Resource Room Newsletter - February 2003
http://www.resourceroom.net
Surfin' Sally's Latest Links
Smart Kids With LD
http://www.smartkidswithld.org
Smart Kids is a mailed newsletter from Connecticut; this site is a good general information site about learning disabilities.
Learning Disabilities Resource Community
http://www.ldrc.ca/ --This site has chat boards, news and information (both general and Canadian) for and about people with learning disabiltiies.
This Month's Feature: Memory
The Curve of Forgetting
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/Study/Curve.html
The "Curve of Forgetting": This short, sweet article has a graph and explanation of why frequent, short review can make a huge difference in what we remember. (The graph, enlarged, would make a great bulletin board display. )
Memory Tips
http://www.ldonline.org/kidzone/speak_up/memorytips.html
These tips are ones that work well for folks who struggle with memorizing facts, details and/or steps in a process.
Enhancing School Success with Mnemonic Strategies
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/mnemonic_strategies.html
This article describes a "keyword association" method for rote memorization of facts such as states and capitals.
Cramming
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/Study/cramming.html
Here you'll find ideas for making the most out of limited time to prepare for a test (including reminding yourself not to put yourself in that spot again). The strategies are also perfectly applicable for making any studying more efficient.
Guide for learning the times tables
http://www.resourceroom.net/Math/Jones_tables2.htm
Tips for memorizing the math facts that can be applied to any memorization task.
Excerpts from Tools for the Times Tables Workbook
http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp
Scroll down for links to the introduction, which includes many strategies and multisensory math activities, and sample exercises for learning the nines and tens times tables.
In the news
Reaching Rommel
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32224-2003Feb19.html
Everyone said his 10-year-old student would never learn to read. For a long time, he believed it, too.
Dyslexic student aims to jump hurdles, graduate despite testing difficulties
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/areaA5012403.htm
News-Journal Online (Florida), Jan. 23, 2003
An article about yet another student confronting the arbitrary FCAT requirements.
Nontraditional methods key in success of Jemicy pupils: 30 years of teaching those with learning disabilities.
< http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.jemicy17feb17,0,7926397.story?coll=bal-local-headlines >
Baltimore Sun, Feb. 17, 2003
Jemicy School and its multisensory, dramatic and effective methods for teaching students with learning disabilities are featured.
Personal stories in the news:
Jimmie Shea: Overcoming Challenges
< http://2002.ksl.com/news-6094i.php?p=0 >
KSL News, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 20, 2002
This article describes Olympic skier Jimmie Shea's struggles with reading. "'He didn't give up,' his father says. "A lot of kids with learning disabilities give up. But those that don't, they perservere, they learn so much more about life than the normal kid that's going through school. And I think that's helped Jimmy a great deal.'"
Gold medalist Shea looks forward -- and back .
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=106469&category=SPORTS&BCCode=&newsdate=2/18/2003
Albany Times Union, NY , Feb.18, 2003
An update on Shea and the challenges he still faces.
Breaking down barriers: Program helps clients meet challenges of employment.
< http://www.thesudburystar.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=22943&catname=Life >
Sudbury Star, Sudbury, Ontario ,Feb. 20, 2003
This article features a man with dyslexia and cataracts, and his pride in his accomplishments. No sports star or billionaire, it's refreshing to read about a regular person's everyday challenges.
The Hard Life and Restless Mind of America's Education Billionaire
< http://www.fastcompany.com/online/68/sperling.html >
FastCompany.com, Feb. 17, 2003
This article *is* about a billionaire octagenarian dyslexic and his rather full life.
Artisan has enough irons in the fire
< http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/hahn/108838_chahn15.shtml >
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Feb.15, 2003
And yet a third career option: This man "does custom hand-wrought iron hardware, elaborate architectural pieces such as stairwell railings with floral accents set in a calligraphy of flowing steel, and anatomical sculptures with a sort of Picasso/Braque/Chagall flavor, in the repoussage process of heating and hammering heavy metal from the reverse side.
'Working from the back, where everything is reverse, is not so difficult if you're semi-dyslexic!'
You're invited to come chat with us!
Net Haven
< http://www.net-haven.net >
Net Haven is a small, friendly chat site where parents and teachers can supportively share challenges and ideas.
Chat topics are not strictly enforced -- we've been known to wander!
Some of the educational resources available from the Resource Room Store -- now you can order online from our secure shopping cart!
Books for New Readers
<http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/literacy.asp>
These easy, excellent and inexpensive books were written for older readers. Romance, adventure and non-fiction are all featured. New! Order these books online!
Stone Fox Comprehension Companion
< http://www.resourceroom.net/products/StoneFoxComprehension.asp >
The companion has 27 pages of chapter-by-chapter exercises sent directly to your computer for the ridiculously reasonable price of $2.95.
Harry Potter Comprehension Compendium
<http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/HarryPotterComprehension.asp>
More than 170 pages of comprehension exercises, chapter by chapter, to accompany Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The workbook is sent directly to your computer as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. Introductory price: $12.95.
Tandem Reading
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/tandem.asp >
Help new and not-so-new readers make the connection between phonics and good literature. This guide to reading with a child is designed for parents or tutors to support phonics programs with guided practice and reinforcement -- but without losing the fun of reading! Strategies include "penciling" (a simplified version of Alice Ansara's technique) and practicing words and patterns before oral reading.
Drill Bits and Drillable Syllables
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/drillbits.asp >
Word lists and flashcard sets based on the syllable patterns as taught in Orton-Gillingham programs. Lists are broken down into problem areas such as individual vowel sounds, blends and common "irregular" spelling patterns.
Tools for the Times Tables
by Dr. Steve Chinn (accompanying workbook by Susan Jones)
<http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp >
Who needs a whole book and a workbook about the times tables?
Well, who needs to understand numbers?
Written especially for hands-on learners, this book and workbook are full of strategies and ideas so that students can really master the times tables and come away with a true understanding of numbers and how they work.
If you know someone of any age who finds calculations frustrating, take a look at these books.
feb 20 '03