Autism Articles

Is Summer School for You?

By Jeff S. | 4/27/2013 8:38 PM CST |

May is a busy month for schools. Standardized tests, field trips, and graduation planning takes center stage. Teachers meet with parents of struggling students as well as those who would benefit from summer enrichment classes to discuss summer school enrollment. This article will help parents/ guardians decide whether or not to enroll their child(ren) in summer school.

A "Bad Rap"

The words “summer school” tend to stir negative thoughts. Many parents and students falsely believe that going to summer school is a bad thing. Some cite teasing as a reason for not sending their child to summer...

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Suggestions for finding the BEST tutor for your child or student.

By Paul C. | 3/8/2013 9:49 AM CST |

When interviewing a prospective tutor, parents should ask about the tutor's skills and experience, and find out if the tutor truly enjoys teaching. When the tutor feels enthusiastic about the subject, and communicates well, the student has an opportunity to learn to enjoy the subject too.

I recommend for parents to observe the first lesson to see the tutor's skills in action, and watch/listen carefully to future lessons when possible, to make sure the tutor has an encouraging, supportive attitude at all times. (Tutors should welcome and respond positively to the child's questions, and NEVER...

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Social Thinking

By Sara P. | 2/22/2013 9:02 PM CST |

I think it's safe to say that all teachers are concerned about the academic success of their students. However, something most of us don't consider on an everyday basis concerning our students is their social success. We oftentimes don't realize how difficult it is for some of our students to understand social cues, figure out the hidden rules in the school or social environment, or even how to appropriately interact with others around them.

According to Michelle Garcia Winner, a Speech Language Pathologist, "Social thinking is what we do when we interact with people: we think about them. And...

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Tutoring for Special Education Students

By Jeff S. | 11/14/2012 12:25 AM CST |

Parents of students living with learning difficulties qualify for various academic accommodations. These include things that classroom teachers can incorporate into daily lesson plans, like extra time to complete homework and ability to take tests in a quiet location, to things that state education laws delegate to specially trained teachers, aides, and nurses, such as care for students with feeding tubes. This article summarizes the kinds of learning differences that most tutors can handle and when parents should seek a qualified Special Education tutor.

What most tutors can handle

Many tutors...

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Special Education Resources for Parents

By Lisa M. | 10/28/2012 11:02 AM CST |

Massachusetts Specific Resources:

· http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/

· http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/iep/proguide.pdf

· http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/pnps.pdf

· http://www.masspac.org/

· http://www.mcpap.com/pdf/NavigatingTheSpecialEducationSystemInMassachusetts.pdf

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:

· http://idea.ed.gov/

· http://nichcy.org/laws/idea

· http://www.help4adhd.org/education/rights/idea

General Learning Disabilities Information:

· http://www.ncld.org/

· http://www.ldonline.org/

· http://www.ldanatl.org/

· http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/ld

· http://www...

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A Life-changing Difference

By Anne C. | 7/28/2012 12:20 AM CST |

I will be the first to admit I wasn't always a great student when I was in school. In regular school, my own folks couldn't help me with my homework as neither parent had finished high school. They tried, but it was too much for them. So I really struggled through grade school and then high school. In college I struggled once again. I was smart, but I just couldn't understand some subjects the way they were taught, which honestly seemed all backwards to me. Science was a particularly difficult subject at the time. Try as hard as I might, I just could not seem to make sense of anything I...

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Do You Really Need a Tutor?

By Anne C. | 7/21/2012 3:33 PM CST |

In today's world where everything is about our accomplishments, and time is of the essence, it really helps to get a tutor. I don't think I would be where I was today if I had not had the benefit of a tutor in some of my college subjects. A good tutor can help you to have more confidence and success as you move forward with your goals and dreams. Working with a good tutor can make a world of difference for you. Why not give it a try today?

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Most Important: Customizing the tutoring and approach to the student's learning style, needs, learning objectives, questions.

By John M. | 5/4/2012 10:06 AM CST |

Recently, after I tutored two of my favorite students to prepare them for upcoming tests in Pre-Algebra and Geometry respectively, I received positive reinforcement for the importance and value of customizing the tutoring approach, information, knowledge transfer, and tutoring style.

After the first tutoring session, I was approached by three people as I was waiting for my next student:
1. An elementary school teacher – she complemented me on my knowledge and tutoring style, and asked me for my information to refer students to me for tutoring.
2. A parent seeking a tutor for their daughter...

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Success vs. Stress, including Fear of Failure and Memory Problems

By Paul C. | 4/24/2012 7:27 AM CST |

A few keys to success in school (for people with or without A.D.D.):

We need to concentrate on taking notes in classes, and possibly use a digital recorder to record some classes. (That makes a tremendous difference for many of my A.D.D. students, because they can "go back and listen" to things they missed when distractions occurred.) Examples of distractions include when other students are moving or making noises, worries or concerns**, being hungry, needing to go to the restroom, looking for a pen or pencil, or needing to sharpen a pencil, etc. There are many sources of distractions. Even...

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How nice when people let you know they appreciated the work you did.

By Rosemary B. | 3/29/2012 11:59 AM CST |

What nice things were said today about my teaching. This by a former Principal.

"Rosemary was a very dedicated teacher with good moral values and a passion for teaching. She was always prepared for class, punctual, responsible and was able to motivate children to learn. She was also very creative in her approach and the children were drawn to her. I was very fortunate to have her ... in both programs I have supervised. The students and their parents respected her and learned a lot under her leadership.

I would highly recommend Rosemary ... She is a team player who sets high standards for...

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