10 Steps To Take When Your Smart Child Is Falling

Behind In School

Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Lucie M. Curtiss, R.N.Douglas C. Curtiss, M.D,

FAAP• Dyslexic, Best-selling Author, Nurse,

Entrepreneur

• Mother of a Successful Dyslexic

• Cofounder of Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

• Yale-trained pediatrician

• Best-selling author

• Father of a Successful Dyslexic

• Cofounder of Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Step 1 Connect The Dots

Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Mistake 1 • Fixing The Problem That Isn’t

• Either just getting services for each individual issue (speech, reading, fine motor, etc.) without realizing they’re connected

• Or fixing the wrong problem

Possible Causes Of Your Child’s Struggles

• Learning issue

• Behavioral Concern

• Developmental Issue

• ADHD

• Other

ADHD• Diagnosed by your pediatrician

• Ratings scales help you figure it out (Connor’s Scale and Vanderbilt Scale)

• Should be present in multiple situations - not just school.

• Can occur with some of the other issues

• Medication is not the only solution

Behavioral Issue• Usually symptoms occur in multiple

areas not just school

• Often there is some emotional upset or life upset that contributes

• Speak up and get help early

• Medication is not the only option

Developmental Issue

• Young age

• You will see progress as time goes by

• Be careful not to blame your child’s age and ignore other possibilities

Step 2 Learning In Colors

Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Learning Issue - Such As Dyslexia

• Left / Right Confusion

• Difficulty with tying shoes and buttoning shirts

• Late onset of speech

• Difficulty telling time

• Difficulty with rhyming - alphabet song

Learning Issue - Such As Dyslexia (cont.)

• Gripping pencils (maybe dysgraphia

• Fine motor skills

• Inefficient copying of information

• Difficulty reading aloud

• Difficulty with spelling and sight words

Learning Issue - Such As Dyslexia (cont.)

• Laborious writing

• Memorizing math facts (especially when speed is required)

• Early crawling

Step 2 Learning In Colors

Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Mistake 2Not adjusting your teaching

methods

Dyslexic AND UN-Stoppable

Typical Learner

• Black and White

• Repetition and rote memorization

Typical Learner

A little better

Some ground rules

• Your child draws the picture and makes the flashcards

• Pictures don’t have to be complex

What makes good flashcards?

• Easy to draw - You don’t want to spend all the time drawing the picture

• Think about your child’s ability to draw

Steps for making great flashcards

• Different colors

• Color code similar parts of words (Draw, Saw, Jaw)

• Pictures - put the word in the picture

• Divide the word (for longer words)

• Action

• Story

Much Better

Much Better

Much Better

Much Better

Much Better

Questions?

• Connect with us:

• www.DyslexicAndUnstoppable.com

• Facebook/DyslexicUnStoppable

• info@dyslexicandunstoppable.com

Thank You!Next Class

Thursday, February 99:00pm Eastern