Options In Learning, LCC

Learning strategies that can improve a child's ability to process information.

Every learner is unique. As your children learn, you’ll probably notice that some things are easy for them, while others seem to require an inordinate amount of repetition & practice.  As a parent who is not a professional educator, it can be frustrating when you want to help, but are unfamiliar with effective learning tools. For many students simple low-tech solutions that parents can introduce really make a difference in a child’s ability to process information. There are also some effective hi-tech educational supports that range from the simple and inexpensive, to those that require a deeper investment of time and money.

Tools for Reading

The simplest tool for the beginning or challenged reader is the index card, which is available in a variety of colors.  It can be used to isolate words, sentences or paragraphs by simply covering up the rest of the words on the page.  Focusing on less text will help your child feel less overwhelmed by the task of reading all the words on the page.  The next level of sophistication is to cut a “window” in the index card to be slid along the line when reading.  This isolates an even smaller section of reading.  It can be customized to the size of the text.  Beginning readers can study one word at a time, by looking at it through the “window”.

If you want to increase the visual clarity of a page of text, purchase an acetate sheet and lay it over the text.  This makes the black letters on the white page seem to stand out more clearly.  Research and information about this technique is available online, but it is simple to buy a few report covers in different colors, cut them in half to make them easier to handle and try it with your child.  It’s easy and it just might work!

The colored highlighter is another low-tech tool that can make some reading tasks easier. Besides the traditional strategy of highlighting  “what’s important”, students can highlight unknown words to look up, or words they cannot read, to work out later.  If they are working on a particular word family, or vowel pair, (ou, for example), they can look through their reading and highlight specific words or word parts in advance.  This draws their attention to these beforehand and increases fluency while reading.  Encourage your child to suggest their own ways to use highlighters to help them learn and let them choose which color to use for what purpose.  This will increase the likelihood that they will make a habit of using highlighters.

A very effective high tech tool for older students who struggle with reading is the “scan and read” technology, or “text readers,” the most well-known of which is the Kurzweil Reader. Books are scanned in quickly and with the proper hardware these programs enable students to listen to any book while the words appear on the screen.  The program includes many additional features, such as the highlighting of words, phrases, or sentences as they are read.  These tools will also read aloud what your child has typed into the program, so that can be checked auditorily.

Tools for Writing

Within the area of writing there are tools to help with the manual act of writing, tools to help with organizing for writing and tools that help with spelling and grammar.  One simple tool to help with the manual act of writing is the pencil grip.  These inexpensive items slide onto a pencil and are available in a variety of shapes and colors.  They aide children in correctly holding a pencil and make the act of writing more comfortable.  To remember how to form letters, many students also benefit from having a resource to refer to while writing.  Create this by carefully forming the letters on lined paper and posting it where your child usually sits to write.  Make a few copies as a handy resource in the notebook, too.  Your child’s teacher may also have ready-made alphabet strips that could be copied.

Learning to keyboard (touch-type using both hands) is a wonderful skill that eliminates the frustration handwriting can present.  This can be taught via traditional methods, various software programs, or an alphabetic method created by Diana Hanbury King (Educators Publishing Service).  The best tool I have found for getting written work done is the tool I am using at this very moment as I sit beside the pool near my home town.  It is an Alphasmart keyboard.  This is not a computer so nothing can be downloaded or installed.  Instead it is a highly portable, battery operated keyboard with 8 different “files” in which to enter writing.  It automatically saves, shuts off and never loses data.  A student can do their book report at home and print it out at school by attaching a cord from the Alphasmart to the computer, and pressing “send”.  It is also great for notetaking.  It is simple to use, lightweight, dependable and relatively inexpensive.

There are many published materials for writing organization, and various methods are taught at school.  However, there is one piece of excellent software worth mentioning called Inspiration which creatively uses organizational tools such as webs, maps and outlines and automatically converts your content from one form to the other.

