The National Summer Reading Association has some great ideas to keep your kids reading this summer. ReadingTipsforParents_2015
A recent study done by Dr. Nina Kraus at Northwestern University, show a link between the ability to keep a beat and reading skill. Children in the study who were better able to synchronize a beat with the study examiner showed higher pre-reading skills (phonological processing, auditory short term memory and rapid naming) than children who were not able to synchronize the beat. This information may be able to be used to discover children at risk for reading disorder. It may also be able to be used to design treatment approaches!
Everyone Reading Illinois is hosting a seminar for parents of children with reading impairment. This program is designed for parents and will include information on Assistive Technology, Family Dynamics, Teen Panel Discussion, and Neuropsychology Evaluations. https://everyonereadingillinois.org/event/dyslexia-a-conference-for-parents
IEP season is upon us. We all want our meetings to go well but sometimes there can be conflict between parents and schools. The Wrightslaw website has a great pop-up to help with those tricky situations. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.disputes.popup.htm
Great information coming up for families of persons with disabilities. Check out the Arc’s website for details. http://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-arc-of-illinois-1439129882
Friday February 15th is National No One Eats Alone Day. Sponsored by the Beyond Differences organization, No One Eats Alone Day is designed to make sure everyone feels included and to combat social isolation. Log on to find out how you can sponsor a No One Eats Alone day at your school. http://www.nooneeatsalone.org/welcome/
This Sunday’s Tribune Lifestyle section had a great article on fun non-tech stuff to do with kids. Based on a book called “150+Screen-Free Activities For Kids”, by former science teacher, Asia Citro, these activities are hands on fun for these cold and house bound days! Follow this link for directions! http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-1230-screen-free-fun-20141223-story.html
The Chicago Children’s Museum hosts monthly events for children with special needs on the second Saturday of each month. The museum opens an hour early for preregistered guests to enjoy the many multi-sensory exhibits and programs. Follow this link to download the Museum’s guide to using it’s resources to address your child’s individual therapeutic goals. Click here to download the Therapeutic Play Guide. For program registration information: http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/index.php/about/accessibility-inclusion
Did you know that June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month? What a great time to plant a few vegetables in a pot! Gardening is a great language enrichment activity with the added bonus of health eating! When you plant a seed or seedling, you can enhance vocabulary, learn a sequence of events, and practice describing by attribute. Check out this link to the Chicago Botanic Garden for more information: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/gardening_children
For Students with ASD, the high school scene can be a daunting experience. Having strong school based support through the IEP is a great way to address this. Check out this link from the American Speech Language Hearing Association which lists some suggested goals. http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2013/130301/School-Matters–What-Happens-in-High-School-Goes-Beyond-High-School.htm
