Singular
Minds
December 1, 2004 • Volume I, Issue 4
Prolinguistica Dyslexia Correction Center
Laura Zink de Diaz
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PDCC News
Public Talks on Dyslexia
The talk titled "The Gift of Dyslexia" will be repeated on January 6, 2005.
If you weren't able to attend the first presentation of this talk, please consider
this my invitation to attend the January talk. And please let friends, relatives,
neighbors or co-workers know about it, if you think the talk might be helpful
to them. To date, I've not had much success finding an appropriate larger location
for the talk, so it will be held at the Tridex Building again, Room 101-D, just
downstairs from Prolinguistica. The talk will begin at 7:00 pm. Doors will open
at 6:45 pm. Those in attendance will receive a coupon from PDCC for 10% off
the cost of one dyslexia correction program.
A second talk, "Creativity and Learning," is scheduled for January 27, 2005.
This talk will look at the importance of creativity for the dyslexic learner.
I'm still looking for a larger location for this talk and will let you know
the location in the January issue of Singular Minds.
Support Group Meeting
The Support Group for those dealing with a corrected or uncorrected dyslexic
friend, relative or loved one will meet December 9 at 7:00 pm in the conference
room at our office in Mount Vernon. If you haven't been to the office yet, there
are directions and a map on the web site at:
http://www.pdcc-read.com/WhereAreWe.html
Or, give me a call at 360-848-9792 for verbal directions.
The purpose of the meeting is to exchange information, provide mutual support,
and have a relaxing time. Please remember that this is an informal support group,
a place to find people who are dealing with issues that may be similar to yours,
whose experiences you may or may not find helpful. There is no fee to attend,
although contributions to help cover the cost of coffee and snacks are always
appreciated. As always, if you feel you need counseling, I encourage you to
consult a qualified counselor.
Clay Clinic
Our next clay night will be December 16 in the conference room at our
office in Mount Vernon. We'll begin at 5:30 pm with PIZZA! and conversation.
Clay night can help if you've gotten off track and need to jump start your commitment
to completing your symbol mastery. Or perhaps there are some words on the trigger
list you've been putting off. Maybe you'd just like to work on clay in a different
environment and see who else is doing symbol mastery...and after eating, we'll
work on words from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Please call (360-848-9792) or email (dyslexia@prolinguistica.com ) to let us know you plan to attend -- so we can be sure we have enough
pizza on hand! Cost: $15/client.
Good Stuff to Read
Concentration hampers simple tasks
Brain images show thinking about learning makes it more difficult.When attempting
to master a task, sometimes it's best not to try too hard. Researchers have
confirmed this folk wisdom, using brain imaging to show that thinking too hard
about simple actions interferes with the learning process. Read about the study
at:
http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041122/full/041122-14.html
This
information reinforces what good teachers have known for many years - that lowering
the "affective filter" -- that is, reducing stress and anxiety in
the classroom -- improves learning and retention There are those who continue
to insist that if the learning environment is "fun," not much learning
is likely to go on. Brain research continues to support the opposite - that
the more relaxed and enjoyable the learning environment and activities are,
the more effective. And that goes for everyone, not just dyslexics.
Autism Linked to Language Disorder
Ivanhoe.com
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston used MRI scans to
look at Broca’s area -- a key language center in the brain -- in autistic
boys with language problems, autistic boys without language problems, boys with
SLI, and normal boys. Normally, Broca’s area will be larger on the side
of the brain opposite from the person’s handedness. In other words, right-handed
people generally have larger Broca’s areas on the left side of the brain.
All of the boys in this study were right-handed. Results showed boys with SLI
and autistic boys with language problems both had larger Broca’s areas
on the right side of the brain instead of the left side. Autistic boys without
language problems and normal boys had larger Broca’s areas on the left
side of the brain. The researchers believe these findings
shed new light on autism and the notion that autism might be more a collection
of related disorders with overlapping symptoms than a single disorder. Read
more about it at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=9710
In case you've been considering ADHD medication
Here, kiddie, kiddie...
Kelly Hearn, AlterNet
A disturbing article about how drug companies are pushing ADHD drugs for
children by funding researchers and advocacy groups -- and ignoring the studies
which question their claims. Read it at:
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/20594/
If you feel you're being pressured to put your child on medication for
ADHD so he or she will be "easier" to teach at school, I urge you
to read all you can about ADD and ADHD before you make that decision. There
are many excellent books about ADD/HD where you can find information about the
advantages and disadvantages of medication. I particularly recommend any of
Thom Hartmann's books on the subject. These are widely available at bookstores
and libraries, and for purchase on the internet. Thom Hartmann's ADD,
A Different Perception and Beyond ADD: Hunting for Reasons are both available from Davis Dyslexia Association at www.dyslexia.com.
Six Games for Reading
Give familiar games like "Old Maid" and "Go Fish" a reading twist. This article
describes how six games can be fun for kids while practicing their reading skills.
You’ll find it at:
http://www.readingrockets.org/article.php?ID=244
And too check out Reading Rockets, go to: http://www.readingrockets.org/
To
prepare your toddler for Harvard, start now!
Dave Barry
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Read what Dave Barry and his wife learned when they went to a meeting at
their daughter’s preschool to find out about options for kindergarten.
Funny, but also sort of disturbing, it’s at:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/10/29/features/bar30.html
What
if they gave a test and nobody came?
Letter
to the Editor by Bill Bowlby
Here’s a great rant about how the
excessive testing imposed on public schools by legislators who know nothing
about teaching or learning is squeezing the intellectual life out of classrooms
in the name of getting tough. Granted, it’s Colorado, but it’s a
good rant and Mr. Bowlby makes a number of good points. You can read it at:
http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=412
Remember,
it was Andrew Jackson who said,
“It’s a ---- poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a
word.”
Ooh, I know this one...
Stuart Jeffries The Guardian
British spelling is supposedly in decline and Mr. Jeffries says “some
bright spark at the BBC has decided to harness the power of Pop Idol-style telly
to make a series called Hard Spell, a show that capitalises on the success of
Spellbound, the film about US spelling bees. The idea is to find - please God,
no - the Will Young of spelling. People are already calling it Swot Idol which,
you have to admit, is indubitably oxymoronic."
Read about the “problem,’ the show, the Guardian’s own
carefully designed spelling test -- and take solace in the knowledge that nearly
all the glittering literati they asked to take a spelling test either declined
or did more poorly than their illustrious station might have predicted; and
all of them squirmed. You’ll find the story at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1353559,00.htm
Stocking stuffer, anyone?
Looking for a good family board game for the holiday season? How about "Cranium?" Billed as the game for your whole brain, the game asks players to work their way around the board in teams by solving problems posed on four different sets of cards. The "data head" cards ask team members to search their memories for information; "creative cat" cards require a member of the team to communicate the answer to the others by drawing or modeling clay figures (no numbers or letters allowed); "star performers" act out clues a la "charades" and for "word worm" cards a team member must be able to spell a word backwards without writing it down first. "Cranium" allows participants to work in teams, AND make use of their individual strengths to move the team forward towards victory. I have it at the office, so if you'd like to look it over, drop by!
A few of you have asked where I got the puzzles I keep in my office. Most of them have come from a toy store in Burlingame, CA, called Tout About Toys. You can find them on-line at http://www.toutabouttoys.com. Lots of puzzles for visual-spacial learners of all ages.
Happy
Holidays!
Laura
Next Issue of Singular Minds: Jan 3, 2005
Got a topic you’d like to see addressed in Singular Minds? E-mail questions,
proposals, letters, and/or stories to: singularminds@prolinguistica.com
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