As expected, many students have experienced learning loss because of school changes related to the pandemic. As new cases fall and immunizations rise, school plans begin to take shape. Although some educational reports have tried to take a rosy picture of the pandemic’s effect on education, learning loss appears to be worldwide with the widest losses among lower socioeconomic groups, Blacks and Hispanics, and students with disabilities. The research firm McKinsey & Company found that learning loss during the pandemic average 6.8 months for K-12 students. In order to make up for losses, the report recommended at minimum 50 hours of targeted instruction over a two week period. Many states put waivers on dyslexia screening, teacher training, and intervention requirements due to […]
Dyslexia and Perfectionism [Premium]
For many, college is a “perfect storm” for personal stress. Reading and writing workloads may be astronomical, student and family expectations are high, and many students for the first time may be without personal and academic supports that allowed them to enter college in the first place. College is the time when students could find their organizational and time management abilities stretched beyond their ability to cope. There are surprisingly few studies looking at coping strategies for dyslexic students in college or universities. Recently, in the United Kingdom, researchers discovered that unhealthy patterns of perfectionism may negatively impact students’ well-being and the likelihood to reach out for help. Perfectionism is now thought to be a common personality disposition characterized by the making of high personal […]
Dyslexia at College: Chat With Xinru at Brown [Premium]
Recently I had the pleasure of talking to Xinru about dyslexia, college, and computer languages. Xinru’s currently studying both music and computer sciences at Brown University, an Ivy League university that is known for its “Open Curriculum” – that allows students to choose their personal course of study. But briefly, I found her when she posted her 10 Ways to Code with ADHD and Dyslexia (see below). She talks so fast, at times I had to listen to her on 1/2 speed; I think that means she’s a fast thinker too! Xinru first came to the US when she was just 8 years old; although she had trouble reading and writing in the early grades, she said she could “get away with” saying that she […]
Inspiration: Dyslexia At Oxford
This is an extraordinary collection of 21 interviews of people at Oxford. We should never underestimate the potential of people with dyslexia. The talents,...
Real World Learning with Dr. Glenn Sterner
In our interview with CEO Brett Kopf, he told us that the experience of being part of the Bailey Scholar program at Michigan State University was life changing in terms of finding a positive future for himself. He told me that his advisor was a really inspirational...
Tips From Hannah: College Junior with a 4.0 [Premium]
KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS – SELF-ADVOCATE – Early in group work, let your fellow students know that you’re dyslexic. Say, “I’m dyslexic, so I can’t read or write well, but I’m creative and can come up with ideas.” – Don’t be afraid of asking students to read things for you. You can help more if people read things aloud to you. – Research on RateMyProfessor ahead of time to find teachers that will work with you re: dyslexia. Are there any warning signs? I like choosing professors who like a lot of class participation. ASK FOR SUBSITUTIONS IF YOU NEED THEM When snow days upset the schedule at school, Hannah had to face learning material and putting together an assignment over Thanksgiving break without the help […]
Online Certifications
With some jobs and higher educations up in the air because of the pandemic, some college graduates and workers are looking to online certification programs to improve their future job prospects or salary. Certificates may be highly desirable or required for certain...
Prepared for College: What High Schooler Students Should Know [Premium]
There are many changes impacting high school students because of the pandemic, but it’s never too early to look ahead and prepare for your higher education journey. Many colleges are back in session, but numerous students are also opting to take gap years. For the most part, colleges and universities are waiving their requirements for college entrance exams, so look for new opportunities if test scores or other factors have previously help your student back. I recently had the chance to chat about college prep, the college search, and college success tips with Elizabeth Hamblet, author of From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students with Disabilities. Listen to my interview with Elizabeth here. Here are some pearls from our discussion: – […]
The Writing Process From a University Tutor [Premium]
I recently came across a helpful account from a university-based tutor who worked with a fellow college student at Reed. There are many points that are helpful to consider if you are working with a student in the area of writing. For some, writing is the most frustrating task they are likely to encounter in school. It is often the gateway to higher education and most common way their knowledge and ideas are assessed as they progress through education. The full article is HERE. She begins with a disclaimer, recognizing that she is “no expert,” but I think she is an expert of sorts, having worked through many difficult challenges with her student and helping him to reach a higher level of proficiency. “As my […]
Schooling From Home, Can You Do It?
Like it or not, when Fall rolls around, many of us may need to school from home whether it's our first choice or not. What if your student is dyslexic? Can it possibly work? There are a lot of people who can't see schooling from home working for their student, but...
COVID: The Chaos of College and Beyond
Colleges and universities are in crisis, as they hastily cancelled in-person classes and the pandemic drags on. They face huge budget losses with refunds for student fees for housing and food, plus the prospect of students choosing not to enroll for the fall semester...
Covid College: What About Fall Semester? [Premium]
The outlook for the fall semester remains unpredictable. What does it mean for this community? The situation about the pandemic remains very fluid as does the state of public and private schools at all levels, therefore complex and individualized decisions are being made at homes all across the country. Many colleges and universities, secondary schools, and households are experiencing considerable financial stress leading many to decide to take a gap year or semester, or scale back on educational plans. On the one hand, some college counselors have suggested aiming high for their college choices because college entrance exams are waived and students may be more likely to get into their ‘reach’ choices because of lots of other students choosing to stay closer to home or […]