on the blog that if you use this code, SCRIBE5A20 on the Livescribe site, you can receive a 5% discount on the purchase of the pen, which is great!
Click here to listen to Dr. Andy Van Schaack and the Livescribe Pen- Part II

LD Podcast #95- Dr. Andy Van Schaack- Technology and Education

2008-09-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Andy Van Schaack from Vanderbilt University about Education and Instructive Technology. We spoke specifically about what technology can and cannot do to aid education and learning. We spoke about how it's even more important to go beyond just research-based learning and look at evidence-based instruction, working with what we know about psychology and brain function to maximize learning in the classroom and beyond.

Technology tends to work best when it amplifies human capabilities, but real learning involves being able to take new information and apply it in novel situations.The tests we're often given in school tends to value cramming versus encoding information for long term retrieval and use, so teachers and students alike have to be on the look out for testing that requires recall of information, or merely recognizing the appropriate answer.

The core issue here is the following: The best learning occurs when there are more opportunities to respond with feedback. Teachers are invaluable to provide feedback to students, but we have to find a way to do this is a positively reinforcing way that mentors students as they seek mastery of subjects and material.

Dr. Van Schaack is the educational advisor for LiveScribe, which has developed a new computing platform- the Pulse pen- a computer in a pen. The pen uses special paper that comes in an ordinary spiral notebook; it records fairly high fidelity audio that syncs up perfectly with the words written on the page. The audio and "picture" of the written notes are then transferred to your PC as a PDF file, where you can listen to the lecture and see the notes being wirtten at the same time. This means you can jump to the exact place in a lecture where a teacher talks about what's going on the mid-term, for example, without having to listen to the whole lecture again. If students also use the Cornell Notetaking system, they can end up with better and more effective notes than ever before, making learning easier, especially in complex subjects. Not only that, the notes are searchable for key terms, so you can go exactly to the spot you need in a notebook to look up a particular piece of information as needed.

I purchased one of these for my boys, hoping it will help us teach them how to take more effective notes in class, and I have to say that the kids have actually been debating over who gets to take the pen to school with them each day. I'm afraid I'm going to have to buy another one, shortly! I've used it for a community meeting I attended and blogged about for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and was very pleased with the results.

The first part of our interview focuses on using technology in education and what it can and cannot accomplish; the second half, which will be released by the end of this week, will discuss the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen in more detail, including what kind of mental load notetaking has on the brain, how fast we can process information, the research data about why we take notes in the first place, and how we should be using them, and we talk about how capturing information is fundamentally useless without access.

Links to things discussed on this episode:

*Listener feedback
*Check out Ken Robinson's presentation at TED in 2006. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started back in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader, and I always learn a ton from the talks there- some of the best material available on the web;
The Obviousness of Social and Educational Research Results- NL Gage
*

Frontline Report- Kids Growing Up Online
* BBC News: Basic Sums Stress 1.3Million Adults
Cornell Note Taking technique-

Click Here to listen to Dr. Andy Van Schaack- Understanding Instructional Technology, Part I

LD Podcast "Unplugged"- Mark Blevis interviews Whitney about Homework

2008-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Mark Blevis, from the Just One More Book podcast,interviewed me on our drive into Podcamp Philly about homework. This is a really honest and revealing interview about how we handle homework at our house, and what I see as the value and pitfalls of how homework is used in schools. Since I was the driver, the answers are about as honest and non-scripted as is possible- you hear exactly what was said, uncut and unedited, as two parents, two friends, discuss homework and their children.

To give you some background, Mark and his wife Andrea Ross, interview authors and illustrators on their Just One More Book podcast, as well as give their reviews of different children's books. You can even call up and leave a review of your favorite book, and they'll play it on the show. Mark and Andrea are raising two fantastic daughters in Canada, and they always point me in the direction of fanatastic books my kids and I love to share, even though I have boys. The show helps me appreciate the richness of children's literature, and how it can enrich the lives of adults and kids alike.

Let me know if you like the style of this show- please send feedback to ldpodcast@gmail.com. If this is interesting, we'll try to do work more unfiltered interviews with parents into the show.

Thanks again to Mark for the audio, the idea, and the opportunity to go "unplugged".

Click here to download and listen to LD Podcast Unplugged- Mark Blevis and Whitney Hoffman Discuss Homework

Show #93- Sharon Martin SLP, Part II

2008-09-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

We're back after a brief hiatus for Podcamp Philly, a new media unconference I helped put together at Temple University. I'm really happy to report that we raised over $6,000 for the Sciece Leadrship Academy, a Philadelphia Public special admissions high school, run by Chris Lehmann, who I met at the Educon Conference, held at SLA last year.

Sharon and I continue our talk about when you might need a speech language pathologist; why the diagnosis may sometimes be irrelevant to the treatment; and how there's a general movement to try to get Speech-Language pathologists more involved in literacy. We can't emphasize too much how important good hearing and good speech are to the reading and writing process, and early intervention is critical for children. We also talk about the importance of the bond/relationship between a therapist and a child, and why there's got to be a good balance between work and fun, as well as follow-through on the part of parents and regular ed teachers.

I've been racking up a bunch of interviews, so the shows should not only be more regular, but there's some exciting things coming up-and we also want to hear from you!

Click here to download/listen to Sharon Martin, SLP Part II

Sharon Martin, Speech and Language Pathologist

2008-08-30T03:56:00.000-07:00

In today's show, we feature an interview with Sharon Martin! Sharon is a well-known for being part of the DivaCast, best described as five girlfriends talking about what matters to them, and having fun doing it! Sharon's becoming a part of the LD Podcast, because she's also a Speech Language Pathologist (also known as an SLP) teaching in schools in Georgia.

Sharon has her Masters in Education, Speech Language-Pathology and is licensed in Georgia, and is a member of many professional organizations for SLP's including the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, (NSSHLA).

Sharon has worked with special need students who ranged from profound/severely impaired to mild articulation disorders. This work has included students with learning disabilities, language impairments, autism, down syndrome, mitochondria, CP, cochlear implants, apraxia, phonological processing disorders and emotional behavioral disorders.

She has also participated in specialized training and tasks forces involved with Response to Intervention (RTI), literacy/language interventions, and special education regulations. Sharon's planning on becoming a regular part of the show, and future shows will focus on topics like Response to Intervention and IEP's.

In this show, I also talk about the results of our "Daily journal" over the summer experiment, getting kids back to school and trying to keep them organized. One question I received by email recently asked:

"What type of planner or organizer would you recommend for kids with LD? The one we get from school has really small writing areas, making it hard to fit in all the information, let alone notes back and forth from home and school."

My recommendations:

What most kids need: Big space to write, securely bound, monthly and weekly views.

What I've tried for myself and the kids:

Personal Digital Assistants, like Palm Pilots; various calendars and systems, wall calendars, wipe-off dry erase calendars, etc. Electronic versions of calendars, ranging from Google Calendar, to the calendar/alarms on my various cell phones, and Skoach, an online calendar/task management system developed in part by well-known and respected ADHD researcher, Dr. Kathleen Nadeau. (Also a prior guest on the LD Podcast).

What Really Works for Me- paper calendar/agenda with both weekly and monthly views. Usually, the medium to large ones give me enough writing space- mini ones are far too small.

Brands I like:

Mead actually has a a website to help you choose a planner (I was surprised to find this out!)

The Quick Notes Calendar from At-A-Glance has weekly and monthly view, along with plenty of spaces for notes and reminders. This runs about $20.00

TimeToo has some interesting looking family trackers, but you kinda have to choose between weekly on monthly, not both. The RSVP space on the bottom is a great idea- these are almost perfect.

The GoMom planner from Daytimer has that weekly/monthly views, and is a good basic planner-a "mommed" up version of the At A Glance.
Mead Upperclass Student Organizer - Available plain ($12.99) or with a bungee cord to keep closed ($13.79) This one can work well with kids or adults- not a bad choice for that master family calendar.

Secret Indulgence and Pricey Version- Levenger has a bunch of interesting products, based on it’s "circa" system- a way you can pretty much customize notebooks. This means you can add what you need- to do lists, expense reports, notes, etc. and rearrange, without losing anything and maintaining the pages securely fastened together. (If you wanted to try it to see if it works, the 2008 agenda is down to only $4.95, and might be a good investment if you think you might like the flexibility it offers.)

Downsides- expensive and addictive. Runs calendar year, not academic year. I do use this notebook system, more than the planner, to organize projects, in part because the paper is thicker than normal and is fantastic to write on, and I can move stuff around easily as needed. It is more of an initial investment, but I do refill them, and I love these notebooks.

Click here to listen to Sharon Martin

Show # 91- Write On Handwriting with Amy Ford Hebert- Part II

2008-06-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

In today's show, Amy and I discuss what is age appropriate for motor skills, how many kids have problems with right-left orientation, and how small things like a good pencil grip can make all the difference in a kid's writing ability. Strength and coordination and spatial attributes all contribute to good handwriting, making the overall writing process easier.

We are trying out Amy's program at home (This is not a freebie- I paid for it) and John, my younger child, seems to be particularly interested, and it seems to be showing up in his writing. The daily journal page requirement is not overly popular, and I share some of the funnier moments in today's show. But the bottom line if that writing is both a physical and mental task, requiring the coordination of both simultaneously, and it won't improve unless the kids get more practice- so this is the summer of non-stop practice for this skill.

Click here to download Write On Handwriting with Amy Ford Hebert - Part II

Please check out Pocketful of Therapy for resources like Write On Handwriting, Handwriting without tears, raised line paper, pencil grips, slant boards and other writing helpers. I have been ordering from them for years- this is where the occupational therapists I know get many of their supplies, and this is a convenient resource for these materials that can be hard to find in the local stores.

As always, please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com with any comments and questions. The survey will be closing shortly, so if you haven't filled it out, please do!

Show #90- Amy Ford Hebert- Write On Handwriting

2008-06-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

The LD Podcast Is officially two years old!

We all know how important reading is; equally important is the next step along the literacy pathway- writing. Writing requires that we synthesize our thoughts, and then express them, coherently, in text. For kids with learning disabilities, this can present a unique challenge. Some children have fine motor issues that make the physical act of handwriting difficult, which then acts as a barrier to developing good written expression. And interestingly enough, the answer to these problems isn't always as simple as teaching kids keyboarding or how to use programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking (Although these skills can help struggling writers immensely).

Other children may be overwhelmed with keeping their ideas straight long enough to express them on paper- the open-ended question that asks “Write whatever you want” seems to siphon any idea right out of their head. And for others, problems with organization or impulsivity can keep them from expressing themselves in an orderly, coherent way.

Today's guest, Amy Ford Hebert, has developed a computer program to help coach kids through the formation parts of print and cursive letters, and then take that practice and transfer it to the page. Write On Handwriting is a multi-sensory approach to handwriting geared mostly towards the classroom, but we are trying it at home this summer, along with daily journaling, to help both of my children work on the mechanics of handwriting as well as fluency in producing written expression.

And shockingly enough, the Nation's Reportcard on Writing, published by the Department of Education reports that only 33% of the nation's 8th graders are writing at the profiecient or advanced level- only 2 % at the advanced level. This means two thirds of the students are writing at a level that makes the demands of the classroom a challenge for them, largely because they do not have the skills they need to meet the demands they face. We need to do something to change this.

Handwriting is just one of the many factors that influence a child's written expression and output. Unfortunately, if the written output is poor or illegible, kids often get labeled as careless, sloppy, messy, or "not putting enough effort into their work" which certainly does not encourage them to write more. What may be something as simple as a fine motor problem becomes a moral failing in the eyes of teachers, and then a battle of wills can easily follow, where no one wins and the child certainly loses.

Amy has inspired me to put more resources about writing, handwriting and the writing process on the website- you'll find a new page under the Specific LD Resources menu addressing writing. Next week, we'll finish our interview with Amy Hebert, and I'll give you an update on how our home writing program for the summer is going.

Click here to listen to Amy Ford Hebert, Write On Handwriting

Show #89- News, Announcements and Money In Science and Education

2008-06-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

In this week's show, I have some great information about upcoming trainings open to parents and educators at the Academy in Manayunk, including a RAVE-O training; Wilson reading and the LETRS program by Louisa Moates and taught by Nancy Hennessey , former president of the International Dyslexia Association.

I then discuss two recent news articles, one from Time Magazine regarding a former Bush Administration official talking about the failures of NCLB in an article entitled: No Child Left Behind: Doomed to Fail? by Claudia Willis. The second article is from the New York Times and discusses unreported pharmaceutical industry income by two of the most respected child psychiatrists in the country- Dr. Joseph Beiderman and Dr. Timothy Wilens. This article came as a complete shock to me, and prompted the recent post on the new LD Podcast blog. (Click here to go to the blog directly)

Thanks again for stopping by, and don't forget to fill out the survey!

Click Here to Download Show- News and Announcements; Money and Science in Educationion

Shelley Dannenberg, Dyslexia Testing and Information Services Part II

2008-06-05T09:16:00.001-07:00

(more extensive show notes coming after resolution of technical issues- hope it will be later today.)

Click here to Listen to Show # 88, Shelley Dannenberg, Dyslexia Testing and Information Services, Part II

Show # 87 Shelley Dannenberg, Dyslexia Testing and Information Services

2008-05-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Shelly Dannenberg is a certified Dyslexia Testing Specialist, an Ohio licensed teacher with 9 years teaching experience in Language Arts and Reading, and the parent of a dyslexic child. Shelley has taught in both regular education and special education classrooms and has tutored many students with learning disabilities. In today's show, we discuss what dyslexia is, how it effects kids in schools, and discuss how early intervention is the key to helping kids with dyslexia succeed in school.

