Ms. Kelly's Classroom

🌟 The Power of Play 🌟

When working with children on the spectrum or those with learning disabilities, play isn't just fun—it's essential! Through play, kids can develop crucial social, emotional, and cognitive skills in a stress-free environment. 🎨🧩

✨ **Why Play Matters:**
- **Encourages Social Interaction:** Play allows children to practice communication and collaboration.
- **Boosts Creativity:** Engaging in imaginative play helps kids think outside the box.
- **Enhances Learning:** Interactive activities make concepts more tangible and easier to grasp.
- **Builds Confidence:** Success in play can translate to confidence in academic tasks.

Let's celebrate and incorporate more play into learning! Together, we can create an inclusive and supportive environment for every child to thrive. 🌈❤️

A new study shows how lowering screen time in teens and young adults lowers anxiety and helps them feel better about their body image and appearance.

Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults Teens and young adults who reduced their social media use by 50% for just a few weeks saw significant improvement in how they felt about both their weight and their overall appearance compared with peers who maintained consistent levels of social media use.

This article explains the benefits of ear reading which can help dyslexic children by exposing them to grade-level texts and vocabulary.

The Benefits of Ear-Reading A dyslexia specialist discusses the assistive technologies she uses to help students with dyslexia make gains in reading.

So many parents who learn their kiddo is Dyslexic or struggles with ADD/ADHD are concerned about how to talk about it openly without creating a negative self-image. This article explains how and when to approach the topic with your children.

Q: “How Do I Explain Dyslexia and ADHD to My Child Who Has Both?” “How you talk to your child about dyslexia and ADHD will depend on their age. With younger children, you need not focus on challenges just yet. For tweens and teens, acknowledging challenges is essential to helping them feel understood and supported.”

Sometimes parents are surprised when I send home a decodable book that seems too easy for their child to read and it can be hard to explain why it is important.... This sums it up.

So true!

Optimize and strengthen your child's ability to focus with these classical music selections.

Music That Focuses the Brain Research suggests that the soundtrack to your child's homework should comprise these 21 songs, proven to change the electromagnetic frequency of brain waves for optimal focus.

Children who struggle in school need early testing and support from teachers, tutors, and parents to understand their strengths, as well as their weaknesses that can be stregthened, to become confident, successful learners.

As a child going through the education system I used think I was broken in someway.

As I could not learn in the same way as my peers or process information quickly and would loose the flow in my handwriting at times.

I experienced so much trauma and anxiety at school… I felt so stupid and my self-esteem was knocked around a lot.

My primary or secondary school did not identifying my learning differences or my dyslexia.

The fact my story is not unique, no it’s a societal change that is needed I’m systemic barriers included.

I now know I was never broken the education system was.

- Marcia

Reminder!

Be kind and aware of neurodiversity this Halloween!

Dyslexia was first identified in German physician Oswald Berkhan in 1881 and officially named “dyslexia” by ophthalmologist Rudolph Berlin 6 years later. Berkhan discovered the existence of the developmental reading disorder later named dyslexia while studying the case of a young boy who had severe problems learning to read and write properly, despite being overall bright and intellectually and physically capable.

Since dyslexia was discovered, physicians the world over have been working on different ways to help the dyslexic manage their disorder, and a special dyslexia font has been invented to help those afflicted to read more easily. Dyslexia Awareness Month was Created by The International Dyslexia Association and takes place over the entire course of October each year.

Pandemic means all-day multisensory math workshop for kids with learning disabilities... from home in my PJs. 🧮

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, schools must meet their obligations under federal law to identify and serve children with disabilities, the Education Department said in new guidance Tuesday.

Schools Must Identify Students With Disabilities Despite Pandemic Hurdles, Ed. Dept. Says Guidance stresses schools' responsibilities to those with disabilities, while noting that federal COVID aid can be used to address backlogs.