Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy Show #102

Before the holidays, I had the opportunity to spend the day at Commonwealth Academy, a college preparatory school for children with ADHD and learning disabilities, located in Alexandria, VA. Commonwealth Academy serves children from 6th grade through high school,and is a school that feels very much like a community the moment you walk through the doors.

I got to sit down with Dr. Susan Johnson, the Director of the school, and we talked about everything from how they select their students, to how their curriculum and teaching methods differ from traditional schools. Dr. Johnson has been an educator and has worked with children in special education for over 30 years, and she sat on one of the initial panels that put together the IEP process for the State of New Jersey back in the 1970’s. Her experience and perspective on children who struggle in traditional school settings is amazing, and it was an absolute privilege to be able to speak with her, the staff and the students at Commonwealth.

I’ve split our interview into two parts; the first discusses how important it is to take a child-centered approach to education, and how that’s the first step to helping struggling learners to begin to think of themselves as academic achievers. We also talk about how the environment of a school matters, and how it is integral to creating a community rather than just an institution of learning.

We’ve given away our first handful of books, but we have some more available! Additionally, while you may have missed out on the Marcus Buckingham books here, my friend Carrie Runnals from the Words to Mouth podcast, has a few copies she would love to give away to our listeners! Just click the link and go to Carrie’s website and you might win! The Words to Mouth podcast is a great place where readers can find out more about the authors and their work through insightful interviews, done by Carrie, another one of the fantastic ladies from the Divacast!

Click here to listen to Show #102, Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy

Show #56- Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson

This is the last of our three part conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson about their new book, On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD, published by New Market Press. We talk about how we need to help kids develop self-advocacy skills, in order to help them succeed in the workplace. We also talk about life coaches, accommodations and estate planning. Many thanks again to Anne & John for their time and their truly wonderful book!

Congratulations to our book winners so far – Kim, Tracey, Sue, Terry, Shelly and Patty!

Thanks to Joey and Patty for their audio comments- I will include them in an upcoming show. Please keep those comments and emails coming- I’d like to have enough to do an audience -participation show, answering questions, playing comments, and making you part of our growing community.

Please send an email to ldpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (206) 666-2343 !
I’d also love it if any listener would take a moment and leave a review of the show on itunes- it will help the show break into the top 100 featured shows- even if you don’t listen through itunes!

Subscriptions: There is no charge for subscribing to the show through any “podcatcher” or through itunes- subscription just means the latest show will be automatically delievered to your computer once it is posted.

New Free Reading Material!

I’ve also recently added a chapter from my book-in-progress, in PDF format, if you are interested. You’ll have to go to the main website at www.ldpodcast.com to get it, though. It’s about the basics of brain and cognitive development in kids, presented in a “Bill Nye The Science Guy” way for parents. For me at least, it always has been helpful to know what part of a child’s issues might be developmental (They’ll get better over time as they get older) and which parts are hard-wired (this is something in their basic makeup and unlikely to change much). I am eager to hear what you think- if you do read it, please send you feedback to me at ldpodcast@gmail.com. Any and all feedback, positive, negative, indifferent- is all valuable and helpful, so please be honest!

Upcoming shows:

Dr. Robert Brooks- All about Raising Resilient Children and Raising a Self-Disciplined Child
Jan Olsen- Handwriting Without Tears- a great handwriting program used in many schools that you can use easily at home!

Click here to download or listen to Anne Ford & John Richard Thompson- Jobs, Self-Advocacy, Life Coaches & Estate Planning

Show # 55 Conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson Part II- Helicopter Parenting, Families and Siblings

In this show, I continue my conversation with Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson. Their new book, On Their Own: Creating an Independent Futrue for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD has just been published by New Market Press. We talk about how hard it is to let your child succeed or fail on their own accord, and how our involvement with our children with disabilities effects other members of the family as well.

Congratualtions to our winners so far – Kim Mansk, Tracey Bowes, Sue Penicka and Shelly Head! Your books on on their way!

We still have a few books to give away- Please send an email to ldpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (206) 666-2343 to win!