Dyslexia is genetic and is a language processing disorder. In people without dyslexia, three centers of the brain work cooperatively to process language, for reading, writing and spelling. Functional MRI scans show that people with dyslexia do not have these areas working cooperatively, causing them to process language is a different way. Often there is a family history of dyslexia and/or school struggle, but often adults were not properly diagnosed as children. As many as 40% of kids with dyslexia also have concurrent ADHD, so you need to address attentional issues as well.

There are so many excellent resources available to help people better understand dyslexia and other language based learning disorders- We're starting a new page here on the LD Podcast site just for dyslexia, with other LD specific pages coming soon. Finding information, research, and the tools you need to help your child or student is the first step to helping a struggling child feel the thrill of success. Let us know if these resources are helpful and if you have any to add- drop me a line at ldpodcast@gmail.com !

Shelley and I discuss things you might look for as early signs of dyslexia or other language processing disorders:

Preschool age kids:

Chronic ear infections, severe childhood illnesses
Speech delay
Early stuttering
Late in establishing a dominant hand

Elementary School:

Is reading slow and labored?
Is it choppy? Inaccurate?
Do they skip words?
Do they guess at words based on the shape or beginning letters?
Misreading prepositions and common prepositions?

Do they dread going to school?
Do they have terrible spelling, or have no carry over for the spelling words they just learned last week, in the next lesson?

Many have trouble with math- they have problems with memorizing rote information

Kids with language based processing issues may have a bunch of different labels, including things like expressive language disorder. The most important part of any label is not so much "what" it is, but that it is the key to access for services in a school setting, so kids can get the help and accommodations they need to be successful in school.

Children are painfully aware that they are struggling- what we need to do is construct education and strategies that help them learn and succeed, rather than constantly focusing on their deficits.

Links:

Shelley's Website- Dyslexia Testing and Information Services
International Dyslexia Association

Click here to listen to Show #87- Shelley Dannenberg- Dyslexia Testing Information Service

Show # 86 Jenifer Fox- Your Child’s Strengths

2008-05-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

This week’s show features the second half of my interview with Jenifer Fox. Jenifer’s new book, Your Child’s Strengths is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and it provides a blueprint for changing your child’s experience in school. This seems like a radical notion at first, but very small changes, such as looking at your child’s true strengths and giving them opportunities to do what they do best can change the way a child sees themselves and the world.

The Search for Strengths

One of the first steps in finding a child’s strengths starts by talking to them, listening, and looking for some patterns in their natural interests. Jenifer and I talk about how to find out more about your child, and how unstructured time can sometimes be a great place to begin looking and observing your child’s natural interests and proclivities. While there’s a trend to make sure children have structured play and are adequately supervised at all times, this doesn’t give them a lot of time or choice to really discover what makes them special as individuals.

This also means allowing your child to be disappointed and learning how to deal with that- positive psychology and reinforcement is NOT about making their lives perfect and happy all the time, but helping them develop a sense of solving their problems and be willing to take the risks necessary to learn and grow.

If we make our approach in schools more “project-based” (and please, no, I am not recommending any more posters or dioramas on the Book Report for the month…) meaning that children learn from examples and by doing as much as possible, we may be able to make the education they receive more meaningful. By the way, the case-based or project-based learning approach is one used in graduate schools, from business schools to law schools, currently. We just need to begin to apply this to younger students!

We need to collect specific information about what a child does well-this is essential to finding ways to build on the successes, and clues to other talents that might be hidden otherwise.

We also talk about what to do when teacher- student relationships are rocky, and how to go about trying to reach some sort of working relationship- what Nancy Hennessey from the IDA calls “Dystechia” It’s tough, but sometimes it seems we do have to teach our kids how to work the system or play the game. We also talk about the difference between entertainment and engagement, and how teachers need to be able to parse the difference, as do parents.

Recommended books and links in this episode:

The Unhurried Child

Dr. Bob Brooks- Raising a Self-Disciplined Child; Raising Resilient Children

Affinities Program at Purnell School

The Gates Foundation Report on High School Dropouts

Sara Lawrence Lightfoot- The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn from Each Other

BBC Article on Basic Sums Stressing Adults

ooVoo- online interactive chat (free service) for up to six people at a time

The Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia and Chris Lehmann- His blog is Practical Theory

Click here to download Show #86- Jenifer Fox

Jenifer Fox- Your Child's Strengths

2008-05-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today's show features a really terrific guest- Jenifer Fox-President of the Purnell School, an all-girl's boarding school, and the author of Your Child's Strengths- Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them. We speak about a range of subjects, but the most important one of all is how critically important it is to emphasize your child's true talents and strengths.

(Oddly enough, I had an opportunity just 36 hours later to put this advice to work. One of the boy's midterm report came back, and the news was, at best, mixed and not what he had led us to believe it would be. Rather than getting angry, as he expected, I sat down with him and we used it as an opportunity to learn. What had been going well, and what had not? Which study methods had been panning out, and which were not working so well for him? Instead of using this as an opportunity to make the kid feel worse- (he was doing a pretty good job all on his own of being disappointed and needed no help on that score from anyone), we chose instead to decide together, with him, what we could do differently that would help him.)

If you get a chance, I urge you to read Jenifer Fox's book, Your Child's Strengths. Give it to teachers you know. We all need to begin to change the tide in education, and part of this change starts with identifying what's good in each person, and finding ways of making them feel successful.

Kids face a daily birage currently of what they do wrong- the Gates Foundation reports that many high school dropouts are not dropping out because of anti-social behavior, but because they're bored and fail to see the relevance in the education they are receiving. We need to start making a change now, to keep kids in school, to make school a meaningful experience that sets kids up to be life long learners and problem solvers.

Click here to download Show # 85- Jenifer Fox- Your Child's Strengths

Education 2.0

2008-05-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks, I've had the chance to speak to educators about how New Media is changing education, and what it can and cannot do for the classroom. I recorded this presentation at Podcamp DC, and thought it was something you might want to hear as well- Because regardless of whether your child is a superstar in school or is struggling, every child will need to develop skills to compete in a multi-media world. They will need to use computers, and feel comfortable using on line tools as part of their education. As parents and teachers, we need to adapt what we do in the classroom to help children learn these skills.

You can see the slide for the presentation by going to Slideshare here.

We'd love to have you participate in our survey- you can go straight to it by clicking here.

If you are interested in hearing more about one of my favorite muscicians and my good friend, Matthew Ebel, click here to go to his website.

Click here to listen to Show #84, Education 2.0

Melinda Pongrey- Educational Therapist, Part II

2008-04-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

Take Our Survey- Click Here!

In this week's show, we continue our conversation with Melinda Pongrey, Educational Therapist and producer of the LD Live show. In today's show, we talk about "Dysteachia", educational research, how everyone sees a child through a different lens, and how important a parent's perspective is. We talk about how critical it is to actually include the child in the discussions, to find out exactly how they see the world, and even help them brainstorm solutions.

If you get a chance, please consider clicking on the link above and filling out the short survey about the podcast, so we can better serve you and your interests.

Many thanks to Aveeno Baby for sponsoring the LD Podcast, and be sure to check out the other great shows on the Mommycast & Friends Family Channel.

Click here to listen to Melinda Pongrey, Part II

Show # 82- Melinda Pongey, Educational Therapist

2008-04-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Today is the first part of my interview with Melinda Pongrey. Melinda is the producer of a live video LD talk show called LD Live, and an educational therapist in Washington State.

Melinda and I discuss what an Educational therapist does, when you might want to consider one, what kids really need to succeed in school, and how listening to kids is one of the best diagnostic tools around.

This is also our first week of sponsorship with Aveeno Baby. I'd love to hear your reactions to our first ever sponsor of the podcast, and any suggestions you might have- please email me at ldpodcast@gmail.com
or call me directly at 302-482-4599 and let me know what you think!

Click here to listen to Show # 82- Melinda Pongrey and LD Live!

Catching Up

2008-04-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like your hanging on by your fingertips? We've been really busy here behind the scenes, setting up interviews, attending a conference or two and -even taking a vacation with the family. After a brief hiatus, the LD Podcast is back!

In todays show, we talk about Autsim Awareness Month; an update on the Ma Chen Autism School in China project, and recent happenings in the news about learning disabilities issues.

You'll here us talk about a new sponsor for the show in this episode, although after I recorded the show, we found out the formal sponsorship will start in May; consider this a preview of coming attractions!

We've got some exciting things for you on the horizon-and It's good to be back at the mike to talk with you again!

Click here to listen to our show- Catching Up!

Show # 80- Nancy Thomas- Early Childhood Education and Spotting Issues

2008-03-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

Nancy Thomas (also my Mother In Law) is an expert in early childhood education. nancy has her master's in early childhood education from Wheelock Coolege in Boston, and has worked in the field for over thirty years. She has inspected day care centers and preschools for Broward and Dade County, Florida; she has owned her own center, and she teaches classes through Nova University.

When a child seems to be having some developmental delays or is not like the rest of the kids, where do you go for help, and what questions do you ask? Nancy was one of my primary resources, and we spoke about what it was like when my oldest son seemed to have some problems and how we handled that.

Nancy has always been a great source for me when I've been worried about my kids, and in this interview, we sit down and discuss how children develop over time and cognitive development; trusting a parent's intuition; why teachers hate giving bad news; contextual learning, the importance of story-telling as a learning tool; making family connections; and teaching children both to take the risks they need to learn as well as learning to be independent over time. Nancy is always thoughtful and provoking, and I know you will find her guidance as helpful as I have.

Sorry for the delay in shows- stomach flu has had us under the weather- but we're back!

As always, please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com or you can contact me via skype at whitney.hoffman, or on twitter as Ldpodcast!

Click here to Download Show #80- Nancy Thomas- Early Childhood Education

Conversation with Jonathan Mooney Part II (show #79)

2008-02-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

In the second half of my conversation with Jonathan Mooney, we talk about his great book, The Short Bus, and how many kids and parents chase the concept of "normal" or "fixing" their kids with LD. We also discuss how parents can help kids learn to play some of the "games" of school- like giving teachers exactly what they want, plus a little bit more, along with other ways to be successful. Kids need mentoring, and sometimes parents are always the best mentors, which is where Jonathan's Project Eye to Eye comes into play.

I also talk about the progress we're making on raising money for the Ma Chen- Autism School in China Project! Thank you so much for everyone who has donated! We're running the program through March 22nd, at which time I will wire 100% of the money we've raised to Ma Chen, paying any associated costs myself.

I want to take the opportunity to thank CC Chapman for donating $750 he raised during the My Oovoo Day events towards the Ma Chen project. Joseph Jaffe, head of Crayon, an internet marketing firm, and Scott Monty, put together a great project where people could try out the new video conferencing service, Oovoo, by signing up to speak with some of the great "players" in the internet blogging space. In return, Oovoo is donating money to the Susan Rynolds "Frozen peas" fund for breast cancer research. CC Chapman, whose sister is a speech therapist working with autistic children, asked to have half of the money he earned donated to the Ma Chen Project. This means we will have at least $1,500 to send to Ma Chen, helping towards her goal of buying a farm so the autistic children in her school will have a chance at a future, in a society and culture where there is no real societal safety net for people with disabilities.

I'll be at Podcamp Toronto this weekend if the weather holds, and if you are there, please come say hi!

Also mentioned in the show-

March, 2008 issue of Parent's Magazine- great article about speech and language delays

Click here to download Jonathan Mooney Part II

Conversation with Jonathan Mooney

2008-02-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Mooney is the author of two great books, Learning Outside the Lines, and a new book, The Short Bus. Both books tell of Jon's journey from being a child who couldn't read at age 12, to graduating from one of the top colleges in the Country, Brown University. Jonathan is CEO of Project Eye to Eye, a non-profit foundation that helps find mentors for students struggling with LD in elementary and middle school school. Jon speaks extensively across the Country, both to help people realize kids can be both smart and learning disabled, and in the hopes that we can remake education to concentrate less on labels and more on what kids can accomplish.

From Jon's Website:

When his teachers decided Jon needed special ed because he couldn’t follow directions, sit still, or read well, he feared he’d lost his chance to be a regular kid. Suddenly he was “not normal.” Suddenly he was a short-bus rider destined to travel a harder road, a distinction that screamed out his “difference” to a hostile world. Along with other kids facing similar challenges, he was denigrated daily. He almost lost hope. Yet ultimately, Jon shocked the skeptics, graduating from Brown University (with honors). But he could never shake the voice that insisted he would always be "less than."

Jon's first book, Learning Outside the Lines, also contains great strategies geared towards college students, to help them succeed in school- strategies you may be able to adapt to help your younger child figure out the game of school.

Today's show features Part one of my conversation with Jonathan Mooney, and a bit about a wonderful educational conference I recently attended, Educon 2.0. Jon and I talk about Project Eye to Eye, what it was like growing up with LD, and how we can change education to be more compassionate to people who learn differently.

Click Here to listen to Part One of our Conversation with Jonathan Mooney

Making a Difference-Ma Chen and Autism in China

2008-01-22T07:25:00.001-08:00

Imagine, just for a moment, discovering your only child has autism. Imagine this happens while living in a Country of 1.3 Billion people, where only two state-run schools exist to serve all of the people with autism. You live in a culture where the very existence of autism has only recently been recognized as a disability, and your child's disability is seen as sign that you, the parent, did not lead a virtuous life. People with disabilities may be able to work in fields, but are generally shut away to avoid a loss of face for the family. What would you do?

What would you do if you were a Mom a continent away, but also realized you could, with a few calls and emails, help this Mom who is struggling against odds you can't fully imagine?

A week ago, an article in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye- a mother in China, Ma Chen, discovered her daughter had autism. There were only 2 schools in all of China for autistic children. Ma Chen opened an additional school, and is currently hoping to buy a piece of farm land for $10,000, so that the children will have a place to go and something to do after they finish school.

