“Reading Rescue” is a program I developed that is intended for those children who are not experiencing success in their ability to read in the early grades. It is a highly structured and sequential phonics based reading program that teaches: the sounds of individual letters the skill of blending 2 sounds together, then 3, then 4, then . .to make individual words focuses initially on the “short” vowel words the combining of words […]
Read complete blog post
Few things are more terrifying for a parent than the first time their child has a night terror. Night terrors are different than bad dreams or nightmares. Bad dreams and nightmares happen to virtually everybody and occur during the REM sleep phase (rapid eye movement). Researchers have discovered that even fetuses have dreams – including “bad” ones. Bad dreams may cause facial grimaces, moving, thrashing about and may result in being wakened up. […]
Read complete blog post
There are no “hard” diagnostic tests for Asperger’s. The diagnosis is made through observation and reports from parents, teachers, etc. The majority of children with Asperger’s are diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 11 although a diagnosis may not be made until adulthood. There is no “cure” for Asperger’s Syndrome, however there are interventions that can yield positive results: parental education teacher education behavioural approaches training of social skills (ABA,IBI) medications […]
Read complete blog post
I recently had an opportunity to meet with a school staff regarding a young boy who is having a tough time. He is doing OK academically but his “odd” social skills result in him being bullied and manipulated by his classmates. He becomes angry and lashes out and problems snowball from there. I am not a doctor but as the teachers described this boy’s behaviour, I became suspicious that he may have disorder […]
Read complete blog post
Fly it through the air. Roll it across your desk and let it fall to the floor. Stick it in the screw of the chair. Eat it. Poke your neighbour. Stick it up your nose. Pick the threads of your socks. Sharpen it . . . sharpen it again . . . sharpen it again . . . Pretend it is a drum stick. Lose it.
Read complete blog post