Category: Education
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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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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…
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College Rejection Letter
Dear Dr. Linda, Please put in the column you wrote about college rejections because it helped us get through a very difficult time. I’m happy to report that Kim is doing well and is extremely happy! I’ve included the email I sent you. Happy Parents — “Our daughter Kim, applied early decision to Cornell, and…
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Overbooked Student
Dear Dr. Linda, My son is in the 10th grade. He is bright and works hard. He always does his homework and likes school but still has a B average. He’ll get an A in a course and then a C in another. He goes to sleep around midnight every night because of homework and…
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Does My Child Need to be Tested?
Dear Dr. Linda, I was working with my son Colin on his homework. I became upset when I realized he had no idea what had been going on in class. I don’t know if it’s because he’s not listening or because the teacher is not explaining things well. Colin, a 7th grader had to fill…
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National Grammar Day
Dear Dr. Linda, I’m not one to criticize—at least I try not to—so how do I tell my son and daughter-in-law and my granddaughter, a freshman in high school, that she needs to learn grammar? Her writing is atrocious! She speaks well but when I read her papers, I’m in shock. I’m not a retired…
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Alphabet Phonics
Dear Dr. Linda, Our son Guy is in second grade and is still not reading. It’s the second half of the year and I’m really concerned. His teacher told me that he needs a good phonics program that follows Orton-Gillingham. Then I talked to my friend whose daughter has trouble with reading because she has…