Ways for teachers (or anyone!) to support communication with NVLD students

Suppose you are  a teacher and you have a kid in your class who has nonverbal learning disability (NVLD). Like nearly all teachers, you want what is best for your students. You want to help. But sometimes communication with that NVLD kid just doesn’t seem to work. What might you try?

Surprise! Some of us don’t like surprises

In the post holiday period I got to thinking about surprises.  I think there are two sorts of surprises. One is the “expected surprise” which is not the oxymoron it sounds like. The other is the unexpected surprise.

Getting kids to accept accommodations

In my history, accommodations were never an issue. I wasn’t offered any. But these days things are different. Many children get accommodations. But some refuse to take what is offered. They don’t want to appear different. Or they view it as cheating. I’ve got some thoughts on getting kids to accept accommodations.

Book review: Cloud Chaser by Peter Riffle

I got to hear Peter Riffle speak at the New Jersey LDA meeting. I also bought his book The Cloud Chaser. If you are a teacher in special education, especially if you are relatively new in the field or need some inspiration, this could be a good book for you to read.

Thoughts on Peter Riffle’s keynote address at the New Jersey LDA meeting

In this post I gave my general impressions of the recent meeting of the New Jersey LDA. Now, I’d like to write a little about Peter Riffle, especially his keynote address. Peter Riffle is a teacher of learning disabled kids. He also is learning disabled himself (he has dyslexia). And he’s a great speaker.

New Jersey LDA meeting – general thoughts

On Sunday, October 6 I went to the New Jersey LDA (learning disabilities association) meeting.  In this post, I’ll talk about the event in general. In later posts, I’ll talk about the specific sessions I went to. Overall? It was great!

Disabilities and inconveniences

Disabilities can certainly be inconvenient.  In fact, you might even say that if something isn’t inconvenient it isn’t a disability. But disabilities aren’t just inconvenient and many inconveniences aren’t disabilities. What are the similarities and differences?

The benefits of labels for LD people

“I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I think I’m broken”  – Quote from a 12 year old child with learning disabilities. Labels have a bad reputation among many in the special needs community. Certainly, labels can be misused. But, if you think your child might be learning disabled, then, believe me: Your child […]

Nonverbal learning disability: Ten things we wish our teachers knew

For a teacher, a child with nonverbal learning disability can be a puzzle. I am sure I was a puzzle to my teachers!  Here are some things I wish they had known: 1. Just because I’m disabled doesn’t mean I’m not abled.  There are things I can do badly, there are things I can do […]

Measuring progress: Snails and eagles both move

Sometimes a learning disabled person seems not to be making any progress in some particular area – usually, this is the area that is difficult for that person.  The LD person could appear this way internally or externally; that is, others may look at the LD person and not see progress, or the LD person […]