Learning difficulties are also known as learning disorders or disabilities. They are discovered once a child starts schooling and starts experiencing learning troubles. These difficulties are at times referred to as Specific Learning Differences (SPLD) and they occur in different forms. Dyslexia is one of them and it is a condition that refers to difficulties in numeric and literacy. This condition is not only restricted to difficulties but also encompasses abilities as well.

People with dyslexia find trouble skimming and reading becomes a challenge. They may also experience difficulties in motor skills, visual perception, memory and sequential skills. The abilities they may have include creative thinking, excellent visual-spatial skills and an understanding that is intuitive. The other condition that results from learning difficulties is dysphasia, which is associated with clumsiness. Those with it are often disorganized and find it hard to find coordination and balance. These people will also have difficulties in acquiring writing skills and using the keyboard. They also have trouble with pronunciation and find light, noise and touch irritating.

The other defect among learning difficulties is dyscalculia and people with this condition experience difficulties in acquiring arithmetical skills. These people find it hard to understand the number concepts that include their facts and procedures. They are unable to tell time, do simple calculations and lack the estimation power. They also find it hard to tell speed and temperature and this is characterized by use of faulty estimations. The other disorder among the learning difficulties is hyperactivity, which is also referred to as attention deficit disorder (ADD). These people experience a short attention span and have a habit of deviating from the topic of the moment. They find it hard to concentrate for long and they also exhibit poor listening skills. The hyperactive ones are always restless and fidget a lot. They are impulsive and erratic and always do things in haste. These people require high motivation if they are to achieve anything in life. These traits make it difficult for them to learn normally like the others.

People with these learning difficulties are often lacking in confidence since they feel unable to accomplish tasks. Some of the symptoms that characterize these difficulties include difficulties in learning new skills. They may take long to grasp the basics when it comes to driving, reading and writing. They also have a tendency of taking longer to complete the tasks they are presented with. These people may also exhibit gross disorganization in their work and in their lives too. They also lack clarity when it comes to organizing their time and making it to appointments. They may mix up dates due to their difficulties in numbers, as they do not recognize figures. Many of these people have a short memory and remembering events is a great challenge for them. They may get lost as they have trouble following instructions as well as telling directions. However, with guidance and advice, these problems can be overcome and those in charge need to understand such deficits and address them professionally.

As your children get older, they are going to find new interests, some of which you know nothing about and really could not care to learn about either. If they are asking you hundreds of questions about things and you do not know how to answer, you may want to find others that they can chat with to satisfy their curiosity. Children often latch on to something and obsess about it for a while. Don’t worry – this passes for the most part as they get older, but for a while, you may feel you are going crazy. If you want to find someone for them to talk to, look around for safe chat for kids options they can use.

Chat for kids should never be just for kids. This is not something you want them to do alone. There are a lot of strange people out there and some of them are dangerous. If your find a good chat for kids that your child can start to learn how to use, you want to be sitting with them for each and every session. At the very least, you want to check in every few minutes to see what is being said in the chat room. If you do not pay attention, anyone could be saying anything to them, and if you follow the news, you know how dangerous that can be.

Before you allow your children to use chat for kids, you want to research the options out there for them. This means finding places that you feel you can trust. Though you can never really be sure each person in a chat room is really a child, you can eliminate a few types of chat right away. Any chat associated with a popular show on that show’s official web site is going to be a good choice, as well as those sponsored by companies that you trust. Do not allow them to use any random chat for kids they can find online. Generally speaking, these are just not safe.

Instead, find chat for kids rooms that are moderated and that have a clear policy about imposters and those that say inappropriate things. Again, never leave your child alone in a chat. The moment something happens, you can pull your child away and report what happened to someone in charge. Also take this time to teach your children what is right and wrong in a chat, and how they should handle themselves. They can learn a lot about how to talk to others politely and with respect in both real life and in online conversations. Teach them how you would handle any bullies and what is appropriate and what is not. They will learn a lot from you.

Lastly, make sure that you keep an eye on chats even as they get much older. They will not protest when they are young and you are sitting with them in chat for kids. However, when they are teenagers, they are going to be insisting on your trust and that you give them some privacy. You can do that by laying down some ground rules about where and when chatting is allowed. You can still insist they chat online in a common room of the house and that you can peek over their shoulder on occasion. Keep up to date with the latest abbreviates too, so they can not sneak something past you.

How to Accelerate learning?

An effective way to improve your learning experience is to teach what you learn to your peers.

Advantages:
• You learn better when you teach
o When you see yourself as a teacher, you take a far more responsible attitude toward the learning. You are a lot more motivated to learn when you are responsible to teach.

• When you teach what you learn, you promote bonding in the relationship
o An authentic teaching experience causes both teacher and learner to become more bonded. People who have been influenced by great teachers tend to feel relatively close to them.