Just like Sally Smith starting the Lab School, or my attempts to help parents and children with learning disabilities through this Podcast and website, Ma Chen is a mother who just doesn't take no for an answer and is making things happen in China for her daughter and other children with autism.

China is a place where disabilities are often seen as a sign of being a bad parent, even though we know that many of them are genetic disorders. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that there is at least one form of autism caused by a spontaneous "micro deletions and "micro replications" of specific genes. You can read more about it here.

I want to help. By coincidence, one of my childhood friends is the Senior Cultural Attache for the US Department of Agriculture in Beijing, China, so it seemed easy enough to email him and ask if there was any way to verify the story. If we could, I want to try to raise enough money, $10,000 US, to help Ma Chen purchase this farm as a "Mothers to Mothers" way of making the World better for our children. I asked Eric if there was a way to get the money directly to Ma Chen, and also not cause an international incident in the process. Eric is continuing to pursue the matter through diplomatic channels, and to look into whether there can be help offered through the USDA directly as a development project, and is hoping to have more news shortly.

In addition, Ian Johnson, the writer from the Wall Street Journal, has been in contact with their office in Shanghi. He can help us arrange a Western Union transfer directly to Ma Chen and her organization to help her with her school and the purchase of this farm for the children.

I think it is currently "safe" to try to raise funds to help Ma Chen and her school and have confidence we can get the money directly to her.

As a mom of a child with a learning disability, I know how painful it can be, and how much worry it causes. Starting from a sense of something not being right with your child, to finding out what is wrong, to trying to figure what you can do to make it better can be exhausting and a frustrating process. It's even harder for the parents I know who have autistic children, who don't know whether their child will be able to hold a job or make a living when they grow up, or what will happen to them after the parents pass away. And that's here in the US, where we acknowledge autism as a disability. Ma Chen faces challenges dealing with these same issues in China that make all of our very real worries seem insignificant by comparison.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 for Ma Chen, to help her purchase the farm, so these children have a place to go- a sheltered work environment, where people understand them, and a place where they can be productive. This is a tangible way we can collectively help make a lasting difference in the lives of children a continent away, for little more than the cost of a latte.

I've started a Chip-in page for this cause at http://ldpodcast.chipin.com/ma-chen-autism-school-in-china. If you are interested in supporting this cause, you can make donations of any size here- for the cost of a latte, we may collectively be able to make a big difference in the lives of children with autism in a place where the parents and children face obstacles it's hard for us to imagine.

Thank you so much for your consideration- I would not ask if I was not assured we could get the funds directly to Ma Chen and make a difference in the lives of the children.

Whitney Hoffman
The LD Podcast

Click here to listen to Show #77- Autism and China- You can make a difference!

Show # 76- Dr. Steve Graham, Part II

2008-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

In the second part of my interview with Steve Graham, we talk about how early we should start to work on a child’s writing, when kids start developing negative attitudes towards writing, and the costs of not being able to write well. We also share a few things about writer’s block, style, strategies and getting into the flow.

I also talk about a recent article from the BBC showing over 13 million adults in the UK are stressed about their lack of skills in literacy and mat, and how adults use math skills up to 14 times a day and literacy skills up to 23 times a day. This sure convinced my 6^th graders that they couldn’t avoid learning this tuff now and it was important to them as adults!

I also talk about the recent PBS Frontline special on The Medicated Child.

Our intro features a clip that Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson were kind enough to record for me at a recent book signing, and I encourage you all to check out their Peter and the Shadow Thieves books- they’re fantastic!

Click here to listen to Show #76- Dr. Steve Graham

Show #75- Dr Steve Graham- The Development of Writing

2007-12-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

When over two-thirds of children can’t write well enough to keep up with the demands in the classroom, you have to wonder what is going on with writing instruction in the Nation’s classrooms. Handwriting, and the minimal instruction given in schools is only one part of the picture- getting an idea, transforming it into words, and then transcribing those words for others to see- are all involved. Add issues with grammar and syntax, and you begin to understand writing is to reading as calculus is to math- it requires you to bring all parts of the literacy puzzle into play, all at once, like an orchestra.

If you want to understand why a child may struggle in writing, and how to figure out which part of the puzzle may be causing them problems, this two-part interview is for you.

Dr. Steve Graham is a professor and the Currey Ingram chair in special education at Vanderbilt University. He's done extensive research into the development of writing in children and writing instruction. His interests goes beyond just handwriting and into the cognitive processes that go into transforming ideas into words and then into written text. He is the editor of Exceptional Children, and has cowritten many books, including the Handbook of Writing Research, Handbook of Learning Disabilities, Writing Better, and Making the Writing Process Work. He received a career research award from the Council for exceptional Children and Special Education Research Interest Group in the American Educational Research Association.

His wife, Dr, Karen Harris, is just as impressive, serving as editor of the Journal of Educational Psychology, and President of the Division of Research for the Council for Exceptional Children.

Dr. Graham was recently quoted in an article in Newsweek, discussing the importance of handwriting in the learning process, and he was kind enough to spend an hour with me, discussing all aspects of the writing process, as kids develop during the school years. Anyone who has a child who has struggled with any aspect of writing shouldn’t miss this two-part interview, covering the three major stages of the writing process, how to give appropriate feedback to kids learning how to write, and how handwriting has both reader and writer affects, impacting how a child is perceived and how his work is judged and graded by others.

Click here to listen to Show #75- The Development of Writing with Steve Graham, Part I

Audio Holiday Card- Merry Christmas, Happy Haunnakah, Happy New Year!

2007-12-14T04:20:00.000-08:00

This year, as last, I have put together an audio christmas card to thank you, the listeners to the LD Podcast, to the Guests, and to the many friends of the show that all keep me energized to keep this project going week after week.

Special thank you to:

Our guests:

Tom Brown, Dale Brown, from LD Online, Anne Ford, Dr. Perri Klass, Dr. Steve Graham, Sally smith, who passed away on December 1st; Ben Mitchell, Rick LaVoie, Dr. Bob Brooks, Alan Zametkin, Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, Nina Straightman

Friends and Podcasters:

Paige & Gretchen from Mommycast and the Mommycast and Friends Channel, that I am so proud to be a part of; Andrea Ross and Mark Blevis from the Just One More Book podcast; Denis Gray, from 101 Use for Baby Wipes; Erin & Kristen from Manic Mommies; Dr. Mike Patrick from Pediacast;

Podcampers and New Media Folk:

Chris Penn, CC Chapman, Chris Brogan, Megin and Stu over at the GNM Parents blog, Linda Mills, John Havens, Jen Yuan who made me do National Blog Posting Month this year; Howard Greenstein, Eric Skiff, Lynnette Young, Kathryn Jones, Kathy King, Vivian Vasquez, Tammy and Wendy from Podtalk Divas, Bob Goyetche and his wife Kat, who do almost too many podcasts to mention; Michelle Wolverton, Bill Rowland, Adam Plante, Rand, Drew Olanoff, Steve Lubetkin, Alan Chaess, Alex Hillman, Annie from GPTMC, Deni and Lisa Marshall, from Podcamp Philly.

Podsafe artists include:
Uncle Seth
Geoff Smith
Matthew Ebel
Joel Kopieschke
The Alice Project
Gary Sundbad
Craig Cardif
Adreinne Pierce
The Hipcola
The Hot Rods
The New Autonomous Folk Singers
The Candy Butchers with Mike Viola

click here to listen to Audio Christmas card, and Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Sally Smith Interviews

2007-12-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

I am republishing the Sally Smith Interviews in our feed, to help celebrate the life and work of Sally Smith, who died December 1, 2007. We'll miss her terribly. She founded the Lab School in response to the needs of her younger son, and built the field of educating kids with Learning Disabilities as a result. Sally's insights into learning, children and education changed the world for kids with learning difficulties, and it was a true privilege to sit down and talk with her last spring.

Click here to get Sally Smith Part I
Click here to download Sally Smith, Part II

Part II of Interview with Ben Mitchell, Landmark College

2007-12-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

This week, the community lost one of its true treasures, Sally L. Smith, Founder of the Lab School, and professor at American University. I was lucky enough to sit down and interview Sally last spring for the podcast. I will be republishing the shows with Sally in the podcast feed, to celebrate her life and work. Thank you to Vivian Vasquez from the CLIP Podcast and American University for introducing me to Sally, and for letting me [articipate in a small way in Sally's memorial.

In this week's show, we finish our talk with Ben Mitchell, Director of Admissions from Landmark College. We discuss changing college curriculum to decrease attrition in all schools; The use oif Assistive technology in the classroom, Summer Programs at Landmark College, and their most famous graduate, Russell Cosby, brother of Bill Cosby.

Russell Cosby attended Landmark College as an adult, to work on his reading problems caused by dyslexia, as geatured in the film, Ennis's Gift, available through the Ennis Cosby Foundation. This film let me see what going to school was like for people with learning disabilities, and see how it affected people as they grew up- it was one of the most moving documentaries I have ever seen, and I urge you all to check it out.

Links discussed in the show:
Landmark College
Inspiration/Kidspiration Software
Diane King and the Kildonan School
101 Uses for Baby Wipes
Just One More Book
Mommycast- Don't miss their great Holiday Contest!!!!!
Mommycast and Friends
Financial Aid Podcast

Click here to download Show #73 Ben Mitchell, Landmark College

Show #72 Benjamin Mitchell, Director of Admissions, Landmark College- Transitioning to College

2007-11-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

In today's show, we speak with Ben Mitchell, Director of Admissions at Landmark College. Landmark College specializes in students with learning disabilities and ADHD, as well as transitioning students into other four-year colleges with the skills they need to succeed.

Ben and I talked about a variety of topics, including Universal Design of Curriculum, seeking to make college courses accessible to everyone, regardless of disability. We spoke about the Center for Applied Special Technology, or CAST, which specializes in universal design; the Association of Higher Eeducation and Disability, (AHEAD), a group of colleges looking at accessibility issues for students with a broad range of disabilities, not just learning issues.

With national graduation rates from college indicating that over 45% of students drop out, colleges are trying to figure out how to reduce this rate. But the biggest challenges students face when entering college is not the classwork itself, it's having to manage time, organization, and planning, needed to complete coursework- the skill set that poses so many challenges for kids with learning disabilities and ADHD in particular. Executive functions and understanding how a student learns best is a primary issue for college students, and it's at the center of the programs provided at Landmark.

Even if your child is not of college age, I know you'll find this conversation intriguing, as we talk about how learning to learn is as important as what you learn about at school.

Click here to Download Ben Mitchell, Landmark College- Universal Design in Curriculum and Skills needed in the Transition to College

#71- Nina Straitman- Part III

2007-11-20T14:29:00.001-08:00

In this last segment of my conversation with Nina, we talk about the Milwaukee School District Case and the fact that a child's learning issues may not be evident from the start; The Fourth Grade Slump; the advantages of perscriptive education in small schools like centreville, and the importance of discovering a child's affinities.

Next time, we'll talk to Benjamin Mitchell, Director of Admissions at Landmark College about making the transition from high school to college and what problems students develop.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

We have just added a Facebook Group! If you are interested, there is open membership; I am considering starting a Ning Group as well if people are interested. please drop me a line at ldpodcast@gmail.com and let me know!

Click here to Download Show #71- Nina Straitman

Brian Jacques Special

2007-11-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

This is the post that accompanies the special segment recorded at the live presentation by Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series of books, at Borders bookstore in Newark, DE.

Click here to listen to Brian Jacques speak about Redwall, and learning to paint pictures with words.

Show # 70 Nina Straightman - Language therapist- Fluency, Comprehension, and the Development of Language Skills

2007-11-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

In this show, we continue our conversation with Nina Straightman, talking about the language development in newborns, fluency and text structure, using graphic organizers and how language- from oral language to reading to writing develop in kids.

Recently, a number of authors have been through our area, speaking about the books they've written and signing books for children. We've been to presentations from Brian Jacques, author of Redwall and other novels for children, and Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, authors of the Peter and the Star Catchers series. Over the next few episodes, I'm going to include short clips from these presentations, so you get a sense of what these book signings are like, and how really wonderful they can be for kids. Kids learn that authors are real people, and children's authors are particularly good at engaging the audience and bringing their words to life to kids. I think there are few better ways to make books and writing exciting to kids as to hear authors speak about their favorite books.

Click here to listen to Part II - Nina Straightman- Language Therapist

Show # 69- The Development of Reading- Nina Straitman

2007-10-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

“We read to comprehend and to make an emotional connection to a character or to gain knowledge.” Nina Straitman

Nina Straitman is the Language Coordinator for the Centreville School, a school for children with language based learning disabilities in Wilmington, DE. Nina is also a clinical specialist in Developmental Medicine at AI duPont Hospital for Children. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and a master’s in Speech/Language Pathology, giving her wonderful insights into the development of language both from a social science and medical perspective. She has a particular interest in the development of language, reading comprehension and writing in middle school students.

I spent the afternoon recently over at Centreville, talking to Nina about reading and reading instruction, but you’ll find we ended up talking about so much more, including:

-Finding out that reading is an extension of oral language development. The levels of reading disability are higher in the deaf population than in the blind population, indicating that a large part of reading development is an auditory event, rather than just a visual event.

- Learning to read has to do with language development as much as learning how to decode and encode written text.

-Development of Syntax happens from the early development of words into early sentences – two word combinations

-Comprehension cannot be taught by having a child read independently and then answer questions independently- it must be an interactive process.

-As of July 2007, all text must be accessible. This means all new text books will have to be accessible- this means they will have to have an audio version as well.

-The last stage in language development is the ability to use specialized language, with vocabulary and expression of sophisticated thoughts that goes beyond ordinary conversational speech.

