Let’s say you’re a parent of a child named Jimmy. Jimmy recently started high school, and one of your friends asks you “How is Jimmy doing in school?” You might respond “he gets good grades” or “he does all of his homework”, but in reality, do you really know how Jimmy is doing in school? Grades and assignments only tell part of the story; as a parent you miss out on a key part of Jimmy’s education which is how he performs during class time.

This is where behavior tracking comes into play. This method of tracking simply requires that…

For students with dyslexia, learning to read and write in their native language is a struggle. Furthermore, fulfilling foreign language requirements in middle and high school can be quite the challenge. While students with dyslexia may have trouble learning new languages, there are millions of people who are both dyslexic and bilingual!

As an educator, teaching a new language to a student with dyslexia may be challenging — here are five practices that may help!

1. Start with Speaking and Listening

From the start of the foreign language class, emphasize speaking and listening. It is easier for students to pick…

OCD (or obsessive compulsive disorder) is known as a series of obsessions and compulsions that take up at least an hour of someone’s day and often cause major distress. OCD can increase the difficulty of everyday tasks — for students, this includes school.

The nature of OCD often causes students with the disorder to act in ways that teachers can find antagonistic. Teachers sometimes attribute this troublesome behavior to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, this can cause students with undiagnosed OCD to be inaccurately diagnosed with ADHD. …

Homework. Every student’s favorite gift from teachers. It’s very easy for students with ADHD to complete their assignments, only to receive no credit. Why? Because they neglect to turn it in. In scientific terms, students with ADHD have underactive frontal lobes (the part of the brain that controls memory and processing). They can have a hard time keeping track of information. As a result, when they arrive to class the following day, they do not remember that they have homework to turn in. …

Students with ADHD have a tough time staying on task. There’s a troubling tendency for people to attribute this inattentiveness to one’s character. However, the truth is that students with ADHD possess brains that are just wired differently.

Reason 1: Their brains work differently!

Individuals without ADHD have a sufficient release of dopamine, the brain’s reward system. As a result, they feel rewarded when they are working on a challenging or daunting task. Individuals with ADHD have insufficient release and reloading of dopamine in areas that effect executive functioning. In simple terms, their brains don’t have a strong reward system…

Getting Organized: 3 Easy Tips for Students with ADHD

Staying organized can be a struggle for students with ADHD. It definitely was for me. Unfortunately, being disorganized has negative effects on academic performance. However, there are three easy strategies (life hacks) for those of us with ADHD that make school easier. I know they did for me.

1. Keep an idea journal, rather than a calendar-based assignment book

Provide these students with a blank journal and encourage them to write down their ideas, thoughts, AND school assignments.

Typical calendar-based agendas can be effective, but getting those with ADHD to consistently…