Zarlengo Foundation Learning Evaluation Center

Big news! 🎉 The Zarlengo Foundation Learning Evaluation Center has officially expanded to a second location—now open on-site at Hillside School & Center for Dyslexia in Boulder!

Families in Boulder can access our full range of services, including psychoeducational evaluations, learning assessments, and clear, actionable recommendations from our team of psychologists. We’re also continuing to serve families at our Littleton location at Havern School—supporting both communities with comprehensive evaluations and care.

Plus, our new website makes it easy to get started. You can now book a free 20-minute consultation for either location in just a few clicks (link in bio)!

At the LEC, we strive to provide comprehensive assessments that target your child's strengths and challenges as a learner, as well as give you the tools you need to help them succeed in school.

To learn more, check out the link in our profile.

While there are many benefits to reading with your child at home, we are highlighting 7 of the top benefits here:

- Develop literacy and language skills. Reading helps to expand kids' understanding of text structure, build comprehension skills and knowledge of how to use language effectively.

- Builds background knowledge. When you read with your child, you help them gain a stronger understanding of the world around them.

- Provides exposure to new cultures and experiences. We know that reading can take you places that you've never been and surround you with experiences you've never had. This helps to expand your child's knowledge of other cultures and ways of life.

- Nutures a love of reading. When you read together, you are promoting the idea of learning in a safe space with loved ones. This will help to foster a lifelong love of reading in your child.

- Enhances their vocabulary. Reading provides kids with a rich language experience and exposes them to vocabulary that they often don't get in daily conversations.

- Promotes social-emotional development. Reading helps to develop an understanding of social skills, such as empathy, problem-solving and managing big feelings.

- Develops family bonds. Reading is a time when you can talk to each other, have fun, ask questions and learn something new!

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, 1 in 5 kids in the United States has learning or attention issues. We know that these kids are usually just as smart as their peers. However, without the right support, many fall behind academically and struggle socially.

An evaluation can help to uncover any learning or attention challenges that your child may be experiencing. To learn more, check out the link in our profile.

Tip 5 in our "Now What?" Series - Promote Wellness!

Promoting your child's wellness will help them to recharge and to experience success outside of school. We know that:

- Setting time to relax and engage in hobbies that they're good at or enjoy increases self-esteem and coping skills.

- 60 minutes/day of exercise, connection with loved ones, good sleep and healthy diet all support well being.

- Talking about a growth mindset can help your child to stay flexible and positive in the face of challenges.

Tip 4 in our "Now What?" Series - Reduce Your Child's Challenges!

Now that you have a diagnosis, you can use it to help your child get more supports in school. We encourage parents to share their report with their child's educational team to figure out the best path to supports (e.g. 504 plan, IEP, MTSS/RTI etc.).

We also recommend sharing the results with your child's pediatrician to help determine any additional supports, such as medication or alternative types of care.

Last, if needed, seek outside supports, such as tutoring, therapy or an executive functioning coach. These supports are usually recommended from the diagnostician, so check with them if you're not sure.

Tip 3 in our "Now What?" Series - Build your Child's Strengths!

Even though your child has a challenge that makes learning difficult for them, they also have strengths that need to be celebrated and acknowledged. Help your child discover these by finding activities that build on their strengths, pointing them out and creating a supportive group of people.

Tip 2 in our "Now What?" series - Talk to Your Child.

Now that you know more, you can share this information with your child. Use our sample starters or head to trusted sources like understood.org to learn about how to best explain your child's diagnosis to them.

Research shows that when children know more about their strengths and challenges, they often feel empowered, confident and have better self-esteem than children who do not.

Tip 1 in our "Now What?" series - Get more information!

The first step is to find out more about your child's strengths and challenges as a learner. We recommend asking the professional (e.g. Psychologist; learning specialist; IEP team, etc.) who diagnosed them the following questions:

- What are my child's key strengths?
- What are my child's key challenges?
- How can I support them at home and school?

Once you have these answers, review the information and head to reliable information sources that specialize in learning challenges. We love Understood.org, ldaamerica.org, dyslexia.yale.edu and chadd.org.

We're starting a new series called: My Child Was Diagnosed with A Learning Disability. Now What? Follow along in our next 5 posts to learn ways to support your child through their LD journey.

The next time your child is having a big feeling, help them talk about it by using an I-Statement. We love I-Statements because it is a simple way for your child to express their feelings and needs in words. Write the script out on a piece of paper and help them through it. You might need to give them an example to guide them along.

When kids can express their feelings in words, it helps them to regulate their body and brain. As neuropsychologist Dan Siegel says, "You've gotta name it to tame it!"