Summer brain drain is the loss of academic skills over a period of time that a student is away from school, most usually summer vacation. Brain drain is also referred to as summer slide, learning loss or regression. The research shows that the average student loses 2 1/2 months of math computational skills previously learned, regardless of family income and educational levels. It can take upwa … [Read more...]
When to Look Beyond Your School for Extended School Year (ESY)
By Saskia Nilsen, M.A. Learning Specialist and RITES advocateExtended School Year (ESY) summer programs that you pay for are an important investment in your child’s future, especially for those with complex learning profiles.While many schools offer ESY, they may not be individualized, intensive, or focused enough for a struggling student. (For this reason, even though both my kids qualify for ESY … [Read more...]
Extended School Year (ESY) Qualifying Criteria
By Saskia Nilsen, M.A. Learning Specialist and RITES advocateDon't be fooled - if your child has a documented learning difference, your child probably does qualify for Extended School Year!Around this time of year, many parents of kids with IEPs are often told that their child does not qualify for Extended School Year (ESY) without a team meeting to discuss the qualifying criteria. What can you … [Read more...]
Part 4: Living Well with Executive Functioning Challenges
By Saskia Nilsen, M.A. Learning Specialist and RITES advocate Good executive functioning is the key to success with life skills. Here are some steps you can take to help your child get more organized and cope with temporary road blocks at home: Model Flexible Thinking: We often make hundreds of decisions a day - chicken or beef tacos for dinner, answer the phone or call back later, etc. A l … [Read more...]
Why Your Student Needs Strong Study Skills
Students who have not developed necessary study skills are at a disadvantage in the classroom and as future employees. If students understand that the brain can be developed like a muscle, they will be empowered to take control of their learning. What are study skills, and why are they important? Study skills enable us to organize and learn effectively. They help us to acquire and retain … [Read more...]