What is a suitable time to teach?

It is time to teach when…
• People are not threatened. You should create an environment in which the person feels more secure and receptive.
• You’re not angry or frustrated.
• The other person needs help and support.

Effective teaching method in order to accelerate learning:
• Be engaging
o Instead of giving one-sided lecture, try to engage your students. Teaching is not simply talking and writing. Try to engage your students, ask them questions, present scenarios, ask them to create a scenario. Keep in mind that information which is presented in one direction is often forgotten.

• Tell stories & Role Play
o Present your information in an interesting way rather than in a dull and boring way Convert your information into stories or try to slip in new information into an existing story. If you think telling a story is not engaging enough, ask you students to do a role play or even do the role play with them.

• Use applied learning
o If people ask me how to accelerate learning, the first thing I think of is to use ‘applied learning’. Let me convince you why…
o Information/knowledge itself might be abstract, hard to understand, or hard to remember without any application. We all know that the best way to learn maths is to practice and do exercise. However, I’d say that doing practice exercise is the best way to prepare a maths exam, not to learn maths. I tend to forget about it after a one month holiday. I believe most people do. However, people never forget about the basic of mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Why? Because we encounter problems about them almost every day. We are applying these techniques in a regular basis. So using applied learning is really important. To maximize the benefit brought from applied learning, you should tailor the applied learning experience to the interest of the student.

Now that you have learn more about how to accelerate learning, try it out! Make the most out of this post. Good luck to your study and teaching.

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Yes it’s getting about that time again.  School will be starting before you know it and you know what that means; shopping.  Clothes, books, backpacks, school supplies, lunch kits and who knows what else?  I found this great article yesterday at another site and wanted to pass it on to you.  Hopefully you can gleam some good information and ideas from the article and save some money along the way.

True, there’s still another month or so of summer—but if you’ve got a school-age kid, you’re probably already thinking about all the books, calculators, and Silly Bandz your kid will need for his first journey back on the big yellow school bus in September. If your child’s in college, you’re looking at an even more severe blow to your bank account, with all the overpriced textbooks, dorm furniture, and other “necessities” (not to mention the jaw-dropping tuition bill).

Read the rest of the article here.

Source: RIF Exchange Show #202
By: Derry Koralek

The Storyteller’s Creed
I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.

- Robert Fulghum

What is storytelling?

The National Council of Teachers of English defines storytelling as “relating a tale to one or more listeners through voice and gestures.”
Most storytellers say it is an interactive process involving the teller, who shares the tale, and members of the audience who listen and let their imaginations take over.

“When I think of the definition of storytelling, I think of it as an event,” said author and educator Shirley Raines. “There’s the story, the listener, and the teller. And the teller is the person who makes it an event, but only if the listener is very engaged.”

Why did our ancestors tell stories?

Historians say there are several reasons why storytelling has been a part of so many cultures. They believe storytelling was used to: teach history; settle arguments; make sense of the world; satisfy a need for play and entertainment; honor supernatural forces; communicate experiences to other humans; and record the actions and characteristics of ancestors for future generations.

Are traditional stories still relevant today?

Many traditional stories are very relevant to our lives today. They remind of us our history and heritage and often carry universal life messages that have stood the test of time.

What are family stories and why are they important?

Family stories are tales about our immediate family members or ancestors that help us define ourselves as individuals and as members of a family. They are told informally, often around the dinner table and at family gatherings, holiday celebrations, reunions, and so on. As a result, they promote family communication.

Family stories teach children about their family, cultural, and religious heritage, which sets the stage for healthy development and learning. They are meaningful because they are true, and, like family heirlooms, are passed from one generation to the next.

How do stories help children understand themselves and relate to others?

When children listen to stories, they often identify with the characters’ experiences and feelings. This helps them understand their own fears, emotions, and feelings. Some stories introduce ethics and values and expand children’s understanding of the world. Many times, stories let children appreciate their own cultures and those of others.

What do children learn when they create their own stories?

When children become storytellers, they grow in many ways:
• They learn to put events in a sequence that makes sense.
• They build problem-solving skills by planning how to tell the story in an engaging way.
• Their self-confidence grows as they take an active role in creating a story.
• They build strong vocabularies, learn to express their ideas clearly, and develop public speaking skills.
• They feel important, because they have a story to tell.

How can story-telling be adapted for the 4-7 year old reader?

Find books with a simple story arch—simple compelling pictures and perhaps a very- straight-forward message such as the importance of love, family, acceptance, etc. Your bookstore (online or otherwise) is full great choices. Master Story-Teller Johnnie Lunchpail has adapted his story-telling style for the beginner reader. For as sample check out http://www.lunchpailbooks.com or enjoy story time by a talented kid at www.youtube.com/lunchpailbooks

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