There are many techniques parents can employ to help their child learn to spell.  For more
visual/spatial learners - those of us who prefer to SEE a map, when following directions- words can be written using colors to draw attention to particular letters and cement them in memory.  For those of us who have strong auditory memories - we remember best what we HEAR- we can make funny songs out of words, have kids repeat them orally with their own funny voices or emphases.  Play and have fun with this one and see what it does for spelling.  Kinesthetic learners will remember spellings that they trace over and over with the fingers in the sand or on some other textured surface.

Older students can create personal dictionaries for challenging words.  A small notebook just for this purpose, colored markers, alphabet tabs, can make this activity fun and increase the likelihood that children will continue to use it.  Children can also keep a resource notebook for spelling rules and generalizations that are not yet committed to memory or consistently applied.  Parents no longer need to be the editor -  instead of telling your child how to spell a word you can say “Check your dictionary.”

While some parents feel that the use of spelling technologies will interfere with the child’s ability to spell, the design of spelling-correction tools necessitates knowledge of spelling rules, conventions, and an understanding of the letter sounds and potential letter .  If your child makes a spelling error, the technology will offer choices of correctly spelled words. Your child must be able to analyze the choices and choose the correct word to replace the incorrect one. This analysis is often a good way for your child to integrate what she has learned about spelling.

Word processors have spell checkers, and there are also hand-held tools available.  Many hand-held versions offer spelling games, such as Hangman, and include a thesaurus. These are inexpensive, available locally, and are about the size of a large calculator.

Finally, the highest-end technological innovations include computer programs that allow your child to speak to the computer and have his words appear on the screen.  Thi technology is called “voice recognition software” and it is best used with an older child, as it requires some intensive training so that the software “understands” the idiosyncrasies of your child’s voice.  The most commonly used program is Dragon Naturally Speaking, but others are available.

Tools for Mathematics

There is a vast array of low-tech “tools” to help children understand math concepts.  These fall into the category of “manipulatives” which means objects that represent a concept physically, and that range from pebbles to an abacus.  If your child is having trouble grasping a concept, ask her teacher if there are any manipulatives you might try.

When paper and pencil computation is introduced, many students benefit from using graph paper.  Your child can write one number in each block, so numbers will line up correctly for computation. You can also turn lined paper sideways, and your child will have columns in which to write numbers.

Math technology hasn’t changed much over the years.  Once your child has proven that she understands a concept, it may be acceptable to her teacher to allow her to use a calculator, particularly when writing is an the main obstacle to math success.  Just remember – you know your child better than anyone.  Feel free to use your creativity and your child’s innate ingenuity to help him learn.  Think about those things that come easy and invent ways to use these channels to learn things that are more difficult.  Feel free to make your own manipulatives, use index cards liberally to make flash cards for reading and spelling words, as well as for math concepts.  And remember;  ask for help when you need it especially if your child is experiencing repeated frustration in the process of learning. If your child is struggling, ask your child’s teacher for input and perhaps look into taking advantage of Title 1 support, which is the step to take before formal testing for a learning disability.  Every child can be a successful learner – it’s up to parents and educators to work together with children to find the learning strategies that work.

Resources:

Irlen Institute Research and information on the use of colored overlays for reading.

Kurzweil Educational Systems Information on products and services related to “scan and read” technology.  Kurzweil Educational Systems is the leading developer of reading technology for people with learning difficulties (Kurzweil 3000) and those who are blind or visually impaired.

Alpha Smart Portable keyboard or notetaker compatible with any Macintosh or PC.

Inspiration Software, Inc. Inspiration K-12 supports visual thinking techniques, enabling students to easily create and update graphic organizers, concept maps, idea maps and other writing organization and visual thinking tools.

Franklin Electronic Publishers Franklin offers Spanish, French and Chinese dictionaries, electronic publications, electronic dictionary, prep SAT test.

Nuance: Naturally Speaking Voice recognition software everyone can use.

Contact Information:

Address: Options In Learning, Laura Berkowitz, PO Box 384, Marlboro, Vermont  05344
Phone: 802-254-5042 Fax: 802-254-5042 E-Mail: options@sover.net

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