I have also recently added a chapter from my book-in-progress, in PDF format, if you are interested. If you click on this link, or the home page link to your left, you’ll see it listed as How Learning Works- It’s about the basics of brain and cognitive development in kids, presented in a “Bill Nye The Science Guy” way for parents. For me at least, it always has been helpful to know what part of a child’s issues might be developmental (They’ll get better over time as they get older) and which parts are hard-wired (this is something in their basic makeup and unlikely to change much). I am eager to hear what you think- if you do read it, please send you feedback to me at ldpodcast@gmail.com. Any and all feedback, positive, negative, indifferent- it’s all very helpful to me- think of yourselves as editors!

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Show #54- Anne Ford and John Thompson- On Their Own

Anne Ford and John Richard Thompson have collaborated on a second book, On Their Own- Creating an Independent Future for your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. Anne has a daughter with severe learning disabilities, has been a leading LD activist and is the former Chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. John, her co-author, has helped Anne in lobbying Congress, and has spoken to parents across the Country about their children with LD.

I spoke with Anne and John about this terrific book. I was riveted by the book, because it addresses the problems that occur as kids with LD and ADHD have not only now, but as they get older, and how to gradually prepare them, so you can gradually let go and let them live their own lives. (Not always an easy job for parents.) It covers issues ranging from how siblings react to having a brother or sister with LD, to dating, transitioning from high school to college to the job force, as well as estate planning for you to help provide any support that might be necessary for your child with disabilities. The bottom line is that if we don’t prepare our kids to be self-sufficient when they’re young (whther they have LD or not) how can we reasonably expect them to care for themselves when they go to college or leave the nest? Is it any wonder so many kids come home and don’t want to leave??

Anne, John and I spoke for over an hour; I have split the interview into three parts, released over the next few days in sequence. Part I talks about Anne’s experience with her daughter, Allegra and why she and John wrote On Their Own.

Part II addresses dealing with problems ranging from what to call “it” to having both parents on the same page, to how siblings react; part III addresses the job and employment issues that may look like disorganized lockers or desks for school age children, but remain part of an LD person’s profile. There is no statute of limitation on LD.

I have five copies of this wonderful book to give out- the first five listeners who send emails to ldpodcast@gmail.com, or voicemail (206) 666-2343 or comments here on the blog/website will win. I’ll notify you and then I’ll send the books out to you.

I know you’ll enjoy both the interview and this terrific book from people who have been there themselves- and remember, kids need to be able to be On Their Own.

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The Latest News about LD

This week’s episode borrows from an idea from my friend, Dennis Gray over at 101 Uses for Baby Wipes podcast-a show featuring the latest news from around the world about Learning and Learning Disabilities. Please let me know how you like this show, and I may turn it into a monthly feature. As a reminder, the email address for the show is ldpodcast@gmail.com and our voicemail line, open 24 x 7 is (206) 666-2343.

Today’s show also features the song “Neighbor” by the Lacivious Biddies, available on the Podsafe Music Network.

Many thanks for your recent feedback- books have been sent out to numerous winners, so keep those emails and reviews on itunes coming!

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Holiday Hints from Those Who Know!

Happy Holidays!

Almost every holiday brings gatherings of friends and relatives. This can be the source of alot of joy, or alot of stress. For example, I take the little comments, even those that are meant in the most innocuous way possible, much more seriously and to heart when they are from family. I am much more senstive to critique in this environment, and holidays can feel like getting an annual parenting review, where your children’s progress is judged and grades are handed out by others.

So in that vein, Melody and I sat down and talked about how to make the holidays less stressful. Whether its making reasonable expectations for events, and not expecting your family to turn into the Waltons or The Brady Bunch over night, or simply finding ways so parents and kids have safety valves to make sure no melt downs occur, these small tips can help your holidays be a little more peaceful and enjoyable, rather than feeling like you are a “few clowns short of a circus.”

Enjoy, and we will be back in ten days with the next LD Podcast!

