Does your child remember places visited, even from years ago?
Does your child remember details from movies?
Does your child learn best when seeing and experiencing information?
If this describes your smart struggling child, there is a good chance your child is a
Right-brained learner who may struggle with traditional methods can be very successful with an approach that plays to their strengths, addresses their challenges and engages their interest.
We have read hundreds of psychological reports, spoken with thousands of parents and helped over 1200 right-brained learners. There are 5 risks we have seen for right-brained learners, and then we have three key recommendations.
The 5 biggest risks we see with most Dyslexia Tests and Dyslexia Programs are:
1- They focus on what is wrong with the child -- with a focus on Dyslexia, CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Most reports we read are well done and accurate -- but often do not reveal:
The student is a right-brained learner - who learns best when they see and experience information
Tracking issues - that the child skips words or lines when reading -- and occasionally this issue surfaces, but is downplayed as not important -- another psychologist asked "I do not understand how a right-brained learner who is also a visual learner can have a visual processing issue -- our work, which has been corroborated by others, shows right-brained learners are several times more likely to have tracking issues
The right-brained learners can make great strides when they are engaged and taught to their strengths
2- The recommendation is often for a phonics-based program. As Dr. Linda Silverman, who is a psychologist who specializes in bright kids who are right-brained learners, wrote in her book "Upside Down Brilliance":
"Phonics instruction does not need to be eliminated altogether, but sight word vocabulary needs to be built first. Then whole words or syllables can be compared and the pattern recognition capacities of the visual-spatial learner can be brought to bear".
Right-brained programs may get more significant results because they engage your child and play to their strengths.
3- ADHD Medication and counseling are often recommended -- the recent National Institute of Mental Health Study confirms a short term benefit for ADHD Medication -- but it shows no difference for students after two years on ADHD Medication and those not on ADHD Medication. While counseling can certainly help, we have found that tools like the Interactive Metronome (R), Brain Gym (R) and Biofeedback build the skills that make the child more successful and counseling more beneficial.
4- The visual tracking, visual processing, and visual motor integration issues are often missed or not addressed. Not addressing these issues could result in the right-brained learner continuing to:
Skip words and lines when reading
Reversing numbers and/or letters
Having difficulty copying information
Not knowing their left from their right
Displaying ADHD like behavior -- that is often caused by a visual issue
5- Right-brained learners often struggle for years and this results in them:
Being held back, or put into remedial classes -- where they are bored and often struggle
Falling further and further behind their peers
Never reaching their true potential
3 Tips For Parents of Smart Struggling Students -- Who May Be Right-Brained Learners
The first tip is that Outrageous Success is The Only Option.
The pain and the agony of more of the same is intense. The problems get bigger, hormones kick in and you are left wondering what should I have done.
Set your sights high -- the benefits can include:
Significant improvements in reading comprehension and standardized test scores
A marked decrease in homework time and stress
A real change in how children see themselves
A new kid when playing sports, a musical instrument, doing martial arts or other activities
The great feeling you get when your child succeeds and you know you made the difference
Waiting is not an option, traditional methods can be of some help and
with the right help your child can be Outrageously Successful
The second tip is to assess for how your child learns best, whether they have a visual issue and how to work with professionals who will help you create your child's Pathway to Outrageous Success.
Psychologists are often very bright, thorough, and their perspective varies greatly from:
True believers in being realistic and using traditional methods
True believers in being realistic and using innovate methods that match your child's needs
Professionals who believe in helping your child to reach their true potential, and using innovative methods that meet your child's needs -- and help you to see new possibilities
The third tip is to align with professionals who:
Have an excellent track record with kids like your child
Have the parenting and professional expertise to engage and relate to both your child and you
Will help you through the land mines at home and at school -- to be the coach and advocate your child needs
Mira Halpert M.Ed. is a parent, an educator and a right-brained learner herself -- two of her four child are right-brained learners -- and Mira developed and directs the 3D Learner Program (R) that teaches the way the right-brained learner learns, helps parents to be the coach and advocate a child needs and offers a ton of Free Information at her 3D Learner website - visit the parents make the difference page and then call Mira or her husband Mark at 561-361-7495.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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