Is your Child Dyslexic?

Dyslexia is in part the result of inefficient phonological processing; children with dyslexia lack the ability to sort out, analyze, and sequence sounds heard in spoken language. Dyslexia accounts for approximately 80% of all diagnosed learning disabilities. The most common difficulty for children with dyslexia is in learning to read, write, spell or do math, although some children might show problems in acquiring spoken language.

While the most common indicators of dyslexia is the reversal of letters and numbers, sometimes, it’s important to understand that often these signs might just express a developmental stage of the child. Sometimes children with dyslexia may show problems recalling certain words and word sequences (days of the week, months of the year, etc.); they also show difficulties organizing thoughts, memorizing information, understanding intended meaning.

Looking for signs:

If your child is in pre-school notice if he has difficulty: learning numbers or the alphabet, identifying rhyming words, or remembering colors.

For children in the elementary grades the alarming signs may include difficulties in sounding our words, reversing numbers or letters, persistent errors in reading or spelling, remembering facts such as math facts and even misunderstanding arithmetic signs.

Dyslexic students in middle school tend to show difficulties in reading comprehension, concentrating and paying attention. They usually struggle with writing assignments and show poor spelling. They lack organizing, planning, and managing skills which affects their ability to complete assignments.  For students in high school and above, dyslexia also impacts their ability to remember, retrieve, and comprehend detailed and or complex information.

While these are only some of the signs of dyslexia, it’s important that as a parent you are aware if any of these appear consistently and affect your child’s academic progress. Talk to your child’s teacher and look for the professionals in the school system to assist you in determine if your child might be dyslexic.

On the bright side, remember that many people from scientists to artists are affected by dyslexia, yet they have been able to overcome it and succeed.

For additional information visit:

The International Dyslexia Association

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Avko: Educational Research Foundation
Reading from Scratch

More Benefits from Physical Activity

The benefits of physical activity have been extensively discussed. We know that it promotes health and fitness, prevent illnesses and supports positive attitude. While being physically active is important at any age, it’s especially significant for children. Now we have additional evidence of its benefits: it promotes academic achievement. In a study recently published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, researchers have established the links between children who routinely engage in physical activities and their success in the classroom. While more studies are suggested to identify how one influences the other, we can safely assume that increasing children’s play time at home and in school –away from video games and other sedentary activities- would promote better health and school success.

You can find additional information about this report in Education Week.

MommyMaestra’s Favorite Holiday Books For Children

Monica Olivera (Mamiverse) shares this interesting list for our young readers.

MommyMaestra’s Favorite Holiday Books For Children

Preschool signs and symptoms of a LD

Are you concerned that your child might have a learning disability? Learn about the signs in this article on Great Schools:

Preschool signs and symptoms of an LD

Encourage your child to read!

Often kids associate reading as a part of school’s assignment and think of it as a task rather than an enjoyable activity they can do just for pleasure. As a parent you can help your child to see and appreciate reading from a different perspective. First of all, don’t use it as a punishment. Sometimes, parents assign reading as a consequence for something the child had not done or hasn’t done it right. That doesn’t contribute to see reading as a pleasant activity; instead, it sends children the wrong message that if they don’t behave they will be ask to read.  Second, find what interest your child. All children have different interests. Some are interested in sports, while others in animals, astronomy, insects, etc. The good news is that there are books for every topic: fiction and nonfiction books in every area that your child might be curious about. Third, use your child’s natural curiosity to foster his interest in reading. Instead of just providing an answer to a question, show him how to use books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and internet resources to find answers to his own questions.

Rather than spending lots of money in buying different kinds of books, take your child to the library and get him a library card. Make a habit to go to the library, every other week (if possible) and check out different kind of books for him to read on his own and/or with your help. Some libraries even offer the same version of the books in more than one language. I often encourage my Latino parents to check the books in both English and Spanish and take turn with their children reading both versions.

Remember that the objective of reading is to comprehend what is in the text. To promote reading comprehension ask and show your child how to use his imagination to visualize (make a picture in his mind) about what he is reading. As he reads, ask him to predict (tell what will happen next) later in the story. Then check if his predictions were right. Many stories offer parents the opportunity to tap into real life situations, thus ask your child about his own opinions: what could this character have done different, what would you do?

Set a time, as often as you can, to read to your child, to read with your child, and to listen to your child read to you. It’s also important that your child “sees” you reading: letters, newspaper, magazines, books, internet articles, etc. Use these opportunities to talk to your child why it’s important to read: be informed, learn about something, pleasure, and so forth.

Happy Reading!