I’d love to include your holiday stories in another episode of the LD Podcast! Send your comments in through our voicemail line- (206) 666-2343! Or email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com!

Click here to download Show 35- Holidays Tips from Melody!

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Show #34: Smart Kids witth School Problems

Rich Weinfeld is a many with many talents. Besides being the father of two boys, he is an author of two great books, Smart Kids with Learning Difficulties: Overcoming Obstacles and Realizing Potential, and Helping Boys Succeed in School. Rich has been a special educator, he lectures at Johns Hopkins University, and has a private practice education consulting group, The Weinfeld Education Group. Rich was kind enough to talk with me a few weeks ago about how we identify kids with learning disabilities, how to talk with teachers and administrators to make sure your child is getting what they need while forging constructive relationships, and when you might want to consider an educational advocate. Most kids have gotten one set of grades by this point in the school year, and if your child is struggling, there may be cause to investigate further. This great information may help you start those tough conversations, and help you help your child at the start of a new year, if not get the ball rolling before the Holiday break!

Happy Holidays to all! Please email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com or contact us via our voicemail number, (206) 666-2343

Also check out our other blog through Grasshopper New Media Parents- GNM Parents

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Show 31: A Parent’s Guide to Developmental Delays

Laurie LeComer is a parent of three children, and a special educator. She has written a wonderful book, “A Parent’s Guide to Developmental Delays: Recognizing and Coping with Missed Milestones in Speech, Movement, Learning, and Other Areas.” It is a must read for all parents worried about their children and for teachers and day care providers, who suspect something might be wrong or different about a child, but can’t seem to pinpoint the source or the cause. It is the book I wish I had when my children were young, and I know you’ll find the early warning signs of developmental problems helpful, as well as her pointers on how to have happy and less stressful holidays!

Let us know what you think! Leave comments here, or send us email at ldpodcast@gmail.com. You can also call us at (206) 666-2343 with any comments or questions!

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Show # 29 Lessons 9 & 10 and Wrap Up

Show # 29: Lessons 9 & 10 to Maximize Your Child’s Cognitive Abilities and Wrap Up of Series

In today’s show, we talk about the last 2 lessons in our ten lesson series on Maximizing Your Child’s Cognitive Abilities. Less on 9 is about teaching your children to be able to see things from another point of view, and understanding that criticism is often something they should consider and use as a learning opportunity, not as a badge of failure or short coming. Lesson 10 is about how it’s not the money you spend on your kids that matters, but the quality of their experiences. The Ten Lessons are adapted from a chapter by Williams and Sternberg in Volume 5 of The Handbook of Parenting, a five volume set of books digesting the research on parenting and raising children. It is edited by Marc Bornstein from the National Institutes of Health, and is probably the most complete digest of research into children and parents available. (It also the most expensive, as each volume retails for over $150.00).

The take home message from the series is that parents can be very influential in helping their kids maximize their intellectual potential, but it requires that parents get involved and stay involved in their child’s intellectual development, rather than passing this off as the job solely of school.

Today’s show includes 2 songs- Libery Jones by The Shakes, and Black Coffee by Chaz, available on the Podsafe Music Network.

We’d love to hear from you- you can click the email link at the bottom of this page, or go to the blog, and leave comments! Or even better, call (206) 666-2343 and leave us a voice message!

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Show # 28 Academy in Manayunk Pt. 2 Reading and Self Esteem

Welcome to all our new iLearn Radio Listeners!

In the second part of my interview with Nancy Blair of the Academy in Manayunk, we talk about how important self esteem is to a child’’s success in school. So many very talented people have learning disabilities and have struggled in school but my learning how to maximize their strengths, they have really been able to shine. Whether it’s designers like Tommy Hilfiger, or Businessmen like Charles Schwab, or Actors like Henry Winkler (who now writes books about what it was like to grow up with learning problems) many kids are both smart and LD, and we need to be able to let their strengths shine while helping them overcome their weaknesses.

Please call our comment line at (206) 666-2343 or email us at ldpodcast@gmail.com with any and all comments!

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