Author: admin
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Homework and Halloween
Dear Dr. Linda: It happens every year, and I never seem to know what to do. Some of my boys’ teachers schedule homework for the evening the kids go trick or treating. I think it’s not a good idea, but I can hardly tell the teachers what to do. Year after year, it ends up…
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Want to Help Your Child Raise Their Grades? Start Here.
Dear Dr. Linda, Our daughter is in eighth grade. She’s smart, a great soccer player, a member of the swimming team, a skilled dancer, and a talented musician. We’re so proud of her. But her grades are always mediocre. It’s the tests that are pulling her grades down. She hands in all her homework. She’ll…
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The Science of Practice: Eight Powerful Ways to Improve Learning
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless struggling students, many of whom have dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges. Two of the biggest obstacles they face isn’t a lack of intelligence or effort—it’s anxiety and focus. The fear of making mistakes can be paralyzing, preventing them from practicing and, ultimately, from improving. I’ve seen firsthand…
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Interview with Brian Silbert
We got a chance to sit down and chat with Brian Silbert, author of Berticus: How I Survived School! And Bullies! And Farley Finnigan! You can enjoy the interview here: FINAL QUESTIONS: Q: Berticus seems to have great relationships with his teachers. How important is it to create such a relationship? A: It’s critical. If…
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Who is Berticus?
Today we are diving into the whimsical world of Berticus, a fifth grader whose life is a whirlwind of imagination, impulsive actions, and the awkwardness that comes with growing up. Berticus is not just any ordinary kid; he embodies the struggles of childhood, caught between the innocent fantasies of youth and the complex realities of…
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Do You Think Berticus has ADHD?
Berticus, the lead character in Brian Silbert’s book, Berticus: How I Survived School! And Bullies! And Farley Finnigan! , seems to have many symptoms that coincide with the diagnoses of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, they found it to be a good fit for the CHADD National Resource Center (NRC) Library collection. It is listed…
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Have You Read Berticus?
Berticus: How I Survived School! And Bullies! And Farley Finnigan, by Brian Silbert “A kid’s rough school days make for a rollicking and often endearing story…Silbert’s tale is endlessly amusing, thanks to the charm of its titular hero. Berticus’ narration makes his typically zany plans seem perfectly reasonable.” Kirkus Review Berticus embodies the quintessential fifth…
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Why Can’t Our Children Read?
Why Can’t Our Children Read? It is reported that reading achievement has declined since 2019 and continues to decline. Why is this happening after teachers have worked so hard to improve reading scores? First, it’s essential to understand that reading is based on early language development. Evidence has shown that COVID-19 brought changes that affected…
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Tips on Teaching Students to Write : Grade 3 through Adult
The goal of teaching your students to write is to insure that your students develop strong writing skills so they will better be able to express ideas, opinions, and thoughts in a creative and mature way. In addition, when an individual is able to write well, they develop a more positive self-image, grow intellectually, develop…
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How To Teach Vowels
Dear Dr. Linda, I’m in my second year of teaching, and I teach the second grade. Teaching vowels is one of the most challenging parts of my job. I’ve had many courses on the history of education and educational theories, but I never had a course simply on how to teach vowels. My Master’s degree…