Issues and Concerns
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Issues and Concerns features posts that talks about the latest news and updates concerning special education in the Philippines.
Can a Relaxed Mind be Helpful in Learning? (Connection among Multisensory Approach, Paying Attention & Memory Formation)
Recently, I posted strategies lifted from the book “12 Steps to A Better Memory” written by Carol Turkington about “paying attention and memory formation“. Interestingly, I received a comment from one of the readers saying that “the only thing you must do for you to retain the memory in your mind is to close your other senses and focus on listening and absorbing the information for the brain to absorb the information.” Now, I will have to agree with our reader that this is one of the strategy you can do to absorb information especially if you are an auditory learner. The thing is, what if you’re not?
I found a useful graph from a website that discusses “Why Art and Visual Aids are Important for Sunday” which says,
Paying Attention and Memory Formation
The idea of attention and memory formation has always intrigued me. Here once more, I would like to share some points I’ve learned from the book “12 Steps to a better Memory” by Carol Turkington.
Turkington identified different keys for a better memory. The first of which is attention. An example provided in this book to illustrate the connection between attention and memory is Russian newspaper reporter Shereshevskii. This reporter was a patient of Alexander Luria, a Russian neuropsychologist. Because of Luria’s encounter with Shereshevskii, he wrote a book called “In the Mind of a Mnemonist”. In modern times I think we can better relate this story to the American television series, Suits. In this series, “One of Manhattan’s top corporate lawyers (Gabriel Macht) sets out to recruit a new hotshot associate and hires the only guy that impresses him – a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout (Patrick J. Adams). Though he is not actually a lawyer, this legal prodigy has the book smarts of a Harvard law grad and the street smarts of a hustler.” If you watch the show, you will be impressed how Patrick Adams can memorize books word per word just by reading it once. Anyway, Shereshevskii and Patrick’s character are similar to the extent of how they can remember details for a long period of time. Now the question is: how can regular people remember important things for a long period of time. To answer that, we have to know the keys to a better memory.
What is the first key in better memory?
Missionaries of Charity Christmas Party 2012 for the Children of Tayuman
I should have written this blog months ago but I didn’t. I have no excuse. Life happened and I decided to delay it. So what made me write it? Well, a blogger made a random comment and said that we are months away from Christmas. I found that funny and agreeable to me. How time flies!
That blogger’s comment reminded me of last Christmas 2012. Every Christmas there is one party that makes me sooooooooooo excited. Not because of the gifts (when actually there are overflowing gifts in this party, in fact, hundreds of them). Not because of the prizes (but actually there’s lots of loot to be given away– in every game). Not because of the holiday presentations (but there are so many song and dance numbers one after another). I am excited of this Christmas party because in this party I get to see not one, not tens not a hundred but hundreds of children. Oh yes, all 600 hundred smiling, happy and blessed children.
So what makes me giddy about Christmas?
Ten Foods to Boost Your ADHD Brain Here in the Philippines
I was reading an article in ADDitude, a magazine for different groups like parents, students, teachers adults interested about ADHD. One of the topics I was reading was entitled “Ten Foods to Boost Your ADHD Brain”. Since I am a homemaker this kind of articles interests me because I basically plan, buy, prepare and cook all of our meals. I live with two ADHD people in our household: one adult and one tween and so I breathe and eat ADHD all day.
However, it has always bugged me to see a really good dish and be frustrated that the ingredients are not available here in the Philippines. Sounds like a South Beach Diet right? That’s why I am making a response post for that article with I think an appropriate title: Ten Foods to Boost Your ADHD Brain here in the Philippines.
Group 1: Food for FOCUS
My Child does not talk: Does he have communication difficulties? (Part 2)
In the previous post, we discussed that language development may occur earlier for growing girls than boys according to studies. On the other hand, how long should we wait for our male children to catch up? How do we know for sure if our child has communication difficulties or not? Read below as we continue to help Mommy Hershey with her concern for her child.