We do talk about how specialized instruction in reading differs from the usual reading instruction taught in schools, and why this makes such a difference for children with learning disabilities.

Nina also wanted to let you know about the Learning By Design website, and the SpellTalk discussion group. If you are an educator or a parent interested in keeping up on the latest in reading research, this is an excellent resource to check out.

We’ll have even more next week, so stay tuned!

As always, I’d love to hear from you- we are going to have a new blog up soon. In the meantime, please send all email to ldpodcast@gmail.com and voicemail to our new number: (206)-203-4616

Click here to listen to Reading Development - Nina Straitman

Show #68 Conversation with Rick LaVoie

2007-10-12T04:22:00.000-07:00

In the second part of my conversation with Rick LaVoie, we discuss ADHD, organization, seeing things from your child's perspective, how we need to set a good example for our kids, helicopter parenting and how to motivate them.

Rick Lavoie has worked in special education for over 30 years. He has three degrees in Special Education, and has produced the single best selling educational video over the past 20 years- "How Difficult Can this Be? the F.A.T. City workshop" which shows teachers and adults what it's like to be a child with learning disabilities in the classroom.

One of Rick's greatest gifts is helping us see what the world looks lke through our children's eyes. By doing that, and illustrating his ideas in such a way that they are memorable and better still, actionable, Rick's thoughts are not just more words about what you SHOULD do, they're about things you CAN do, easily, now, to make a huge difference in your life and that of your child.

Today, we talk about a wide variety of topics. the most important of which is also the topic of Rick's new book, "The Motivation Break-through- 6 secrets to Turning on the Tuned Out Child". By breaking down how motivation works, we can understand how to help our children become motivated to succeed in every aspect of their lives (and it's pretty good for the rest of us as well...)

Most importantly, the book gives you specific pointers and action steps to take, to help your child today. He even has a great chapter in the book about explaining learning disabilities to your child,and how to explain things so it is not a "negative" just a difference, that can be dealt with, just like any other challenge in life.

If there's one gift you can give yourself this year, it's reading "The Motivation Breakthrough".

I encourage everyone to go to Rick's website and to check on his upcoming speaking dates. If he is in your area, don't miss an opportunity to see him present in person.

Next week, we'll have an interview with Nina Straightman, a reading and language specialist at the Centreville School, a school for children with language-based learning disabilities.

We are looking into doing a call-in show to answer your questions- please drop me an email if you are interested at ldpodcast@gmail.com. We also have a new voicemail numner (206) 203-4616- please call and leave your comments and questions and we'll answer them on the show!

Click here to download and listen to Conversation with Rick LaVoie Part II

Show # 67: Conversation with Rick LaVoie

2007-10-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

In this week's show, I sat down with Rick LaVoie, to discuss why LD kids need different approaches in education that "regular" kids, self-esteem, and motivation. Rick has over 30 years experience teaching and mentoring kids with learning disabilities, has been a guest lecturer at many universities; and has made national television appearances on the CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, ABC Evening News and Disney Channel Presents.

Rick serves as a consultant on Learning Disabilities to several agencies and organizations including Public Broadcasting Service, New York Times, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Child Magazine and WETA in Washington DC. He is a member of the Professional Advisor Board of the Learning Disabilities Association.

Rick has delivered his message to over 500,000 parents and professionals throughout North America. He has the distinction of having delivered Keynote Addresses for all three of the major special needs advocacy organizations in the United States (Learning Disabilities Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Children with Attention Deficit Disorder).

I saw Rick speak at the Centreville School several years ago, and his talk changed the way I parent my children. Many of the regular listeners to the podcast will often hear me quote Rick, including my favorite phrases I got from him "When Elephants Fight, It's the Grass that gets Trampled" and "You need not attend every battle to which you are invited."

Rick has done us all a favor by putting some of his jewels of wisdom into two great books: It's So Much Work Being Your Friend: helping the child with learning disabilities find social success, and most recently, The Motivation Breakthrough- 6 Secrets to Turn On The Tuned-out Child. These books should be on every parent's bookshelf, since we all have times when we need help to inspire our children to do just a little more and not give up on themselves.

Rick delivers great advice in a direct, easy to understand manner, complete with examples that we all can relate to. Rick's advice has made me a better and more compassionate parent, and I hope you enjoy hearing him as much as I enjoyed talking to him. I strongly recommend his new book to every parent and educator- it's simply amazing.

Some brief news- I have recently joined the Mommycast & Friends Podcast Channel. My good friends, Paige & Gretchen from Mommycast have put together a group of the best family-friendly podcasts on the web, so parents can find the best content and the best information to make our daily lives easier and a while lot more fun, too!

Other great shows on the channel include Just One More Book! by Mark Blevis and Andrea Ross, discussing some of the greatest children books out there; Boutique Cafe; Runaway Design, TechnoGeekery- a tech show for the rest of us, delievered in plain english, and of course, Mommycast and the Mommycast Music Show. I'm really excited to join such a great group of shows, and encourage you to check them out as well!

As always, I'd love to hear what you think about the show- please email me with any feedback at LDpodcast@gmail.com.

Click here to listen or download Conversation with Rick LaVoie, Part 1

LD Podcast #66 Child Find, National Reading and Math Report Card, and Should Kids Study More Science & Math?

2007-09-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

In today's show, I talk about the latest LD Newsm including:

*A recent court case reported by Peter Wright, Special Education lawyer and legal expert, and his great online resource, . This case, Jamie S. v. Milwaukee Public Schools (E.D. WI, Case # 01-C-928), dealt with whether or not the Miwaukee Schools were adequately finding children in need of special education help and intervention. In this class action case, many children who could have used evaluations and interventions were denied these, in favor of more expedient "punishments" such as suspending a child rather than trying to get to the bottom of any problem behaviors in school. The schools defended themselves as trying to avoid stigmatizing children with a special education label, but in fact, were not doing their duty to identify and provide services to these children in the educational setting under the requirements of the IDEA.

*The new "Nation's Report Card" on Reading and Math have come out, showing a slight improvement of 2 points in the average 4th grade reading and math levels; a closing of the racial gap by one point. This seems like pretty meager progress, and it still holds true that only 34% of all children are testing proficient or advanced on the reading test. This means the gains are pretty much limited to moving children from the below basic to basic only reading levels.

*Lastly, I talk about a survey that shows while businesses are desperate for more highly trained students in science and math, many parents seem to think the science and math curriculum is adequate. This either means parents are not getting the message of the continued importance in this global economy of making sure our children are well educated, or we are doing a poor job of communicating the importance of a science education beyond the lab.

The LD Podcast is joining a new podcasting network= more information coming soon!

In the near future, short "the Best of the LD Podcast" shows will be available on LD Online, one of the best and most comprehensive LD resources on the world wide web. More on this as it becomes available!

We are contemplating trying a call-in show- if you would be interested in trying this format, please drop me an email at ldpodcast@gmail.com.

Bumper music courtesy of Al Renkle's song, Lemonade, Podsafe Music Network

Click here to download Show #66: Child Find and more

LD Podcast#65: What are you waiting for? Tell them Now!

2007-09-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

We're back after our Podcamp Philly induced hiatus.

There's lots of exciting things in store for the LD Podcast in the upcoming weeks. Today's show features some of the latest news in the LD world, including a study that reports 8.7% of kids may have ADHD, but that many kids, especially those from lower socio-economic families may be under-diagnosed. We discuss a school for kids with LD in the Philly-area, and more evidence that shows appropriate reading instruction can actually reverse the neurological differences in the brains of kids with dyslexia, so that they read and process language closer to that of their non-dyslexic peers.

This summer, I heard a moving episode of This American Life, a great show produced by WBEZ , Chicago Public radiom and distributed by Public Radio International. The show is entitled Special Ed, and has three moving stories of people with developmental disabilities. The whole show is simply amazing, and each story spoke to me. I really wanted to share some of it with you, and wrote the producers to ask if that was at all possible.

Seth Lind, Production manager from This American Life, got back to me and TAL generously agreed to let me play up to 5 minutes of the show on air, with credit. I decided to use the introduction to the show, because it talks about how sometimes, kids seem to be the last to know that they are different, special, and not always in a good way. As Ira Glass talks to several kids, we see how hurt they are to find out they're different.

I see parents all the time who are embarrassed by their child's learning disabilities. They try to couch taking meds as merely taking vitamins, or otherwise disguise the disability. Merely covering up an LD doesn't make it go away, though. It's part of a child's neurology, their make-up, who they are. And we have to get comfortable with it, and let them be comfortable with it, in order to figure out ways to deal with it.

Just imagine if you tried to give someone chemotherapy without ever telling them they had cancer. If you don;t acknowledge the problem, big or small, you can't being to deal with it or solve it. And your child should not be the last one to know they have an issue.

If there's one message I can impart it's this: Learning disabilities are not fatal. They are as natural as having brown hair, or blue eyes. It's a part of who a person is, and it's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.

The song today is Lend me Your Love by Slackstring- It's available both through iTunes and the Podsafe Music network.

Click here to download Show #65, What Are You Waiting For? Tell Them Now!

(This American Life is also available as a podcast, and it's one of my favorites. I strongly recommend this episode as well as every show, and would encourage you also to support your local public radio station.)

The Most Imporant Interview Ever- James Hoffman

2007-08-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

Today's guest is my son, James. For over a year now, I have spoken about both of my children, James and John, and used them as examples. Examples about when certain things have worked, and when some things have not. I thought it was time to let you hear James talk about having a learnign disability, having ADHD, and what it's been like for him. I ask James what we do well as parents, and what we do wrong- what works for him, and what does not. I was impressed by how relaxed and honest he was in his answers, and I hope you will be, too.

James is going into 7th grade in the fall; he has a great perspective, and hopefully it will help other middle school aged kids with similar issues.

I'd love to hear your comments on this show in particular at ldpodcast@gmail.com.

Click here to download Show #64- A Middle School Perspective

Show #63- Avoiding Extremes

2007-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Show # 63- Avoiding Extremes- We're Back From vacation!

In today's show, I talk about how we need to keep centered, and avoid the extreme reactions to things. For example, we can choose to be an advocate, or we can choose to be adversarial with school staff; We can ask for help or we can demand services; we can work as a team or take defensive and polarizing positions.

In the end, parents need to work together with schools, teachers, doctors, therapists and more. We need to work through the bureaucracy, rather than just rail against it. We need to work as much within the system as possible, and try to get as many others on our child;s side as possible. By showing yourself as an engaged and concerned parent, you are more likely to get what you and your child need, than if you take an adversarial and combative approach to every interaction with professionals.

You want to be respected, and as such, you have to be the professional as well, even when it's frustrating and makes you angry. We all need to remember- When the elephants fight- it's the grass that gets trampled. In other words, when we fight with professionals, our child may really be the one hurt in the end by all this conflict.

Today's song is Black Coffee by Chaz and is available on the podsafe music network.

If anyone's interested, you can see some of the great shots we got on our whale watch by going to our main website, at www.ldpodcast.com and clicking on the link. That way, you won't get the whole movie downloaded to your computer by accident!.

Click here to listen to Show # 63, Avoiding Extremes

Show #62 Summer Updates with Melody

2007-07-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to sit down with Melody at her home, and talk about a variety of things including:

How to find great summer camps
Summer schedules
A Wonderful video- Different and Normal by Richard Colosi-
Changing labels over time along the spectrum
involving your child in their IEP's andtalking to them about their issues

We also feature a song "Odd Bird" by the Lacivious biddies from the Podsafe Music Network

Enjoy, and we'll be back full force after a week off for conference and vacation!

And.... we've been successful at Handwriting Without Tears for both kids, the last 6 out of 8 days at home!

Also side note- The Apple retail stores are doing a series of summer camps in July- my kids went today, and it was fantastic. Camps are free to attend, and kids got some neat stuff as well as an opportunity to learn something new in a short period of time- I highly recommend this to every parent!

Click here to listen to Show #62

This is the URL for Different & Normal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TkrrcLgrMs

First Anniversary Show

2007-07-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

Firstly, Thanks to every single listener, Past Present and Future!

I have worked on this anniversary show for two weeks, playing with ideas, and decided instead of going all out fancy, I would go simple. We'll do fancy soon. In this show, I speak from the heart, letting all of your know why I was moved to start the LD Podcast, and what I have gone through with my kids. I think forming a community that exchanges research-based, reliable information is the most important thing we can do here at the LD Podcast, as well as providing needed support. We need to take you to the best and most up-to-date information available, so you can help your child succeed. Development is linear, and you need to help a child as early as possible to maximize long term success.

Next week, we'll be back to our reguilar show format. This is just a heart felt thank you to each of you, so you get to know me a little better, what our biases might be, and why we decided to do this in the first place. The most important thing to me, in the end, is to build a community where Moms, Dads and teachers can come to learn about how learning works, what strategies can help all kids succeed, and why these tools are so vitally important for kids for whom school and learning isn't easy.

Thank you.

It's a little crazy with our summer schedule, family vacation plans, and two upcoming conferences- BlogPhiladelphia and PodCamp Philly. We're still shooting for weekly shows, but the release days may vary. Such is the life of a Mom! Thanks for your patience.

As always, you can reach me by email at ldpodcast@gmail.com, twitter- ldpodcast, and voicemail, 206-666-2343.

Click here to listen to the first anniversary show

Show #60- Jan Olsen, OTR- Handwriting Without Tears, Part II

2007-06-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

This week's show starts out with a few quick stories, including a wrap up of the amazing people I met at Podcasters Across Borders. Podcasts to check out:
Quirky Nomads- Sage Tyrtle
Just One More Book- Mark and Andrea
The Catfish Show- Cat & Bob

Thanks to Dave Reader of Parrish, NY for all his help in fixing my flat tires, and sharing his life with me on my way to PAB. Dave told me what it was like for him growing up with dyslexia, and how his experiences affected how he encouraged his children to stay in school. His daughter now teaches autistic children in Massachusetts.

