Also go to Read America!
Reading aloud can make books accessible to your child..
I highly recommend several less expensivie pieces of software to both parents and students:
(1) Best scanning software on the market to make ebooks FineReader Pro. FineReader Pro is affordable and extremely accurate in turning a print book into an ebook.
(2) Make your ebook speek with text-to-speech software TextAloud. This software allows you to read any text on your computer with a "real" human voice.
Voice Recognition and the computer:
Voice recognition software Dragon NaturallySpeaking comes in different levels. All levels use the same excellent voice recognition engine. I recommend the following: Middle School-Essentials Version, High School-Standard Version, College-Preferred Version, Professional-Professional Version.
A computer for reading can help your student succeed in school.
Watch the ads in your Sunday paper, usually you can actually find "deals" were you can obtain a computer (with rebates) for $400 to $500. Also see if in your community if there are service organization which help to place refurbished computers with families. You will need a computer and a scanner.
1) There is a reading, writing, spelling disorder; it is called dyslexia. You may wonder why I use a number of websites from England. It is simple the British for years have studied dyslexia. Americans use the term "learning disabilities".
2) Dyslexia is based in the brain and how the brain processings the symbols of language -- written letters, words, or sentences.
3) People think dyslexics see jumbled letters. Many do not see jumbles, however there is often confusion about left-right and sequencing. Often the problem is in processing the letters to make sounds. This is call phonological awareness.
4) The best way to help your dyslexic child is to open the world of reading to them by reading to them. Get your child interested in reading before print turns them off of reading forever.
5) Computers can "read to" your children. Work with your school, or you IEP team, to acquire the scanning/reading software for your school, see Premier Software!. It is extremely important to start students reading at the computer as early as possible. In later years among high school students there is often resistance to being "read to". Starting ther "read to" experience early helps to avoid resistance. With this software teachers or students can scan books and then have the book read by the computer to the student. I highly recommend to college students that they purchase this software. It is expensive, but it is worth while especially given the investment which college requries.
6) For school work turn a computer into a reading machine. You can now buy new or used computers for $500 to $600. Add the TextAloud program ($50) and read with both ears and eyes! I also recommend getting the OCR program FineReader Pro . This will let you create e-books.
7) Dyslexia is NOT related to intellegence or IQ. Dyslexics can be brilliant and not so brilliant.
8) You will most likely have to get some help from a Dyslexia Associations in your area. Many of them run reading/studing/learning centers.
9) The Bookstore a Closed Book to Me growing up with dyslexia, my own story.
10) Some additional resources to check out.
11) Coping with dyslexia.
Parents need to help in the educational process and in monitor their child's progress daily. Talk in-depth about the school day. I especially urge parents of children in special education to understand the need for daily progress in homework. I found that I frequently needed to help locate appropriate library books and math practice booklets. I worked with my step-daughter at home for seven years on a daily basis. My experience is that this involvement pays off.
Most math activities books can be found an many discount stores even grocery stores. Evan-Moor Publishing, a great source for book that really help for basic math skills. I like especially their Math Activity books. One word about math -- Practice, practice, practice. Start at your child's level or even below their level.
Why do so many children in the USA fail at math?
Schools in the USA are notorious for lack of math practice, "We're into creative problem solving." The truth is most children love to practice what they know and love getting the answers right. So pick up some activity books and practice your basic math skills. Math is like foreign language. The basics have to be memorized expecially at the beginning.
Math education the way it should be taught. See articles by John Saxon. He was an exceptional teacher of mathematics. The articles written by John Saxon will tell you why step-by-step instruction and practice are necessary for sound math education. He became a book publisher to help students learn math.
Home schoolers doing math. This math series is designed for classroom or home school. John Saxon: K-12 Mathematics series is the best resource you will find. If your child follows this series, you will end up with a child who will out perform 95% of all American students
National Parent Information Network: Articles on different stages of development and on children with special needs.
College Degrees off campus. For many years I've been interested in non-traditional college programs or external degree programs. Again you can find good links at Sarah's Distance Learning Page. Here are also some that I recommend. Jones Network provides access to a wide variety of colleges via internet and video tape courses. For those who are either conservative Christians or can function in those circles, Liberty University has a wide variety of excellent courses via videotape. Oral Roberts University provides an excellent array of classes and is one of the few where you can actually earn a degree in elementary or secondary education
Dr. E. D. Hirsch's What Your First Grader Nees To Know. There is one of these books for each elementary grade level. I cannot ecourage you enough to read these books with your children. If you do you will releave a lot the anxiety of, "Is my child learning what they need to know." These books cover all the basic subject areas: literature, social studies, history, science and math. The are excellent books to read.
If you read these books with your child, you will teach your child lots of things not covered adequately by most school curriculums, which often are haphazard. The current studies on the U.S. curriculum compared with other nations is summarized in the follwing statement. "The U.S. curriculum is a mile wide and an inch deep. Offering little of real substance." You can locate these books at www.amazon.com. They are usually available at Sam's Club at a reduced price