Response from Teacher Ia
My Child Needs Help Communicating: What Can I Do?
An article that appeared in Child Development Volume 3 No. 3 written by Ella J. Day entitled “The Development of Language in Twins: A Comparison of Twins and Single Children showed that language development is faster in girls. One hundred forty children was part of this study with age ranging from 18 to 54 months (1 and a half years old to 4 and 2 months old).
I have read a similar article when I was just in college and so my expectation for my son’s communication skills compared to my sister who was almost the same age when she was born was not that high. But in my case I did not expect that my child will not just exceed my expectation but will go way and beyond the norm. A good example will be talking non-stop during a Baguio trip when he was just about almost two years old while naming all the brand of the cars that passes by. He did not sleep for the 6-hour trip which the driver of the car appreciated for my child kept him awake for the entire trip.
Later on, we learned that that particular characteristic of him is associated to his ADHD and even has a name “hyperverbal”. In most Philippine schools, this children will be called “madaldal” but for ADHD children their being talkative just go way beyond the norm preventing them from doing their tasks. My case is a unique one though. Most parents with boys wonder if their child will ever speak because they may be stuttering, stammering or not talking at all. So please read on the question of Mommy Hershey who has concerns on her child’s expressive communication skills.
Mommy Hershey:
Do you know of any specialist in San Pedro who can help me with my child? He is 3 years old and still unable to communicate well. He is showing signs of communication difficulties. Thanks Ia.
What is Distance Learning?
New Year means cleaning time for me. In one of my box of information treasures I found a handout from one of my Master’s class about Distance Learning shared to us in class by one of my classmates. Unfortunately, there is no citation where the information was retrieved or maybe I lost that page but I found the definitions still useful. Thus, if you need a basic resource to describe distance learning and its aspects, the information below might be of some use to you.
If in case you can find out where this information was retrieved, I will be glad to give the proper citation. Just please comment the information in the comments box below.
I. Definition of Distance Learning
Insights on and Importance of Knowing the Learning Aptitude of Students
Special Education Philippines received this question from one of the messages via Special Education Philippines Facebook Fan Page.
“I’m a college student taking up BEED-SPED, a sophomore student. Can I ask you a few questions? What’s your insights or ideas about assessment of learning aptitude and the importance of assessing the learning aptitude of the learner as far as (1. General education) (2. Special education) is concerned. Thank you very much.”
I find the question timely as this morning I’ve read how a mother friend of mine is so proud of her son for being assessed a gifted learner. But what is a gifted learner? Let me answer that in succeeding posts. For now, Llet’s look at our reader’s question first: What’s your insights or ideas about assessment of learning aptitude?
To answer this, I would have to consider first why is there a need for assessment?
10 Tips to Promote Positive Communication with your child with ADHD
Special Education ends the coverage of the topic “Encouraging Responsibility in Children with ADHD” with 10 tips to promote positive communication with your child with ADHD. We understand that some of the tips might be easier said than done. Nobody said the road to success will be smooth and easy.
We can even say that it is very difficult for parents to be firm when their kids are having a harder time than the other kids. But taking it easy on them especially in teaching discipline and responsibility do not help our kids in the long run.
The tips listed here applies to anyone. Yet it is the simple ones that we miss because we think we know them already. Refresh your memory and maybe one or two of these tips can tell you what you can improve the next time you communicate with your child with ADHD.
21 Tips to Encourage A Child To Be Responsible (Part 1)
The list of tips to encourage responsibility is collected specifically for children with ADHD. There will be some items though that works better for children with ADHD or items that regular children may not need. Generally speaking, it still applies to all children.
Special Education Philippines suggests that if you plan to implement these tips in your home that you consider to talk about it first with the guardians of the child which would mean your spouse or partner. After you have agreed with the interpretation of the statement, you can cascade this to other members of the household like helpers, extended family and siblings of your child.
The important thing is to make sure that everyone is on the same page when you are talking about these tips. This is to ensure clarity and consistency.
D5 Creation