I share comments from listener Susanna about the last show.

In the second half of my interview with Jan Olsen, Jan talks in detail about the handwriting without tears program, and how it can help kids learn to write - tear free. One great comment she made- "Honey, you're doing great- it's your letters that are in trouble!" As a result of my conversation with Jan, I have new workooks, and will start working with my guys again this summer, no more than five minutes, twice a day. I'll post their progress on the blog- this will help keep me honest and accountable, too.

Next show, we'll celebrate our 1 year anniversary!

Thanks again for listening, and as always, contact us by email at ldpodcast@gmail.com and by phone at (206) 666-2343.

Click here to listen to Jan Olsen, Handwriting w/o Tears part II

Show #59- Jan Olsen, OTR- Handwriting Without Tears

2007-06-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

Handwriting skills, or penmanship, is no longer taught in schools the same way it was when I was in elementary school in the 70's. Yet, we are putting more and more emphasis on writing skills in school. While it's natural to say "Well, it's all about computers- they need to learn how to type, not write by hand!" and typing skills are important, the ability to be able to express yourself in writing of any sort begins with the process of learning how to manipulate pencils and have letters, words and sentences flow between your brain and the physical act required to record those thoughts on paper (or this computer screen!)

Both of my children have struggled with their handwriting, and the lack of legibility and the lack of fluidity in their handwriting" has had a serious impact on their composition skills. When handwriting is a difficult, frustrating and unrewarding chore, kids start to do as little of it as possile, and become "minimalists" in terms of their composition- doing as little as possible to skate by. Yet the demands on them to write across the curriculum in school- even in math class, continues to increase every year in school. This is not something we can afford to ignore.

Jan Olsen is an occupational therapist who has taught children handwriting for many years. Jan's own son had problems with his handwriting, which led in part to her development of the Handwriting Without Tears Program. Most teachers don't learn about teaching handwriting, mechanics or even the proper posture required during their education, so it's hard to expect them to teach children the appropriate way to form their leters and numbers. Jan's program his being used by over 2 million students and has been adopted in over 16 states as the standard handwriting curriculum. It has an emphasis on fun and success, and it has helped my kids, although we will be spending the summer breaking some bad habits and adopting some better ones, in just 5 minutes, twice a day.
In our two part conversation, Jan and I talk about why handwriting is important, and why it isn't part of the normal curriculum. As you listen to the show, you'll see how important things like positive reinforcement are for kids- "You're fine, but your letters are in trouble" and how even parents can help their children succeed.

Part 2 discusses details of the Handwriting Without Tears Program in some more detail, and how the multisensory aspects of the program really help kids understand how the letters are formed and why, eventually building up to making writing an effortless, automatic task.

Handwriting without tears workbooks can be purchased from their website by clicking here.

As always, we'd love to hear your feedback! Our voicemail number is (206) 666-2343; our email is ldpodcast@gmail.com.

I'll be attending Podcasters Across Borders the weekend of June 22-24, and I'll be speaking at BlogPhiladelphia, July 12 & 13th. I am also one of thelead organizers of PodCamp Philadelphia. If you are interested in knowing more about any of these events, drop me a line, and I'll send you everything you need to know!

Click here to listen to Show #59- Jan Olsen- Handwriting Without Tears!

Show 58- Resiliency, Parent Reviews and Changing those Negative Scripts

2007-06-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

The pictures above are of my kids, taken within 10 minutes of one another. They show how someone can start a day with a negative attitude and bad scriot, but with a little help, you can change the script into something more positive.

In this second part of my conversation with Dr. Robert Brooks, we talk about the negative scripts, or ruts, we can get ourselves into. But the surest way to make real change is to re-write your script and story. Make changes with how you react to your children, with how you approach problems, and you can dramatically change the outcome of those constant thorns- messy rooms, chore and homework problems, etc. you have to look at each issue as a problem you can solve with your child, often by enlistng their help and suggestions.

We also talk about asking your child for how they view you as a parent, and how this insight- the way you want them to see you, versus what they actually would say if asked to describe you- can work to bring your family together.

As the first anniversary of the podcast approaches, I'm looking for more listener comments on the voicemail line (206) 666-2343 and emails to read- let's make this first anniversary show about you! Send your emails to ldpodcast@gmail.com.

I will be at Podcasters Across Borders in June, I'm speaking at BlogPhiladelphia in July, and I am a lead organizer of PodCamp Philly Sept. 7, 8, and 9th. If you are attending any of these events (BlogPhiladelphia and PodCamp Philly are free unconferences- sign up today!) please come find me- I'd love to meet you! If by any chance, you are interested or know someone who might be interested in helping to sponsor PodCamp Philly, let me know!

The draft chapter of my book project, all about the brain,is available in PDF format on the site. If you have read it, let me know your comments, and if it's helpful, I'll post more chapters for you!

Click here to listen to show#58- Dr. Bob Brooks

Show #57: Dr. Robert Brooks- Raising Resilient Children

2007-06-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better way to help celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the LD Podcast, than my conversation with Dr. Robert Brooks. I met Dr. Brooks almost two years ago now, when he gave a lecture at the Centreville School. He was kind enough to read a book proposal I gave him, and indirectly, our conversations and his encouragement gave me the confidence to start the podcast. So a personal thank you to Dr. Brooks for helping me find my own voice.

Dr. Robert Brooks has lectured nationally and internationally to audiences of parents, educators, mental health professionals, and business people on topics pertaining to motivation, resilience, self-esteem, family relationships, the qualities of effective leaders and executives, and balancing our personal and professional lives.

He has also written extensively about these topics. He is the author of a book titled The Self-Esteem Teacher and co-author with Dr. Sam Goldstein of the following books: Raising Resilient Children; Nurturing Resilience in Our Children: Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions; Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less (with Kristy Hagar); Angry Children, Worried Parents: Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger (with Sharon Weiss); Seven Steps to Improve Your Child's Social Skills (with Kristy Hagar); Understanding and Managing Children’s Classroom Behavior: Creating Sustainable, Resilient Classrooms, and The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life (the latter focuses on resilience in adults). In addition, Dr. Brooks is co-author of a book with Drs. Mel Levine and Jack Shonkoff titled A Pediatric Approach to Learning Disorders and has written a sex education book for the young child called So That's How I Was Born! Drs. Brooks and Goldstein co-edited a textbook titled Handbook of Resilience in Children; they also prepared a parenting video and curriculum about resilience and have produced a documentary "Tough Times, Resilient Kids" that was a finalist in the 23rd Telly Awards.

Dr. Brooks received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University and did additional training at the University of Colorado Medical School. He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has served as Director of the Department of Psychology at McLean Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital. His first position at McLean Hospital was as principal of the school in the locked door unit of the child and adolescent program. He has a part-time private practice in which he sees children, adolescents, adults, and families and has appeared regularly on television shows in the Boston area as well as on national cable television.

Dr. Brooks and Dr. Goldstein also have a new book coming out at the end of the summer, entitled The Self-Disciplined Child- something I know we all want for our kids and for ourselves.

In this first part of our two part conversation, we talk about what it takes to be a succcessful adult. Many kids with LD have a hard road to travel down, but their approach and attitude towards these difficulties can make all the difference in the world. We talk about LD being not an excuse, but an inderstanding of where a child is coming from; holding kids accountable for their actions, finding those Islands of Competence, and taking a strength-based approach to your child.

In part II, we'll talk more about changing negative scripts, strategies to get desired results, Listening to your children to understand what's really going on, and knowing how your children would describe you versus how you want them to describe you.

Dr. Brooks has an excellent website where you can find out more about his writings, subscribe to monthly articles, read past articles, and even find out if he is speaking in your area. You can purchase his books through this link to our LD Podcast Amazon Bookstore, where you'll find links to books we've discussed.

We'd like to put together a show all about you, the listeners, so please call into the voicemail line at (206) 666-2343, or send your emails to ldpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Click Here to listen/download Dr. Robert Brooks- Raising Resilient Children Part I

Show #56- Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson

2007-06-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is the last of our three part conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson about their new book, On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD, published by New Market Press. We talk about how we need to help kids develop self-advocacy skills, in order to help them succeed in the workplace. We also talk about life coaches, accommodations and estate planning. Many thanks again to Anne & John for their time and their truly wonderful book!

Congratulations to our book winners so far - Kim, Tracey, Sue, Terry, Shelly and Patty!

Thanks to Joey and Patty for their audio comments- I will include them in an upcoming show. Please keep those comments and emails coming- I'd like to have enough to do an audience -participation show, answering questions, playing comments, and making you part of our growing community.

Please send an email to ldpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (206) 666-2343 !
I'd also love it if any listener would take a moment and leave a review of the show on itunes- it will help the show break into the top 100 featured shows- even if you don't listen through itunes!

Subscriptions: There is no charge for subscribing to the show through any "podcatcher" or through itunes- subscription just means the latest show will be automatically delievered to your computer once it is posted.

New Free Reading Material!

I've also recently added a chapter from my book-in-progress, in PDF format, if you are interested. You'll have to go to the main website at www.ldpodcast.com to get it, though. It's about the basics of brain and cognitive development in kids, presented in a "Bill Nye The Science Guy" way for parents. For me at least, it always has been helpful to know what part of a child's issues might be developmental (They'll get better over time as they get older) and which parts are hard-wired (this is something in their basic makeup and unlikely to change much). I am eager to hear what you think- if you do read it, please send you feedback to me at ldpodcast@gmail.com. Any and all feedback, positive, negative, indifferent- is all valuable and helpful, so please be honest!

Upcoming shows:

Dr. Robert Brooks- All about Raising Resilient Children and Raising a Self-Disciplined Child
Jan Olsen- Handwriting Without Tears- a great handwriting program used in many schools that you can use easily at home!

Click here to download or listen to Anne Ford & John Richard Thompson- Jobs, Self-Advocacy, Life Coaches & Estate Planning

Show # 55 Conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson Part II- Helicopter Parenting, Families and Siblings

2007-05-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

In this show, I continue my conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson. Their new book, On Their Own: Creating an Independent Futrue for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD has just been published by New Market Press. We talk about how hard it is to let your child succeed or fail on their own accord, and how our involvement with our children with disabilities effects other members of the family as well.

Congratualtions to our winners so far - Kim Mansk, Tracey Bowes, Sue Penicka and Shelly Head! Your books on on their way!

We still have a few books to give away- Please send an email to ldpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (206) 666-2343 to win!

I have also recently added a chapter from my book-in-progress, in PDF format, if you are interested. If you click on this link, or the home page link to your left, you'll see it listed as How Learning Works- It's about the basics of brain and cognitive development in kids, presented in a "Bill Nye The Science Guy" way for parents. For me at least, it always has been helpful to know what part of a child's issues might be developmental (They'll get better over time as they get older) and which parts are hard-wired (this is something in their basic makeup and unlikely to change much). I am eager to hear what you think- if you do read it, please send you feedback to me at ldpodcast@gmail.com. Any and all feedback, positive, negative, indifferent- it's all very helpful to me- think of yourselves as editors!

Click here to download Show #55: Conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson Part II: Helicopter Parenting and Siblings

Show #54- Anne Ford and John Thompson- On Their Own

2007-05-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson have collaborated on a second book, On Their Own- Creating an Independent Future for your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. Anne has a daughter with severe learning disabilities, has been a leading LD activist and is the former Chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. John, her co-author, has helped Anne in lobbying Congress, and has spoken to parents across the Country about their children with LD.

I spoke with Anne and John about this terrific book. I was riveted by the book, because it addresses the problems that occur as kids with LD and ADHD have not only now, but as they get older, and how to gradually prepare them, so you can gradually let go and let them live their own lives. (Not always an easy job for parents.) It covers issues ranging from how siblings react to having a brother or sister with LD, to dating, transitioning from high school to college to the job force, as well as estate planning for you to help provide any support that might be necessary for your child with disabilities. The bottom line is that if we don’t prepare our kids to be self-sufficient when they’re young (whther they have LD or not) how can we reasonably expect them to care for themselves when they go to college or leave the nest? Is it any wonder so many kids come home and don’t want to leave??

Anne, John and I spoke for over an hour; I have split the interview into three parts, released over the next few days in sequence. Part I talks about Anne’s experience with her daughter, Allegra and why she and John wrote On Their Own.

Part II addresses dealing with problems ranging from what to call “it” to having both parents on the same page, to how siblings react; part III addresses the job and employment issues that may look like disorganized lockers or desks for school age children, but remain part of an LD person’s profile. There is no statute of limitation on LD.

I have five copies of this wonderful book to give out- the first five listeners who send emails to ldpodcast@gmail.com, or voicemail (206) 666-2343 or comments here on the blog/website will win. I’ll notify you and then I’ll send the books out to you.

I know you’ll enjoy both the interview and this terrific book from people who have been there themselves- and remember, kids need to be able to be On Their Own.

Click here to listen to Show #54- Anne Ford and John Thompson- On Their Own

The Latest News about LD

2007-05-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

This week's episode borrows from an idea from my friend, Dennis Gray over at 101 Uses for Baby Wipes podcast-a show featuring the latest news from around the world about Learning and Learning Disabilities. Please let me know how you like this show, and I may turn it into a monthly feature. As a reminder, the email address for the show is ldpodcast@gmail.com and our voicemail line, open 24 x 7 is (206) 666-2343.

Today's show also features the song "Neighbor" by the Lacivious Biddies, available on the Podsafe Music Network.

