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Learning Disabilities Articles for Help with Kids by Susan Kramer

Contents

1. What Is Dysgraphia?
2. Dyslexia Information and Help
3. Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Symptoms
4.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Explained
5. Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Managing Anger
6. What Is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder  - CDD?
7.
Hyperlexia Information
8. Asperger's Disorder Information
9. TSC and Learning Disabilities
10.
Living Harmoniously with Learning Disabilities
11. Cooperation and Learning Disabilities
12. Overcoming Stress
13. Dividing Time Between Your Kids
14. Helping Kids with Challenges Make Friends
15. Learning Difficulties or Disabilities?
16. Making Transitions and Learning Disabilities
17. Helping Kids Find New Solutions
18. Back to School Dress When Challenged
19. Showing Courage and Learning Disabilities
20. Teach Kids to Stay Close to Home
21. Feeling Fear and Learning Disabilities
22. Kids Learn Trustworthiness
23. Multitasking Ideas
24. Laziness or Learning Disabilities?
25. Helping Kids Reach Their Goals
26. Family Roundtable Discussions with Kids
27. Materialism Issues
28. Illness or Accident Leading to a Challenge
29. Vocational or Academics for Challenged Teens?
30. Expectations and Relating
31. Nurturing Kids of All Abilities
32. Our Roles in the Eyes of Society
33.
Developing Self-Esteem
34. Changing Goals and Learning Disabilities
35. Shopping Trips Can Be Educational
36. Achievement with Learning Disabilities
37. Resolving Conflicts and Learning Disabilities
38. Teaching Kids Order and Organization
39. Family Life with Learning Disabilities
40. Backyard Motor Skills Games
41. Truancy and Learning Disabilities
42. Kids Learn About Playing Fairly
43. Looking for Equitable Resolves
44. Aerobic Activities for Stress Relief in School
45. Acceptance, Abundance and Learning Disabilities
46. Kids Learn About Sharing


29. Vocational Training or Academics for Challenged Teens


Depending on the limitations of a particular learning disability, is it wise to try to make every child learn academic concepts?

If studying abstract concepts causes frustration and feelings of low self-esteem, why not teach vocational skills that give a chance to feel success and also be self-supporting as adults.

Different cultures around the globe treat and care for kids with learning disabilities by different methods - from the extreme of the burden being on the child's family to the burden being on the public school system.

For a culture that places the burden on the public school system, my opinion is that each child should be evaluated separately for their strengths and weaknesses as they mature, and if further academics cause frustration, than a vocational track should be selected that matches the student's capabilities.

I think the point of education is to prepare kids to be self-supporting adults to the best of their abilities. And, this means a large variation of offerings needs to be provided while kids are school age.

Vocational training for all or part of the school day, while kids are junior or high school age, seems a worthwhile use of time while kids are still growing up. This is a productive use of time and prepares kids for a realistic future life. Not everyone is capable of college academics, so why try to prepare every child for that same future.

If kids are pushed along, grade to grade to keep up with their age group, but have not learned the academics expected at that grade level, are we doing a disservice to children's future?

Why not give kids alternative work in a track labeled in such a way as to sound like a positive goal, such as careers as chefs or catering, rather than the more mundane sounding food service?

As adults we know that hands on experience is necessary to perform many vocational skills successfully, and school time that includes these skills is effectively educating the kids that have difficulty with abstract concepts.

In summary, I think the plan of gearing public school offerings to both academics and vocational offerings for boys and girls is reasonable and practical for kids and society. I think the school years are a time not to be wasted in teaching every kid the same academic subjects when it will lead to failure for some kids.

Let's give kids a chance to be successful in the way that matches their abilities by providing a range of academics and vocational offerings in the public middle schools and high schools.

Article by Susan Kramer



Resources for parents, teachers and homeschooling families:

Click on cover image
Rhythms and Dances for School Age Kids

Rhythms and Dances for School Age Kids
Click on cover image
Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Click on cover image
Kinesthetic Math and Language Lessons

Kinesthetic Math and Language Lessons
email -  susan@susankramer.com          SusanKramer.com Publishing - http://www.susankramer.com/books.html
All articles copyright © 2000-2011 Susan Helene Kramer
Susan Kramer has worked as a dance specialist with kids and adults of all abilities for more than 30 years,
and lives with her husband in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Click autobiography for details.
http://www.susankramer.com