Category Archives: Overcoming Learning Disabilities

How to OVERCOME Test Anxiety

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:03 — 24.1MB)

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Contrary to the false charity folks (read deceptive communist controllists) we OVERCOME  — or solve problems. So, yes, some student exhibit test anxiety. Better to overcome test anxiety than to spin the yarn that this in a disability that can not be helped and therefore the student should not be expected to learn Math. Good way to induce a problem, and then cement it, and then cause a ruined life and worse off society. No, these problems can be solved — one way or another. If there is a will.

Of course, yes, some of the solution might cause adults to work, or conversely, not get paid quite so much for not working. Still, let’s solve the problem.

Labeling – Children Live up to What Their Teachers Think of Them

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:22 — 17.9MB)

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Labeling Understood in Social Science

Labeling is a long standing theory in social sciences which basically says that people (and especially children) live up — or down– to what the people (especially the authority figures) around them think about them. A child who is told and expected to be smart, pretty, or competent generally is. A child who is told that she is a slut or he is a dumbass — usually ends up acting that way.

Teachers should know this. It should be in their curricula in college. It certainly is in Introductory Sociology and in Pyschology courses. Why then to teachers demonstrate and live out labeling theory instead of apply the wisdom from knowing about it?

What I’ve Seen

When I was in graduate school in the 1990s, the one Sociological paper about Learning Disabilities found that teachers thought LD was Mental Retardation. When I substituted in 2006, I certainly saw this play out. Teachers treated any “special needs” student with contempt and extraordinarily low expectations. My short time in the class could turn the situation around — but I doubt permanent change would remain.

When I was Academic Dean, I saw teachers make bright student’s life hell because of teacher gossip. When the student is a 7 year old, too bright for the class, and yet bedevilled by negative fantasies of the teacher…. it is exasperating. I was in the classroom. I saw it.

I was not in the classroom of my daughter’s third grade classroom, but the mother of another student let me know that the teacher there used bullying and name-calling regularly in the classroom. We are talking about the 1980s. In front of me, even, the teacher declared that my daughter could not read. But when the teacher turned her back, my daughter turned to the back of the book and read the page fine.

One shudders to consider how labeling is working in today’s hyper-sexualized, extremely disrespectful environment.

Hear the Episode

Let’s consider labeling. It has detrimental effects. Unfortunately, we see these more often with students with diagnoses and learning problems.

It could have good effects. If only….

Vision Can Be Improved!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:29 — 16.3MB)

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Vision can be improved! So can eyesight.

Both vision and eyesight can be improved? Did you think not? Did someone tell you otherwise?

Vision has to do with the brain. Eyesight has to do with the eyes. Both need to be working. Both can be improved.

Eye doctors do not do that. They, instead, sell glasses. So, they “correct” eyesight by putting on glasses. Often these glasses are the wrong prescription. People, especially children complain, and are told “well your eyes will adjust.” Well, sure enough their brain adjusts, and maybe their eyes adjust too. And then they need stronger glasses. Until the person is old and is sold surgery — that lasts only 7 years. STOP!

Vision is not the same as Eyesight

Vision/eyesight is extremely important. Obviously, it underlies academic performance, but also it is foundational to lots of other things including spatial awareness/coordination and social ability and behavior and ability to focus! Until now just about no one was working scientifically on that.

Resources

And more and more Americans are having eye problems — largely because of the over-use of screens.

I just heard a great podcast by Dave Asprey with guest Dr. Bryce Applebaum https://daveasprey.com/1240-bryce-appelbaum/ that got me excited. So, I sat down with you, like an informal chat, and tried to convey what I know.

Meier Schnieder was blind, exercised till he could see, and started sharing his intuitive methods with others. He now teaches courses in person and on line. https://self-healing.org/ He had a couple of books, too.

Here is a link to the old sunning and palming exercises, altho I do not know the folks behind these sites at all. Looks like this is called the “Bates Method.”
https://integraleyesight.com/batesmethod/palming-and-sunning/
https://batesvisioneducation.org/using-sunshine-to-improve-eyesight/
https://naturallyclearvision.com/the-practice-of-palming/
https://healingtheeye.com/Articles/Sunning_is_beneficial.html

Easy things to do

First principals:
Get outside, do not stay indoors on your computer all the time! Strictly limit screen time for children. Make your screens warm, with as little blue light as possible. Even adults should stop using a screen 2 hours before bedtime or use strong blue blockers like Tru dark glasses. https://truedark.com/ (Cheap substitutes won’t be as good but will likely do some good.)

Look far away. Take breaks from working your eyes at least every hour.

Exercise your eyes: 1) Look close and far away
2) Look all around
3) Use your peripheral vision
4) Rest your eyes by covering your eyes with your warm palms and enjoying darkness for a while.

I think you will notice that your eyesight is improving with just a few trials. But keep on! Take hope and motivation by this fact, now established: that vision and eyesight can be improved — a great deal. Maybe in the future no one will wear glasses!

How to Tell What is True

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 17.8MB)

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We have been in a series on how to think better. However, this is the first episode of the older series on how to tell what is true. Wow! is this ever a timely topic. More than half the country is rejoicing that we saved democracy from communists, and another large percentage of the country is lamenting that Hitler and the facists have just taken over, with a promise to end democracy. One party wants to return to the rule of law and the other is afraid of lawfare and weaponized government. It would be hilariously laughable if it were not so deadly serious.

However, this ability to tell what is true is not just a widespread life skill need, but it is particularly a “LD” need. Students with learning disabilities seem to be slower at “reading between the lines” precisely because they are spending so much energy on decoding what those words in the line mean. They may be slower at gaining “social skills” precisely because they are spending so much time on academic work. Of course, it also may be true that there are brain healing, detoxing, and growing issues, which we addressed in the more recent series.

In any case, this topic, how to tell what is true, is a huge need for everyone. Teacher and educators need to work with students who are having problems in school to directly teach this. It is a shame, of course, that this is not in the normal public school curricula. Wonder why that is?

Anyway, hope this helps you. Please like, share, and tell your friends.