Many thanks for your recent feedback- books have been sent out to numerous winners, so keep those emails and reviews on itunes coming!

Click Here to Download Show#53 LD News You Can Use

Peter Wright, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law and You

2007-04-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

Show #52 Conversation with Peter Wright, Part II

Peter Wright is a well-known attorney, specializing in special education law. He argued an important special education case, Florence County School District v. Carter, before the Supreme Court. This is particularly impressive, since Pete himself has learning disabilities, and talks openly about his struggles in school as a child.

Pete has also written many books, including From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Law, and No Child Left Behind.

In part II of our conversation, Pete and I talk about why we aren't always using the best reading programs for kids with learning issues in public schools; why parents are so important in making sure kids get what they need, and why inclusion/segregation is more about the most appropriate learning environment for an individual rather than a system-wide one size fits all goal.

We have a song by Uncle Seth- Both Sides Now, followed at the end by a few minutes of "bonus" audio about parents and understanding the law.

I want to thank Cathlin, Tyson, and Michelle for their emails, questions and feedback, and encourage you to do the same!

Please email us with your feedback about shorter vs. longer shows, and any comments- ldpodcast@gmail.com, or call our voicemail line, (206) 666-2343. I'd love it if you'd consider leaving a review in iTunes for us as well.

Click here to download Show # 52: Peter Wright, Wrightslaw - Special Education Law and You

Show # 51: Peter Wright of Wrightslaw

2007-04-18T17:59:00.001-07:00

Peter Wright is a well-known attorney, specializing in special education law. He argued an important special education case, Florence County School District v. Carter, before the Supreme Court. This is particularly impressive, since Pete himself has learning disabilities, and talks openly about his struggles in school as a child.
Pete has also written many books, including From Emotions to Advocacy, Special Education Law, and No Child Left Behind. The books empower parents to understand what the laws governing special education say and allow, helping parents to become more effective advicates for their children in the process.

In part I of our conversation, Pete discusses the difference between an IEP and 504 accommodations, and why you might want one over the other, and while children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education, this does not mean they are entitled to the "Best" education, only an adequate one.

One specific section of the law we talk about is 20 USC Sec. 1414- Evaluations, Eligibility Determinations, Individualized Educations Programs, and Educational Placements. In this section, either a parent or a State educational agency can request an evaluation, but the "clock" only starts ticking when the parent consents to the evaluation. The State then has 60 calendar days, under the federal statute, to complete the evaluation. If parents request testing but don't specifically consent. using this language at the same time, the State can legally drag their feet until they receive a "consent"- then they are on the 60 day clock.

This is but one of the examples of "magic language" parents need to know to protect their child's rights, and I know you'll find Pete's information useful and enlightening.

Please email us with your feedback about shorter vs. longer shows, and any comments- ldpodcast@gmail.com, or call our voicemail line, (206) 666-2343.

Click here to Download Conversation with Peter Wright- Wrightlaw - Special Education Law Attorney and Expert

Show # 51: Peter Wright of Wrightslaw

2007-04-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Show #50: Conversation with Paige Heninger of Mommycast - Moms & Kids with ADHD

2007-04-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Paige is one of the two fantastic moms who started the first podcast I ever listened to, Mommycast. Paige and Gretchen also inspired me to start the LD Podcast, and I consider them some of my oldest and closest online friends.

Paige is the mother of five children, two of whom have been diagnosed with ADHD, and Paige has ADHD as well. In part I, Paige and I talk about what it was like to try to figure out why her oldest son was struggling in school, trying to communicate with teachers, and finally find outpart of the problem was due to ADHD.

In part II, Paige and I talk more about how finding out about her son's ADHD transformed his experience in school, and took him from a smart but struggling kid into a real academic superstar; what it was like when she found out she had ADHD; and what her current child is going through as he gets tested at age 7 1/2 to see whether he, too, is ADHD like his mom and siblings.

I know you'll find this helpful whether your child has ADHD or any other LD or school struggle. The story is a very familiar one to most parents whose kids seem smart and bright, but for some reason, seem to really be underperforming in school. Parents always hear comments like "We know he can do it, if he'd only concentrate and apply himself"- sometimes the problem is not a moral problem, but an underlying neurological one, like ADHD.

Next week, I have an interview with Peter Wright of Wrightslaw.com. Pete is an attorney who specializes in special education law and has travelled the country, speaking to parents and educators about how the special education laws and No Child Left behind affect kids with disabilities. Pete also argued a landmark case, Florence County School District v. Carter, before the Supreme Court. Pete also has learning disabilities and struggled in school, so he knows about the importance of these issues on a personal basis as well as a professional one.

As always, please email us with comments and questions at ldpodcast@gmail.com, or call our comment line, 206-666-2343.

CONTEST!!!!

Since we receieved no answer from the announced contest winners, the first three emails with comments I receive after posting this show will receive a copy of Dr . Mel Levine's A Mind at a Time, and first three voice comments I recieve will get additional educational book prizes, either The Myth of Laziness by Dr. Mel Levine, It's So Much Work to be Your Friend, by Rick LaVoie, or The Irreducible Needs of Children by T. Berry Brazelton. If you leave a voice comment, please include your contact information so I can let you know if you're a winner!

Please also consider leaving a review of the Podcast in iTunes- each review helps us become a featured podcast.

Click here to Download Show #50: Moms & Kids with ADHD- Conversation with Paige Heninger from Mommycast

Moms & Kids with ADHD

2007-04-01T04:41:00.000-07:00

Show #49- Conversation with Paige Heninger from Mommycast!

Mommycast was one of the first podcasts I ever listend to, and Paige and Gretchen inspired me to try podcasting on my own- what turned into the LD Podcast! Paige's discussions about ADHD on Mommycast made me think that there should be a whole podcast dedicated to discussing how various LD's affect kids, parents and families. Providing pointers to reliable information is also critical. Hence, the LD Podcast was born.

Since Paige and I not only have kids with ADHD, but have it ourselves, we have a tendancy to talk for ages when we get a chance to catch up, and I think this show is a good example!

I have split this conversation into parts as well, to prevent the show from going too long, and to accommodate both Spring Break & PodCamp NYC commitments. In this first part, Piage and I talk about her son, Sam, was strugling in school despite being very bright, and how they decided to get him evaluated, and what that entailed. We talk about frustrations that occassionally arise in dealing with teachers, and how ultimately, it's our responsibility to look out for our child's best interest.

As always, email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com
voicemail (206) 666-2343

And remember- You can see me at PodCamp NYC, at the New Yorker Hotel, April 6 & 7th!
(the excellent promo by Chris Penn appears at the end of the show!)

Click here to Download Show#49- Conversation with Paige From Mommycast pt. 1

Show #48 Conversation with Sally Smith Part II

2007-03-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

This week's show is a continuation of my conversation with Sally Smith, Founder and Director of the Lab School. We talk about teaching children with learning disabilities, early identification, and how important it is to have parental support. Sally even answers Kristen's question about Orton Gillingham vs. Linda Mood Bell reading, and why she favors training teachers in both methods, so they can use whatever method works best for the child, rather than assuming one method will teach all.

At the end of the interview, Sally asked me about podcasting, and I decided to leave this part of our conversation in, largely because Sally then spoke about her motivation to write No Easy Answers, her wonderful book about parenting children with learning disabilities. This is one of the best books for parents, as it covers everything from understanding how your child learns, to the very real and emotional rollercoaster parents go through while trying to help thier children.

I'd love to hear your feedback on shows!

I'll be at Podcamp NYC on April 7th- if you're there, please come say hi! Please note that the venue for Podcamp NYC has changed, and will now be held at the New Yorker Hotel - please consult the Podcamp NYC blog and wiki for the most up to date information.

Because of travel, spring break, and the like, shows may be bi-weekly for the next few weeks. As a parent, it's hard sometimes juggling work, family and podcasting. Thank you for your patience! We should be back on track soon.

Click here to listen to Conversation with Sally Smith Part II

Show #47 Conversation with Sally Smith, Founder of the Lab School

2007-03-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sally Smith started the Lab School in Washington, DC, in 1967, based on her need to find a school for her own son who had severe learning disabilities. Like most moms on a mission, she gathered her friends and turned an old house into a school. Now, 40 years later, the Lab School serves children from age 5 1/2 to age 19, provides support of college students and adults with learning disabilities, and provides in depth multidisciplinary testing. There are now Lab Schools in Baltimore, MD and Manayunk, PA. Sallycontinues in her role as Director of the Lab School, as well as servign as Head of the Graduate Program in Special Education:Learning Disabilities at American University. She has written a wonderful book, which continues to be updated, entitled "No Easy Answers: The Learning Disabled Child at Home and At School".

My conversation with Sally took place at the Lab School in Washington. When you enter the grounds of the Lab School, you are immediately struck by the art work and creativity that permeates the whole school. Sally's office is filled with art, pictures, mementos from travels around the world, and a sense of warmth and home. I've split the conversation into two parts. In Part I, we discuss how Sally founded the Lab School as a way to help her own child, and how it's grown exponentially over the years. We discuss the state of LD education now, and what has changed over the years. In Part II, we discuss early intervention, the deficits many kids with LD share, and how we can help them succeed. We also discuss the importance of parental support, reading methods, including Orton Gillingham and Linda Mood Bell, and why it may be best to have all tools at your disposal rather than just one.

Click Here to Listen to Show #47-Conversation with Sally L. Smith, Part I

Show #46: Quirky Kids: Conversation with Dr. Perri Klass, Part 2

2007-03-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dr. Perri Klass teaches both Pediatrics and Journalism at New York University. She is the author, along with Dr. Eileen Costello of Quirky Kids: Understanding Your Child That Doesn't Fit In.

I spoke with Dr. Klass about a wide range of subjects, from what makes a quirky kid different from others. In this second part of our interview, we talk more about the family effects of Quirky Kids, Medication for Quirky kids, Competitive parenting, and Dr. Klass's program, Reach out and Read, that provides books to children at well child visits to the pediatrician.

Listener emails and voicemails are rolling in! Thanks to Hilary, Kristine, and Carolyn for their emails! I'll announce the Winners of our Book Contest after March 15!

Song: My World- Trout Fishing In America

Links: Hoagie's Gifted

Podcast 411 Interview of Whitney from the LD Podcast

Show #45 Quirky Kids: Conversation with Dr. Perri Klass, Part 1

2007-03-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

Dr. Perri Klass teaches both Pediatrics and Journalism at New York University. She is the author, along with Dr. Eileen Costello of Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In- When to Worry and When Not To Worry.

I spoke with Dr. Klass about a wide range of subjects, from what makes a quirky kid different from others, to how the labels work; why things are so different now than a few years ago, and why there seems to be a epidemic of kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. In our next show, we'll talk more with Dr. Klass about the family effects of Quirky Kids, including how they effect siblings and family relationships. We also discuss Dr. Klass's program, Reach Out and Read, that provides books to children at well child visits to the pediatrician.

For anyone struggling with a child who just seems different from the rest, this is the show for you.

Click here to download Show #45: Conversation with Dr. Perri Klass

For those interested in Dr. Klass's knitting, and writing about knitting, click here.

Conversation with Alfie Kohn

2007-02-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Alfie Kohn is a well-known author and speaker, who speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The latest of his eleven books are THE HOMEWORK MYTH: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing (2006) and UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason (2005). Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards" (1999). My personal favorite is What Does It Mean To Be Well-Educated?

Kohn has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores." His criticisms of competition and rewards have helped to shape the thinking of educators -- as well as parents and managers -- across the country and abroad. Kohn has been featured on hundreds of TV and radio programs, including the "Today" show and two appearances on "Oprah"; he has been profiled in the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, while his work has been described and debated in many other leading publications.

In my conversation with Alfie, we discuss positive reinforcement, and standardized testing. What do you think? Should we opt our kids out of the standardized testing? How do we change a system while being ingrained in it? How do we balance "going with the flow" and putting our foot down and deciding to say no? I'm not sure I know what the right answer is, but I do know that Alfie starts the conversations we all need to having at home, and with schools across the Country.

Click here to Download Show #44- Conversation with Alfie Kohn

Show # 43 Moms Talk about Meds Part II

2007-02-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

In today's show, Joan LaStrange and I continue our discussion about scheduling kids in the summer, medication breaks, and medication side effects, as well as parental gems on sleeping and eating issues.

I also feature listener email, our Contest for copies of Dr. Mel Levine's great book, A Mind at a Time, and some information about PodCamp. In order to win a copy, send an email, leave a blog comment, or preferably, send a voicemail (206) 666-2343 to the show. I want to hear your comments and suggestions, and I'd love to have listeners do an intro such as "Hi, I'm XYZ, and you're listening to the LD Podcast!" and play it at the start of each show.

Thanks to Roland and K for their emails and comments this week!

I will be attending PodCamp Toronto on February 24 and 25th, and PodCamp NYC on April 6th and 7th. Both PodCamps are free to attend, but do require you to register in advance. If you are in the area and come to PodCamp, please find me! I'd love to meet you!

Featured Links:
The Twice Exceptional Newsletter

Central Auditory Processing Disorder Information:

About our kids website:
www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/capd.html#whatis

Psychology Today
www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/comdisorder.html

ERIC digest
http://ericec.org/digests/e634.html

And here are a couple more sites to check out:

http://www.iser.com/caparticle.html

This one is a parent resource, with lots of other links:

http://pages.cthome.net/cbristol/capd-idx.html

And LD Online has a great article too- www.ldonline.com and search for CAPD

Joan LaStrange Part II

Dr. Thomas E. Brown- Author of Attention Deficit Disorder-

2007-02-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Dr. Thomas E. Brown is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, and recently published a terrific book, Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults. Dr. Brown’s book breaks ADD down into its different aspects, making it easier to understand why a hyperactive kid and a coach potato can both have ADHD. His book also explains which parts of our ADHD brain’s management team may not be fully engaged in their job. Unlike many other books on ADHD, Dr. Brown describes the underlying neurological basis for ADHD in a way that’s easy to grasp, along with great descriptions of the different aspects of ADD, including the types of problems it causes people in day to day functioning. It’s one of the best books that gets into the heart of the “Why” about ADHD, and I think it’s a must read for parents of an ADHD child.

