http://tracyalloway.com/

Tracy is an expert in the area of working memory and shares “everything working memory” on her blog. It is an academic research expert’s resource for the lay person. She talks about current events, research and how working memory correlates to learning issues. It is extremely informative and not presented in academic lingo.
 
 
Tracy Packiam Alloway

Tracy Packiam Alloway, PhD, is the Director of the Center for Memory and Learning in the Lifespan at the University of Stirling, UK. She is the author of over 75 scientific articles and two books on working memory in children with learning problems, and has developed the world’s first standardized working-memory tests for educators published by Pearson. Her research has received widespread international coverage, appearing in outlets such as the Guardian, Daily Mail, Scientific American, Forbes, US News, ABC News, and NBC. She is much in demand international speaker in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. She provides consultancy to the World Bank on the importance of working memory.

She was recently awarded the prestigious Joseph Lister Award by the British Science Association for bringing her scientific discoveries to a wide audience.
 
 
Sample Blog Post

http://tracyalloway.com/index.php/working-memory/iq-is-not-a-benchmark-for-academic-success/

Is Working Memory the New IQ?

IQ is often thought to be synonymous with academic success. Indeed groups like MENSA perpetuate the idea that high IQ is a prerequisite for high achievement in school.

Yet, the traditional reliance on IQ as a benchmark for academic success is misguided. There are many students who have either high or average IQ who struggle in school. Instead of doing well, they end up in the lowest ability groups in language and math. In my own research on various government-funded projects, I have come across many students like this. This is very troubling. If their IQ is in the average range, why aren’t these students achieving their potential?

Perhaps there is something else at work that explains why some students succeed while others struggle.

I undertook a study to look into this issue. I tested children at five years old and again at eleven and found that a child’s success in school is down to how good its working memory is regardless of IQ score.

The finding that working memory, rather than IQ, is what we need to look out for has important implications for schools. As opposed to IQ, working memory problems can be easily addressed by teachers so students can still achieve their potential.

It is vital that IQ is not taken as the be all and end all to intelligence. I believe that all children could fulfill their potential, regardless of IQ or background, as long as working memory is assessed and problems addressed. The key is to move away from IQ as the main predictor of success and focus on working memory instead.

http://dyslexia-blog.ghotit.com

Ofer Chermesh is an adult Dyslexic who now works in the area of developing assistive technology for dyslexics. His company is called Ghotit. Ofer’s blog offers information and insights from the perspective of someone living with dyslexia. He shares insights on himself with the hope of helping others and educating those without dyslexia.
 
 
Ofer Chermesh and his company, Ghotit

My name is Ofer Chermesh and I am one of Ghotit founders. I have always struggled with writing and reading. When I was 10 years old I was diagnosed as a dyslexic. I have struggled with my dyslexia throughout my life, in school and in different workplaces.

I hope you will find Ghotit useful to you as it is for me.
 
 
Sample Blog Post

http://dyslexia-blog.ghotit.com/2009/08/03/dyslexia-student-exams/
 
 
No Ifs or Buts – Dyslexics Deserve Extra Exam Time
Posted by: ghotit on: August 3, 2009
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From http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/LBLD.htm

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association www.asha.org
 

Language-Based Learning Disabilities

What is a language-based learning disability?

What other organizations have information about a language-based learning disability?
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Ron Davis discusses his childhood autism, his adult dyslexia, and how he first realized that he could correct his own dyslexia.
 

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This video from VideoJug answers the following questions:

What is a “learning disability”?
What are the primary causes of learning disabilities?
What are the warning signs that my child might have a learning disability?
How are learning disabilities diagnosed?
What are the most common treatments for children with learning disabilities?

 

Secondary School: Learning Disabilities: FAQ

Recognizing Child Development Problems. This is an educational video from the CDC www.cdc.gov.
 

 
Recognizing Child Development Problems / Educational Video. Public domain video courtesy of CDC.
It’s time to change how we view a child’s growth. Do you know all the ways you should measure your childs growth? We naturally think of height and weight, but from birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks and acts. A delay in any of these areas could be a sign of a developmental problem, even autism.
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Preschooler learns alphabet, letter-sounds and phonological awareness by reading a specially designed Phonic Faces alphabet-storybook (learning letter-sounds is a natural part of reading these stories!). Great research results for Headstart, preschoolers, phonological awareness, and older children with disabilities, as well as speech therapy (ElementOry.com).

http://brehmblog.com

Michelle Stokes, MS, CCC-SLP shares a Brehm breakthrough.

Brehm Preparatory School is a unique family style boarding school for students with complex learning disabilities, grades 6-12. Our teaching staff has an average of 12 years of experience — specifically teaching students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder. Brehm students go on to college, find fulfilling careers and become successful entrepreneurs.

Editorial note: There are many schools like Brehm that focus on Language Based Learning Issues. My son goes to one in Pennsylvania called, The Crossroads School (www.thecrossroadsschool.net).

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects language, speech, grammar and memory, manifesting as early as the ages of 3-5 years old. Obtain general facts about dyslexia from a recognized scholar of dyslexia treatment in this free video on learning disabilities.

Types of dyslexia include phonological dyslexia, orthographic dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia, all of which present difficulties in different areas of speech and reading. Learn about the different types of dyslexia from a recognized scholar of dyslexia treatment in this free video on learning disabilities.