School of Thought

To Cram or Not to Cram?  How to Prep for the Big Exam
Danielle Mele, Clinical Director of the Diagnostic Assessment Program

Taking tests, especially large, comprehensive ones can feel overwhelming and daunting.  But, fear not because there are strategies to help you defeat those monstrous exams.  Below are 4 study tips to guide you to victory!

A Parent’s Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: A Survive & Thrive Guide - Part II
Helen Elder

Below are several strategies that can help your child with Asperger Syndrome thrive.

Speech therapy:  Learning (pragmatics) social language is helpful. Do not settle for the idea that your child “will get it eventually.” Instruction needs to be taught intentionally in sequential steps in order to learn social cues, much the way it is done for a child with a reading problem.  For example,  imagine you have a child who is sounding out the words one by one in reading while her classmates are reading silently at a fast pace. That child would qualify for additional instruction to help overcome this. It is easier to put in place a teaching plan for an academic area than a social one in a large classroom environment. When a child cannot read social language and cues from the non-verbal cues of his classmates and teachers, it is not as easy to receive additional instruction. {However, Aspies can be taught to read these social cues in many different manners.}

 A Parent’s Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: A Survive & Thrive Guide - Part I
Helen Elder

Most parents who have a child recently diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome are not totally surprised by this. Often there have been signs of something unique in the way their child interacts in the world for quite some time. Since I am not a professional at diagnosing or treating, the insight I offer you is that of a parent. There are numerous books on the subject and more coming out every day. In addition, there are support groups on the internet, in local communities, and many doctors who are now specializing in this area. You are your child’s interpreter for the world and your goal is to raise your child to be a productive and independent contributor to society. You are your child’s best advocate. If you find someone who understands your child, get to know them better and get them on your child’s team to help with advocacy.

The Good News, Bad News, and Good News of ADHD- What can be done!
Dr. Pat Thrasher, M.D., Founding Board Member and Current Chair of the Board at Chesapeake Bay Academy

 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder of the frontal lobes of the brain which control our executive functioning processes.  “Executive functions” include: problem solving, attention/concentration, reasoning, and planning abilities.  The good news is that significant advances in recent research have proven that it is a neurobiological disorder, even though the exact cause of ADHD remains unknown.

Hablas espanol?
By Jared Setnar, Upper School Director

To a student with dyslexia the thought of learning a foreign language is usually anxiety provoking. Many dyslexics have trouble comprehending the basic sound units of language, called phonemes. Phonemic Awareness is essential in quickly grasping any language. Have you ever met a dyslexic who struggles with spelling? Chances are you have, and it all has to do with phonemic awareness, or lack of it in the case of dyslexics. Dyslexic students can learn a foreign language; they simply need to learn it as they do everything else, in their own way and on their own terms.  The good news is that there are tools and methods designed to help students with Dyslexia with learning a foreign language.

Cracking the Code
Danielle Mele, Clinical Director of Assessment

Decoding strange symbols and deciphering messages embedded within them sounds like a job for an anthropologist or an explorer that is on an expedition deep in the jungle amid ancient ruins.  However, in truth, millions of children embark upon this journey on a daily basis when they enter their classrooms and are asked to perform what many adults misperceive as a simple task: to read.  So in honor of our young explorers that bravely venture into arduous territory on a daily basis I present to you four outposts along the twisted trail to successful reading.  Everyone grab your secret decoder rings and press forward into the thick.

The Benefits of Outdoor Based Curricula
Linda Price-King, Middle School Director

 “Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” John Lubbock

When Acronyms Attack: Navigating the Murky Waters of Special Education Terminology
Danielle Mele, Clinical Coordinator, Assessment Program

We love acronyms and abbreviations in America, and rightfully so since they can serve an important purpose.  Such verbal devices can help us to remember important information and to communicate quickly and effectively with others.  But when people are unfamiliar with the lingo, acronyms can be harmful; this is especially true in the context of special education.  Many parents have told me that they often feel confused by the acronyms and abbreviations used during special education meetings and they often feel too embarrassed to ask what they mean because everyone else in the room seems to know. When people use jargon it can seem like they are speaking another language!  Cracking the code on this secret language may seem like an overwhelming task so we will start small.  Below is a brief review of the top 4 special education acronyms and abbreviations.  Drum roll please…

Lazy or Learning Disabled?
Myths Regarding LD & Intelligence

The term “learning disabilities” has garnered negative connotations in the past. Somehow, to be disabled in any way was to be considered “less than.”  There are many myths regarding learning disabilities that are held by the general population and even by educational professionals that need to be dispelled. In advocating for these students, we are attempting to educate society about learning “differences” among our brightest students.

Using Technology to Remove Barriers to Success
Danielle Mele, Clinical Coordinator, Assessment Program, Dominion Education Center

According to the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, an assistive technology device is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities”.  Assistive technology devices are selected, acquired, and used through the use of assistive technology services which include evaluation to determine what technology is needed and training to ensure that the technology is used correctly.