I really enjoyed talking with Dr. Brown, and despite feeling pretty confident in my knowledge about ADHD, I learned quite a few things from our conversation. I’m pretty confident you will, too.

I have included links to Dr. Brown’s website and to his book on Amazon.com, for your convenience.

I love listener feedback! Please call us at (206) 666-2343; send us an email at ldpodcast@gmail.com, or leave a comment on our WordPress blog. I also make regular contributions to the Grasshopper New Media Parents Blog- one of the best parenting blogs around. Come check it out!

Click Here to Download Show # 42-Conversation with Dr. Thomas E. Brown

Show #41 Joan LaStrange - Moms Discussing Medication

2007-01-31T03:52:00.000-08:00

A while ago, my friend Joan LaStrange and I sat down to talk about our boys, ADHD, and medication. This is a great conversation for any parent who is considering meds for their child- the ins and outs of the day to day, as experienced by two moms of kids with ADHD. We talk about our doctor's recommendation, whether to try drug holidays, and how meds are not a cure but a tool for treating ADHD.

Joan has been on the Board for our local CHADD chapter for the past three years, and is one of the moms I can always count on for great advice and a big shoulder when I am having crazy moments with my kids. This will be a little like listening to your friends chatting rather than expert advice, but it is the "consumer reports" or field guide to meds and kids with ADHD, from our experience.

The conversations with Joan will appear in three parts, to keep the show length at 30 - 40 minutes.

Buyer Beware- How to Find the Best Information, and Avoid Being Taken to the Cleaners

2007-01-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

Caveat Emptor is the famous legal phrase that translates into "Buyer Beware." And in the land of learning disabilities, we need to be smart and saavy consumers, and be able to spot the deals that are simply too good to be true.

This podcast is a departure from our recent string of interviews and information. I was looking around the web to bring you any of the latest news about ADHD, and I found a press release from someone who proposes to cure ADHD is three to 5 sessions, asserting that this is a "fake" disease.

This hit a nerve with me. Parents of kids with LD have a hard enough time trying to find out the root cause for their child's struggle, without having to deal with a bunch of self-proclaimed experts telling them the problem is all in their head. It's a challenge to sort out credible information from that designed solely to sell you a magic or miracle cure, at god knows how much money. But the truth is, as parents of kids who struggle, we would gladly pay whatever was necessary to cure our kids. But our kids don't attend Hogwarts, and Dumbledore is not stepping out of the shadows to cure all our problems with a wave of the wand. The problems are real, and require real solutions.

So in this show, I list the things to look for when trying to figure out whether information you read online or see on TV is credible. The list of things to look for has been complied by the Government Information Office (those nice people in Pueblo, Co.) and Schwab Learning. You need to be careful and check the education of the individuals spouting information, their training, their basis, their profession, the source for their expertise, and the like. For example, one popular book is called "Without Ritalin" promising an easy way, without meds to conquer ADD. But the book is written by an optometrist. Not even an opthalmologist, who has been to medical school, but an optometrist, who practices behavioral optometry, a proposed treatment for learning disabilities that has never been shown in any clinical study to have any lasting result.

Should you believe this man, who is telling us maybe what we want to hear, or someone like Dr. Mel Levine, instead. In contrast, Dr. Levine went to Brown University as an undergrad, was a Rhodes Scholar, attended Harvard Medical school, was chief of his division at Children's Hospital in Boston, an affiliate of Harvard , and currently pactices out of UNC Chapel Hill. He has written the definitive textbook on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. To me, based on credentials alone, there is no contest. I'll take a smart guy trained at the best schools in the country, if not the world, who has been practicing developmental pediatrics for years over an optometrist, on the subject of ADHD, thank you very much.

(and if I could use non-podsafe music, the song I would have played is "We Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who. Instead, I play Ritalin by the Codaphonics, available on the Podsafe Music Network.)

Click here to Download Show #40- Caveat Emptor

Dale Brown, Part II

2007-01-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

In the second part of my conversation with Dale Brown from LD Online, we talk about using professional coaches for ADHD and other learning disabilities, when positive reinforcement works best, and the latest goings on at LD Online.
Dale knows from personal experience what it was like growing up with learning disabilities, and how hard it is to get the help you need. As parents, we need to know how to help our kids learn these self-advocacy skills, because they need to take charge of their learning issues. And there's no one better to learn from than Dale, who has not only advocated for herself, but has been instrumental in helping others learn to advocate for themselves in the workplace.

Click here to listen to Show #39: Conversation with Dale Brown, Part II

LD Online's Dale S. Brown

2007-01-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

LD Online is one of the best reference sites for learning disabilities on the internet- and one that has been around the longest. Dale Brown is Senior Manager of LD Online, as well as an author of 5 books on learning disabilties and one of the initial organizers of the self-help movement for the disability community . She worked in public service for over 25 years, including positions at the US Department of Labor, where she helped ensure the Jobs Corps program was accessible to students with disabilities. She is the "go to" expert for information on employment and accomodations for people with learning disabilities.

In this 2 part conversation, Dale and I talk about what it was like for her growing up with Learning Disabilities, before the IDEA and laws that require schools to make accommodations for students with different educational needs. We talk about the importance of teaching children self-advocacy, positive reinforcement, and being realistic with them about their capabilities. In part II, we discuss Coaching, allowing kids to make mistakes and accept challenges, and identifying their strengths. We also discuss LD Online, the resources available, and what's coming in the near future. I know you'll get alot out of these conversations.

While Dale's learning disabilities include ADD, I've placed these interviews in our ADHD month series, to help parents realize how many successful people have learning disabilities, and what we can do to try to make sure our kids are part of this success story.

Listen for the announcement of the upcoming contest where we give away copies of Dr. Mel Levine's wonderful book, A Mind at a Time!

Please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com; voicemail (206)666-2343

Click here to download a Conversation with Dale Brown, Part I

Conversation with Dr. Kathleen Nadeau

2007-01-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Show #37, ADHD Month Show #1: Conversation with Dr. Kathleen Nadeau

Dr. Kathleen Nadeau is one of my heroes. The opportunity to speak withe her for the LD Podcast was one of the highlights of 2006 for me. For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Nadeau, she is a clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Florida, and has specialized in the issues of attention and learning disorders for more than 20 years. She currently serves as Director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center of Maryland in Silver Spring. She lectures and gives workshops both nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including: Giftedness and ADD (ADHD), Workplace Issues for Adults with ADD (ADHD), Women and Girls with ADD (ADHD), College Students with ADD (ADHD), and Life Management Issues for Individuals with ADD (ADHD).

Dr. Nadeau is the author of more than ten books on ADHD. Her best-selling children's book Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention, is now in its third edition. Her two books for teens, School Strategies for ADD Teens and Help4ADD@HighSchool are both top-selling books for adolescents with ADD (ADHD). She is also the author of A College Survival Guide for Students with ADD or LD.

Dr. Nadeau turned her attention to adult ADD (ADHD) in the early 1990's and is the editor of the first book for professionals on adult ADD, A Comprehensive Guide to ADD in Adults: Research, Diagnosis and Treatment. She followed this book for professionals with several books directed at helping adults with ADD better manage their lives. These include the best-selling book ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life, Adventures in Fast Forward - Life, Love & Work for Adults with ADD, and ADD in the Workplace.

For the last decade, Dr. Nadeau has devoted her attention professionally to the issues confronting girls and women with ADD (ADHD). Her groundbreaking 1999 book, Understanding Girls with ADHD, co-authored with Drs. Quinn and Littman continues to be the only book that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of girls. She was co-editor of ADDvance: A Magazine for Women with ADD and is co-founder of the non-profit organization, The National Center for Gender Issues and AD/HD. In 2002, Dr. Nadeau co-edited with her partner, Dr. Quinn, two volumes on these important topics, Understanding Women with ADHD and the only text on ADHD in women for clinicians, Gender Issues and ADHD: Research, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

In our conversation, we discuss how ADHD tends to look different in girls than in boys; when you should treat ADHD; why many parents are reluctant to consider medication as part of an ADHD treatment plan; and how some basic organization and problem-solving strategies can make your home less stressful.

Click here to download Show # 37- Conversation with Dr. Kathleen Nadeau

Show 36: Year End Wrap Up and Intro to ADHD Month

2006-12-31T12:36:00.000-08:00

This week's show is split into two parts- the first gives new listeners some background into what the LD Podcast is, and why it's important. We then play "My World", by Trout Fishing in America, a great song that gives you a glimpse at the inner world of kids, especially the distractaable type. A perfect introduction to ADHD month on the LD Podcast! (THANK YOU very much to Ezra and Keith for giving me permission to play their song, My World on the LD Podcast. Their music is fun for adults and kids- we go to their summer concert at Longwood Gardens almost every year!)

On one of the earliest shows, when I still had a tendancy to sound like I was reading off cue cards, I did a brief history of ADHD. Today's Introduction to ADHD month is not only the history of ADHD, but the most recent statistics about ADHD from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The CDC did a study, published in 2005, based on 2003 figures about the prevalence of ADHD in all 50 states and how many children are currently being treated with medication for ADHD. (Over 4.4 million children were diagnosed with ADHD, and 56% of those children were receiving treatment that included medication.) With all the information and misinforation about ADHD available on the web and in the news, parents really need to know the real story of ADHD and how it affects kids.

Blog link: LD Podcast at Grasshopper New Media
Email: ldpodcast@gmail.com
Voicemail: (206) 666-2343

Click Here to Download Show #36- Year end Wrap up and ADHD Month Introduction

Holiday Hints from Those Who Know!

2006-12-19T03:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

Almost every holiday brings gatherings of friends and relatives. This can be the source of alot of joy, or alot of stress. For example, I take the little comments, even those that are meant in the most innocuous way possible, much more seriously and to heart when they are from family. I am much more senstive to critique in this environment, and holidays can feel like getting an annual parenting review, where your children's progress is judged and grades are handed out by others.

So in that vein, Melody and I sat down and talked about how to make the holidays less stressful. Whether its making reasonable expectations for events, and not expecting your family to turn into the Waltons or The Brady Bunch over night, or simply finding ways so parents and kids have safety valves to make sure no melt downs occur, these small tips can help your holidays be a little more peaceful and enjoyable, rather than feeling like you are a "few clowns short of a circus."

Enjoy, and we will be back in ten days with the next LD Podcast!

I'd love to include your holiday stories in another episode of the LD Podcast! Send your comments in through our voicemail line- (206) 666-2343! Or email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com!

Click here to download Show 35- Holidays Tips from Melody!

Show #34: Smart Kids witth School Problems

2006-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

Rich Weinfeld is a many with many talents. Besides being the father of two boys, he is an author of two great books, Smart Kids with Learning Difficulties: Overcoming Obstacles and Realizing Potential, and Helping Boys Succeed in School. Rich has been a special educator, he lectures at Johns Hopkins University, and has a private practice education consulting group, The Weinfeld Education Group. Rich was kind enough to talk with me a few weeks ago about how we identify kids with learning disabilities, how to talk with teachers and administrators to make sure your child is getting what they need while forging constructive relationships, and when you might want to consider an educational advocate. Most kids have gotten one set of grades by this point in the school year, and if your child is struggling, there may be cause to investigate further. This great information may help you start those tough conversations, and help you help your child at the start of a new year, if not get the ball rolling before the Holiday break!

Happy Holidays to all! Please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com or contact us via our voicemail number, (206) 666-2343

Also check out our other blog through Grasshopper New Media Parents- GNM Parents

Click here to download Show #34- Rich Weinfeld

Audio Christmas card!

2006-12-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

A Podsafe Christmas

As a change up, I have put together a collection of my favorite podsafe holiday music for you. We'll be back with new content later in the week, but consider this a small present to all listeners, podcasters, and the wonderful, terrific people I have met and worked with this past year. The list is long, and I forgot to mention a few of these people on the podcast, but here is a longer, but probably not complete, list:

Paige & Gretchen From Mommycast

Dennis Grey, 101 Uses For Baby Wipes

Mike and Karen Patrick, Pediacast

Mark Blevis and his wife Andrea, Just One More Book

Jahn Havens

Chris Brogan & all the Grasshoppers

Chris Penn

Dr. Kathleen King & Peter Yanke

Everyone from Podcamp!

Megin & Rob Hatch, Melody Ruth, Joan La Strange, Kim Mansk, Marsha Fortunato, Courtney Rau, The Academy in Manayunk, Elliot Glickman, Jim Conroy, Paul Spangler, Laurie LeComer, Rich Weinfeld, Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, The Autism Podcast, Kids Wife Work Life,

and to each and every listener, to everyone else who said yes when they could have said no, everyone who encouraged me to try new things and explore these new areas- what can I say but Wow! and Thank You so very much from the bottom of my heart.

Click Here to listen to our Audio Christmas Card!

Home Schooling

2006-11-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

Home Schooling with Karen Patrick

I don't know about you, but when I read that over 1.1 million kids were being homeschooled, I wondered what all of this was about. Was this all religious fundamentalists who were against the school system, andlooked at it as corrupt and evil? Well, regular people are opting to home school their children for a variety of reasons, including the needs of their family, and it provides the flexibility to customize your child's education in a way that simply can't be done in a public school environment.

