DEAR TEACHER
– by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Helping all parents make their
children’s educational experience
as successful as possible
Learning More about
Learning Disabilities
Q
uestion: My little boy is
bright, but he is not doing at
all well in school. Something
is just not working for him. I hear about
learning disabilities. Is it possible that he has
one? Exactly what are learning disabilities,
and where can I learn more about them?
— Possible Learning Problem
Answer: Learning disabilities are
neurobiological differences in brain struc-
ture and/or function. These differences
lead to problems with learning. New brain
scanning techniques have enabled scien-
tists to understand the underlying neural
basis of learning disabilities. Children with
learning disabilities are often just as intel-
ligent or more intelligent than other chil-
dren but have difficulty learning because
their minds process words or information
differently.
Your son may or may not have a learn-
ing disability. Nevertheless, parents are
often the first to notice the problems their
children are having learning. The National
Institute of Child Health and Human Devel-
opment lists these eight signs that a child
may have a learning disability.
• Difficulty with reading and/or writ-
ing
• Problems with math skills
• Difficulty remembering
• Problems paying attention
• Trouble following directions
• Poor coordination
• Difficulty with concepts related to
time
• Problems staying organized
You will get a very solid start to hav-
ing reliable information about learning dis-
abilities by visiting the website of the Learn-
ing Disabilities Association of America
(ldaamerica.org). Not only can you learn
there about the 13 categories of disabilities
under the law, but you can also find out the
signs and symptoms of each one, as well as
strategies that can be used to help children.
In addition, this website lets you ask ques-
tions of experts and provides support as well
as resources for parents of children with
learning disabilities.
Unfortunately, we must caution you
that it is not always easy for parents of
children with learning disabilities to get
the help their children need and are enti-
tled to receive without being very knowl-
edgeable, proactive, and determined, as
schools often drag their heels in providing
this help.
Early diagnosis of a child’s learning
disability and timely intervention by par-
ents, teachers, or doctors can significantly
improve the child’s self-esteem, academ-
ic achievement, and ability to form and
maintain relationships.
Time That Students Should
Spend on Homework
Question: I think children in elemen-
tary and middle school are spending way
too much time on homework. How much
time should they be spending? Are there
any shortcuts that they could use to lessen
their time on homework?
— Too Much Time
Answer: How much time children
should spend on homework is fairly well-
established. Starting in first grade, they
should spend about 10 minutes a night.
Then for each successive grade, add another
10 minutes. Using this formula, a fifth grad-
er should have approximately 50 minutes of
homework, and a sixth grader an hour.
How much homework children actu-
ally have depends on their individual teach-
ers. Plus, many children have several teach-
ers in middle school, so their homework
load might be light or heavy. When middle
schools have a homework policy, children
are likely to have to spend the same amount
of time on homework most nights.
In elementary school and some classes
in middle school, students often begin their
homework assignments in class so teachers
can be sure they understand what they need
to do. If children use this time wisely, their
homework time will be reduced.
If you think that your children are
spending way too much time on home-
work, talk to their teachers. They may
have suggestions about ways this time can
be reduced. There is also the possibility
that a teacher does not realize how lengthy
his or her assignments are.
A homework contract definitely helps
many students handle this task in an effi-
cient way. You can download one from our
Dear Teacher website. Here are some help-
ful tips to help children to learn to tackle
their homework in a shorter time:
• Teach them how to organize and
tackle their homework.
• Make sure they understand the as-
signment before they begin.
• Make sure their homework spot has
all the materials they will need.
Time to Evaluate Children’s
Progress in School
Parents: Your children are slightly
more than halfway through the school
year. Take the time now to evaluate exact-
ly how they are doing. If they are having
problems in any of their classes, there is
still plenty of time to turn things around.
Begin by talking to their teachers. Find out
exactly what help is needed to get them
back on track and where it will be avail-
able — school, tutoring, learning center.
Parents’ Role in
Standardized Testing
Question: I know that the second
semester brings many standardized tests.
How can I help my kids stay calm and fo-
cused? Do I need to do anything to help
them prepare for these tests?
— Want to be Ready
Answer: First of all, you don’t want
to stress your children out about standard-
ized tests. You can help them avoid being
tense by having them recall past academic
successes so they will feel confident going
into the tests.
You don’t really need to do anything
to help them prepare for these tests. This is
their teachers’ job.
Parents should send questions and com-
ments to [email protected]
or to the Dear Teacher website
February 2020 WNY Family 33