Archive for December, 2010

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Special Education, Family, and School Budgets Discussed

December 30th, 2010


One thing is for certain, if you have a special needs child, education is very important, and it is of major concern. There is lots of information online about special education; research, reports, and data, but there are also many articles online about how this is affecting school budgets too. Consider if you will the near epidemic levels of kids born with autism, and how this is affecting our schools, we are challenged with staffing, costs, and the incredible needs of each student.

It is unfortunate that in such an economically powerful nation that we are having such a difficult time rising to the occasion. It is also unfortunate that many parents and families cannot afford the extreme costs associated with a special needs child. There are kids with emotional and behavioral disorders, which need special curriculums, and there are more than enough ideas, products and experience to solve these challenges, but it all costs money.

Indeed, we are making headway with special needs students in assisting them with their learning difficulties in schools, but we need to as a society realize that how we act, and the decisions we make in this regard says a whole lot about who we are as a people, and as a nation. Although we have Federal Laws considering giving special needs students the estimated appropriate education, we also have local school district constraints, and we’ve also got the lawyers involved, costing the system, and families even more money.

Something has to give because the regular students are having their classroom budget cuts also, and there just isn’t enough money to go around anymore. This is a very serious issue, unfortunately it is an ethical one, that we are not addressing. Thus, I thought you should know, perhaps put some thinking to it. You see, I’ve been talking with parents of special kids, wrote an eBook on how to do an Autism Fundraiser, and have been in touch with parent groups – let me tell you, these are serious concerns. We are all effected.

By: Lance Winslow

About the Author:
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes it’s hard to write 20,000 articles; http://www.bloggingcontent.net/

Note: All of Lance Winslow’s articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.



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How to Ensure Your Special Education Child Receives a Free Appropriate Public Education

December 29th, 2010


Do you have a child with autism who receives special education services and struggles with all areas of academics? Are you concerned that your child with dyslexia is not receiving appropriate reading instruction and is falling further and further behind their grade appropriate peers? This article will give you 7 things that you can do to ensure that your child is receiving a free appropriate public education.

1. Have high expectations for your child. With appropriate educational instruction, your child with autism or a learning disability, should be able to keep up with their age and grade appropriate peers.

2. If your child has dyslexia or a learning disability in the area of reading, make sure that they are receiving a scientifically based reading program which includes explicit direct instruction that is systematic, sequential and cumulative. Studies from the National Institute of Human Development have shown that for children with difficulties learning to read, a multisensory teaching method is the most effective teaching method.

3. According to No Child Left Behind, 5 skills must be included in a reading program to bring early reading success. These skills are: Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Make sure these skills are included in any reading program for your child.

4. Make sure that the reading instruction is given according to the person who developed the programs protocols. If the program is not taught correctly or for the recommended amount of time that child will not learn.

5. If your child has difficulties in the area of functional skills insist that your child receive functional skill training, and make sure goals are written for your child.

6. Make sure that all of the special education services your child needs are listed in their individual educational plan (IEP). Many special education personnel limit the types and amounts of special education services that they provide to children with disabilities, which means that you may have to assertively and persistently fight for your child.

7. Make sure that all services listed on your child’s IEP are actually given to your child. Check in with your child’s teacher and service providers to ensure that your child is receiving the services. If you are not sure, ask for written proof that your child has received therapies and services that are listed on their IEP.

By following these 7 items you will be able to help your child receive a free appropriate public education! Children who do not receive a free appropriate public education may not be able to get a job or live a fulfilled life.

By: JoAnn Collins

About the Author:
JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special eduation system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book “Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game.” The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled “The Special Education Spotlight” send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com



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How to Choose Educational Toys For Your Child’s Development

December 29th, 2010


You want everything that your child comes in contact with to be the best that it can be. While many people view toys as something that a child merely plays with and has no importance, others understand that play is a way that your child learns. Playtime is an opportunity for a child to learn about the world around them and to act out what they have already learned.

When you see children playing house or other pretend games, you can see what they have learned from watching the interactions in their home. It is important that you take playtime seriously and let your children use their imaginations, creativity and incredibly sponge like brains in a way that works best for them. Playtime is the way that children learn and reinforce what they understand about the world.

Once you understand the importance of playtime, you will begin to wonder what kind of toys to buy for your developing child. There are a few things that you should keep in mind when you are buying toys. The most important rule that you should follow is the age appropriateness rule. Even though you may believe that your child is mature beyond their years, it is vital that you choose toys that are appropriate to their age. If your child is advanced there are other ways that you can stimulate their inquisitive brain and leave the toys age appropriate.

The reasons for the age restrictions on some toys are primarily safety. Even though you believe that your little ray of sunshine would never put the toy in their mouth and choke because they are just too smart for that, they will. Why take the chance? There are other hazards that could be on toys that you had not even though of until it is too late. Take the warnings and the age restrictions seriously to keep your child safe.

It is possible to find toys for an advanced child that is still age appropriate. Look in the toy stores that specialize in these types of toys. Look for toys that give the child an opportunity to learn much more than just how to operate the toy. For instance, a telescope is a great toy for an inquisitive mind. They can learn all about the telescope and how it works, which is fascinating to some children. And once they understand how the telescope works, they can learn about all of the things that the telescope shows them. If you have a child with an insatiable curiosity, and who doesn’t, a toy like this will have to be accompanied with the appropriate materials so that they can satisfy their curiosity about the things that they see. An Internet connection should suffice.

Finally, the best way to determine which toys are going to be used and learned from and which ones are going to be left in the box is to talk to your child. It might be difficult with a younger child, but pay attention to the things that they enjoy. Their unique taste and style will begin to show through in no time at all. For little girls that love to play dress up, you might have a budding fashion designer on your hands. Encourage it and give her a trunk of flamboyant clothes that you put together just for her. Costume shops and thrift stores are great for this type of toy. Use your creativity and think outside of the packaged toys that are in the stores and you will find some great toys for your child.

By: Peter Geisheker

About the Author:
Peter Geisheker is the CEO of The Geisheker Group marketing company

Peter develops and implements strategic marketing programs for businesses including educational learning toys.



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