Home Schooling is not for everyone- I'm not sure I would be good at it, myself, but I have always wondered about it. Karen Patrick is the mother of two children, both schooled at home. Her husband, Dr. Mike Patrick Jr., is a pediatrician, and host of Pediacast- a great podcast that addresses all those little questions you want answered by your own pediatrician, but never have time for in the office. (Dr. Mike was kind enough to be interviewed on Show #19 of the LD Podcast). Karen and Mike decided to homeschool both of their children for many reasons, and have really enjoyed the closeness it has helped develop in their family. I think you'll enjoy Karen's perspective on education and schooling, and how it works for their family!

As always, you can contact us by email at ldpodcast@gmail.com, call the voicemail line at (206) 666-2343, or leave a comment on the blog.

Click Here to Download Show # 32- Homeschooling

Show 31: A Parent's Guide to Developmental Delays

2006-11-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

Laurie LeComer is a parent of three children, and a special educator. She has written a wonderful book, “A Parent’s Guide to Developmental Delays: Recognizing and Coping with Missed Milestones in Speech, Movement, Learning, and Other Areas.” It is a must read for all parents worried about their children and for teachers and day care providers, who suspect something might be wrong or different about a child, but can’t seem to pinpoint the source or the cause. It is the book I wish I had when my children were young, and I know you’ll find the early warning signs of developmental problems helpful, as well as her pointers on how to have happy and less stressful holidays!

Let us know what you think! Leave comments here, or send us email at ldpodcast@gmail.com. You can also call us at (206) 666-2343 with any comments or questions!

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Click here to listen to Show # 31

Show # 30- Why Handwriting Matters

2006-11-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Click Here to download Show #30- Handwriting

Why Handwriting Matters and What To Do To Help

What's wrong with this picture?

The picture to the right might seem like a typical picture of a cute kid working at school. Having children who struggle with poor handwriting, I see a child who has a bad pencil grip, writing up near her shoulders-definitely not a recipe for legible handwriting.

Why should we care about handwriting? When I was in school, "penmanship" was formally taught, but little time is spent in today's classrooms on penmanship, although we are spending more and more time on writing. Weird, huh? We expect kids to have the mechanics of handwriting down, without giving them much instruction in it, despite the fact that the ease of the act of handwriting has a big impact on the actual composition process.

Kids who have a hard time physically writing, or who are constantly criticized for the legibility of their writing start to avoid writing, and write as little as possible when called upon to do so- they become the great literary minimalists. They use short, concrete sentences, which while fine in early elementary school, becomes more frowned upon as the years advance. Eventually, a child with handwriting issues begins to have serious problems in english and other subjects where alot of writing is required. Teachers ask them to redo work because they simply can't read what the child is trying to express, and the child feels punished in the process, not a way to encourage them to do more writing!

Sure, many kids begin to learn to type early on, but our classrooms and standardized testing still require an awful lot of writing- worksheets, spelling tests, standardized tests- all require a child to handwrite essays and more, and keyboards are simply not allowed unless a child has a special education plan in place that includes this as an accommodation. the simple truth is why can't avoid the handwriting issue when we look at improving a child's writing ability and ability to communicate and think through the written word.

In today's show, I interview Michelle Jones, a pediatric occupational therapist who sees alot of kids with handwriting issues. The handwriting is often the tip of the iceberg, a tip off of larger problems with fine motor coordination- and something that can easily be addressed through therapy and at home. If you have a child with less than perfect handwriting- this is the show for you!

Look for our page on handwriting helpers by clicking here

As always, we love to hear from our listeners! Please email us by clicking here, or call our voicemail line at (206) 666-2343, or leave comments on our blog by clicking here.

Show # 29 Lessons 9 & 10 and Wrap Up

2006-11-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Show # 29: Lessons 9 & 10 to Maximize Your Child's Cognitive Abilities and Wrap Up of Series

In today's show, we talk about the last 2 lessons in our ten lesson series on Maximizing Your Child's Cognitive Abilities. Less on 9 is about teaching your children to be able to see things from another point of view, and understanding that criticism is often something they should consider and use as a learning opportunity, not as a badge of failure or short coming. Lesson 10 is about how it's not the money you spend on your kids that matters, but the quality of their experiences. The Ten Lessons are adapted from a chapter by Williams and Sternberg in Volume 5 of The Handbook of Parenting, a five volume set of books digesting the research on parenting and raising children. It is edited by Marc Bornstein from the National Institutes of Health, and is probably the most complete digest of research into children and parents available. (It also the most expensive, as each volume retails for over $150.00).

The take home message from the series is that parents can be very influential in helping their kids maximize their intellectual potential, but it requires that parents get involved and stay involved in their child's intellectual development, rather than passing this off as the job solely of school.

Today's show includes 2 songs- Libery Jones by The Shakes, and Black Coffee by Chaz, available on the Podsafe Music Network.

We'd love to hear from you- you can click the email link at the bottom of this page, or go to the blog, and leave comments! Or even better, call (206) 666-2343 and leave us a voice message!

Click here to download Show # 29- Lessons 9 & 10

Show # 28 Academy in Manayunk Pt. 2 Reading and Self Esteem

2006-11-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to all our new iLearn Radio Listeners!

In the second part of my interview with Nancy Blair of the Academy in Manayunk, we talk about how important self esteem is to a child''s success in school. So many very talented people have learning disabilities and have struggled in school but my learning how to maximize their strengths, they have really been able to shine. Whether it's designers like Tommy Hilfiger, or Businessmen like Charles Schwab, or Actors like Henry Winkler (who now writes books about what it was like to grow up with learning problems) many kids are both smart and LD, and we need to be able to let their strengths shine while helping them overcome their weaknesses.

Please call our comment line at (206) 666-2343 or email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com with any and all comments!

Click here to listen to show #28

Show #27 The Academy in Manayunk

2006-10-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen to Show #27

Parents know one source of special education is the local public school. But if your child needs help but doesn't qualify for services, or if you aren't happy with the services or the progress your child is making, is there any alternative?

One of the options is to look at the growing number of private schools specializing in teaching children with language-based learning disabilities. The gold standard and original school to specialize in teaching children with learning disabilities is the Lab School of Washington, DC, started by Sally Smith. The school just recently opened a third affiliate in Philadelphia, The Academy in Manayunk. The Academy uses the Lab School Model to instruct children with language based learning disabilities on a college prep course of study, 2nd through 7 th grade. It also has a large commitment to instruct teachers, educators, parents, and the community about research-based instruction and how all groups can team together to make these children academically successful.
I know you'll enjoy learning about the Academy from the Executive Director, Pat Roberts and Associate Director, Nancy Blair, themselves.

Show # 26 Lesson 8 and The New Changes in the IDEA

2006-10-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

This week's supplemental show is pretty short. We talk about two of the important changes highlighted by the US Department of Education in their regional meetings about the new Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. The newest information on the IDEA can be found on the Deaprtment's website by clicking here.

We play Black Coffee by Chaz, and it's available on the Podsafe Music Network.

We finish the second half of the show with Lesson 8 in our ten part series on Maximizing Your Child's Cognitive Abilities- Teaching children to delay gratification. While recording this show, I had this same problem with delayed gratification, as my family stood outside the studio doors urging me to finish the podcast so we could go out to dinner.... so real life enters this podcast, unscheduled but apropos.

Please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com, or leave comments on the voice line at (206) 666-2343. I'd love to know if you like the interviews, would prefer shorted episodes- let me know how I can help make the show better for you!

I also encourage you to use the message boards or the blog and post comments- let's form a real community!

Click here to Download Show # 26

2006-10-18T18:50:00.001-07:00

Show # 25: Dr. James Conroy Interview, Part 2

2006-10-17T05:02:00.000-07:00

Click here to Listen to Show 25

In part 2, Dr. Conroy, from the Center for Outcome Analysis and I continue our conversation about whether children with learning disabilities are being served adequately in a regular cloassroom, or whether segregation is appropriate at times. We talk about children who are both gifted and learning disabled, and why changes in education need to start in the training of our teachers. We both agree that changing the face of education means finally, teching children how to learn. By giving them the skills and tools for effective learning and critical thinking, we'll have kids who are life long learners, not just people who are good at spitting back rote information.

As always, please email us with your comments at ldpodcast@gmail.com ,leave a comment on this or our wordpress blog, or call us at (206) 666-2343! We want to hear from you!

ALSO This Week:

LD Podcast Joins Grasshopper New Media
The wonderful people at Grasshopper New Media have asked me to join their growing network of podcasts. Grasshopper is a new New Media company, and are in the process of creating great channels of content I know you will love. By having "one stop shopping", you'll be able to find shows related to the same topic or genre. For example, The Grasshopper New Media Parenting Channel will consist of podcasts, videocasts, blogs, and other content relating to subjects of interest to families, whether it's the LD Podcast, Career Mom Radio, or any of the other great Grasshopper affiliates. This is the same great content, it will just be available and affiliated with other great content providers, other shows you might find right up your alley. Subscriptions through iTunes should stay the same, and with any changes in feeds, subscriptions, or the like, you'll hear it and see it here long before any changes are made.

Show # 24- Dr. James Conroy

2006-10-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Show # 24 Dr. James Conroy from the Center for Outcome Analysis (Part One)

I had the pleasure of talking to Dr. James Conroy from the Center for Outcome Analysis. Dr. Conroy has been involved with measuring the outcomes of social services programs for many years- one of his missions is to figure out whether people are better off after particpating in social services or not, and what people really need out of the programs. He has two children who have LD, and has struggled, even as an expert psychologist, through the same IEP process and what Individualized Education really means in practice. Is segregating kids into special schools and classrooms the best plan, or is full inclusion better, or is it somewhere in between? Jim is one of the smartest people I've spoken with, and I know you'll enjoy his insights and stories.

Click here to download my interview with Dr. James Conroy (Part One)

Show # 23 Lesson 7 + Just One More Book

2006-10-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

I had alot of fun interview Mark & Andrea Blevis for this podcast. mark & Andrea have 2 daughters, and started the Just One More Book podcast to share their love of children's books with us all. We talk about what makes a great children's book, and how this type of reading to and with your child helps bring reading alive to them, and makes it part of their lives.

We play Get Out Of My Face, by one of my favorite Podsafe Artists, Uncle Seth- you can find their music on the Podsafe Music Network.

I then talk about Lesson 7 in our Ten Lessons to Maximize Your Child's Cognitive Development series(see the complete list under the Ten Lessons link off to the left) Lesson 7 Is Teach Children to Take Responsibility for themselves- both for their successes and failures. Teaching children- and showing them by example- how important it is to be an active participant in our own lives, and to be responsible for every action, good and bad, will give them confidence and a sense of control overthemselves and their future. With this sense of control, there's nothing they can't accomplish.

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Click here to download Show #23

Show # 22

2006-10-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Click here to download show # 22 Dr. Paul Spangler and Intelligence Testing

Today's Show features a great interview with Dr. Paul Spangler. Dr. Spangler is a practicing psychologist, and specializes in developmental disabilities. He serves as an associate professor in developmental psychology at Drexel Univeristy, and has worked for the County of Philadelphia for 22 years in the Department of Mental Retardation. While his main area of work has been in the area of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, Dr. Spangler has alot of experience in testing, and evaluating children for a variety of developmental delays and developmental disabilities. We talk about how important testing can be, and what it's limitation are as well. What does an IQ test measure, and what do they results tell us? It was a great conversation, and I know you'll find it interesting!

Podshow PDN {podshow-5bc7fe18276355a543f6bd830adaa960}

Show 21: Lessons 5 & 6

2006-09-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Click here to download Show #21

In this show, we talk about the next 2 lessons in maximizing your child's cognitive development: Help children find what excites them ,even if it doesn't excite you and Encouraging Children to take Sensible Intellectual Risks. We want our kids to be excited about something, or anything at all- but often, they can glom onto things we don;t really enjoy, whether it's a sport you were never good at, or an instrument that sets your nerves on edge. Sometimes being a supportive parent means letting kids explore these things, even if they aren't your cup of tea. Lesson Six encourages you to help your child take risks- try new things, experiment, stretch themselves, but at the same time, not setting them up for failure. Kids who are self- confident are much more likely to take risks in the classroom, like answering questions even when they aren't 100% positive of the answer, and become okay with being both right and wrong. This is part of raising resilient children, as advocated by Dr. Robert Brooks- raising children with the ability to bounce back from bad situations and get right back in there to face the next challenge.

Show 20- an inside look at Special Education

2006-09-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Show # 20: An Inside Look At Special Education

At Podcamp Boston, I met Courtney Rau. She is the Special Education Department Chair at a Massachussetts school district. We got a chance to sit down and talk about special education, and how the school handles both the education of the child and the management and education of the parents. This was a wonderful interview, that gives you an idea of how schools see parents for a change. Maybe if we can all understand where each other is coming from, we can begin to make these meetings more productive, but I doubt they will ever lose their emotional component, since we will always be talking about our kids.

We spoke about issues you rarely hear about- how schools view advocates; how they sometimes dread talking to us; and how, in the end, it really is all about the child, and everyone does want to see the kids succeed. This should be mandatory listening for every parent before their IEP meetings.

I also met alot of great podcasters at Podcamp, including Mark Blevis, who produces a great podcast with his wife called Just One More Book, looking at chidlren's books you might have missed at your local bookstore. I've also been in contact with Mike from the "Kids Wife Work Life" podcast- another wonderful parenting and family podcast you should check out!

Today's song is the terrific You Don't Need an iPod performed by Uncle Seth. In case anyone wants to know a bit more about podcasting, this is probably the best and most entertaining "commercial" available. Available on the Podsafe Music Network.

Please email us with comments at LDpodcast@gmail.com, or give us a call at (206) 666-2343! We want to hear from you!
Click here to listen or download Show #20