Learning Disabilities & Attention Deficit Disorder by Bonnie Miller (Please continue to click on the pages to see the slide show)

Preview  What are Learning Disabilities? –What are the symptoms? How does it feel? –How does it affect children in school and in other aspects of their lives?  What is Attention Deficit Disorder? –Symptoms, socio-emotional effects  What can teachers do to help these kids?

What are your questions? What do you want to know about LD or ADD ? Inquiry-based learning ???????????????????

Why did I start this project?  There are so many kids with LD and ADHD, but very little knowledge about it.  If this video and teacher guide can help one teacher to help one child, it will be worth it!

Learning Disabilities  Learning Disabilities are NOT mental retardation  Misdiagnosis  Neurological problem  Inconsistencies in abilities & performance

Learning Disabilities and Social/Emotional Problems  LD is not caused by emotional problems or trauma.  But Learning Disabilities are living disabilities and can cause problems in  But Learning Disabilities are living disabilities and can cause problems in: --social relationships --emotions --emotions anxiety, depression, self-esteem, somatizing --family --family Masks to cover LD

How does it feel to have LD? “I still get very defensive..and am afraid to ask questions in fear that I will be wrong. Every teacher should remember their worst class when they were in school and realize that that’s how LD kids feel all the time.”  Visual Problems “To a dyslexic, a sentence is worse than Egyptian hieroglyphics.”  Auditory Problems slow auditory processing difficulty understanding what they hear And now the video!

Attention Deficit Disorder  Chronic, pervasive  Neurological  Not caused by trauma  Starts before age 7  Not associated with IQ  Distractibility internal & external  Hyperactivity in some children  Impulsivity

Social & Emotional Consequences  Social These symptoms of ADD may cause problems in social relationships: distractible, disorganized, “out in space” failure to follow through, doesn’t understand directions impulsive, risky behavior interrupts, doesn’t think before acting low frustration tolerance, wants everything NOW sometimes argumentative, emotionally immature, reactive  Emotional Problems from life experiences anxiety, depression, low self-esteem

Strategies for Teachers  You are important!  Classroom Climate  Making a Difference  Investment in the child

Helping the Special Needs Child  Consider the whole child.  Every child learns in his own way. Identify the best learning style for the special needs child. Use multiple modalities.  Individualize  Use the child’s strengths.  Build self-esteem.  Motivate learning.  Provide structure.  Teamwork with parents

Now it’s your turn!  Brainstorm your own suggestions  Discussion and Questions