January and February have been busy over here at bettefetter.com as I’m sure they have been for you as well. We have discussed some tips and great books for reluctant readers, what a 504 plan can do for your visual learner, how to appreciate the scattered visual learner, and so much more!
When visual learners begin school it becomes apparent that the classroom is a difficult place for them to concentrate and focus in a manner that is necessary for cooperative learning.
There is no language in the school system for visual learners. However, if your child is unfocused, distracted, struggling academically, and diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, help is available in the form of a 504 learning plan.
In episode 27 of Living Life as a Visual Thinker, I answer a parent email about a second grader whose school wanted to have him tested for ADD.
I have good news, in many cases, a recommendation of ADD testing is not about a deficit or disorder at all. Visual learners and children with ADD share many characteristics.
It’s a busy time of year. It’s time to go back to school. This month we talked about a few different things that you can do to get your kids ready for the transition back to the school routine. From finding the right extracurricular activity to appreciating how your child wins with art to understanding your own thinking as a visual thinker, we have lots of information for you.
You may have gone your whole life wondering “what is wrong with me?” You have a hard time focusing and feel distracted by all the things that are going on in your mind.
So you have this great kid. He’s dynamic, smart, fun, curious, creative, and you love the way his mind works! Then he goes to school and they’re not seeing the same things you are. You hear he’s not paying attention. Not applying himself. Not keeping up. Not behaving. Then you hear – maybe it’s ADD ?
Have you been labeled – scatter brained, distracted, inattentive, even impulsive? Has your child? Perhaps ADD or ADHD diagnosis has been away to explain these behaviors. Diagnosing ADD or ADHD is highly subjective and comes with a multitude of negative connotations. But what if it’s not a negative? What if its not even ADD ?
There’s good news. Visual learners share many of the same traits as ADD. Visual learners need more visual, hands on learning experiences and often struggle to organize, stay on task and pay attention. This is increasingly apparent with children in today’s language heavy, test oriented classrooms. And yet there are great advantages to being a visual learner. Some of our most creative minds, great leaders and innovative business people have been and are visual thinkers.
I have been enormously blessed with a wonderful husband, four adult children, one grandchild (so far) and a bevy of nieces and nephews. My husband and I, along with our brothers and sisters, are great supporters and champions of one another’s children.
