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NACD - The National Association for Child Development Newsletter
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| Volume 1, Issue 11 |
December 2008 |
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THE PROBLEM WITH LEARNING STYLES
By Beverly Giroux
Today there is a lot of misinformation about learning styles. Many professionals want to label children as auditory, visual or kinesthetic learners, when in actuality, children receive information (learn) through all the sensory channels - primarily through the auditory and visual channels, but also through smell, taste and touch. Difficulties arise when the brain does not process all the sensory input in an organized fashion. Many children are significantly better at processing one type of sensory input than another - hence the labeled "learning style."
The problem with labels is that once something is named, it often does not seem to need a solution. If Johnny is a "visual learner," the implication is that he can't be an auditory learner as well. Rather than seeking a solution, many professionals create accommodations for the learning inefficiency -- adjusting educational material so it can be presented in a way that matches the child's "style." Although this may be practical as a short-term approach (after all, the child is "learning" something), without additional intervention, it ignores the long-term consequences.
We live in a world that requires auditory and visual processing. If Johnny's boss tells him to do something (auditory), Johnny can't always ask him to put it in writing (visual). And a "kinesthetic learner" is going to look strange if he has to "go through the motions" every time he learns something new.
In order to function at the highest levels, an individual needs to be a superior auditory, visual and kinesthetic learner, as well as having appropriate sensory responses to smell, taste and touch.
So what is the solution?
NACD's Targeted Developmental Intervention™ addresses all aspects of learning. First we assess how a child is receiving and processing sensory information. If there are inefficiencies or developmental delays, our goal is to remediate those inefficiencies. We design an individualized program of exercises and activities to accelerate development - particularly normalizing and maximizing the brain's response to sensory input. We want children to learn efficiently and not to be limited by one specific style.
One of NACD's tools to develop auditory and visual processing is Simply Smarter™. This fun, easy to use software program is the culmination of decades of clinical research and application. Simply Smarter is a practical way to improve short term and working memory, which has been called the new IQ. Help your child learn faster and remember more with Simply Smarter™.
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From One NACD Mom to Another:
Encouragement to Join the "1,000 Hats" Club
by Lisa Jamieson, Co-author of Finding Glory in the Thorns
 As a mom, I wear many hats. As an NACD mom, I've worn even more. And just like our ever-changing Minnesota weather seasons require different kinds of hats, my life's seasons often require that I take on different roles and wear different "hats" to make sure my daughter Carly's program gets done as effectively as possible. Some seasons are busier than others and don't lend themselves very well to the role of "Chief Program Implementer." I used to think that was my primary role. I have come to realize that there is only some truth to that.
I have discovered there are all sorts of benefits in wearing different hats for different seasons - both for me and for my family. Being flexible about which roles I focus on from season to season has proven refreshing to me, helpful for my family, and intensity boosting for Carly. For example, there was a season of about 8 weeks during which I was recovering from a hysterectomy. During that time, my role was Volunteer Coordinator. While the quality of Carly's program time wasn't always what I wanted it to be, it proved valuable that I chose to get help rather than risk hurting myself or get no program done at all.
Right now I am in a season that requires me to work full time. Yet Carly still does about four hours of program each day around attending public school part time. So my role in her program is much more detached. There's a lot about that which I don't like very much, and I can tell she misses me too, but I am incredibly blessed to have found a woman to help me who is functioning like my right arm in getting program done. And, while I don't like to admit it, there are a number of things she is much better at than I am. So, for now, my role is more like "Cheerleader" and "Supervisor."
The benefits of getting help with Carly's program and being willing to shift roles with the seasons have extended well beyond our family too. In fact, the ripple effect of things learned and lives changed has convinced my family and others that reaching out and working in community creates a beautiful picture of what life was meant to be.
For many of us, asking for help is one of life's hardest things to do. My husband and I think it's even harder than finding help, which is no small task in itself! North American's take great pride in self-sufficiency. I am personally a very independent person and have high expectations about what I want to get accomplished on any given day. So when Carly was experiencing serious developmental delays and needed intensive therapies to help her thrive, I did not take easily to the idea that our family would need help. And it was not to be just a little help here and there, but lots of help of all different kinds, from all sorts of people, and for a very long time.
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Gift Ideas from NACD
 DK books and dvds make excellent presents. The Eyewitness books are a smorgasboard of facts and information with beautiful photographs.
The NACD bookstore has 1001 Facts about Dinosaurs, 1001 Facts about Insects, 1001 Facts about Rocks and Minerals, My First Dictionary and My First Encyclopedia.
We also have a selection of DK Eyewitness books and video: Butterfly and Moth, Desert, Dinosaur, Dog, Fish, Horse, Insect, National Disaster, Ocean, Reptile, Shark, Skeleton, Volcano and Earthquake, and Weather.
To order DK Books
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 20 -
Parent Meeting with Ellen Doman
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee area
St. John's Lutheran Church
217 North Freeman Drive
Port Washington WI 53074
by January 15th.
December 2008
Chicago
Dallas
Ogden
Orlando
Seattle
West Chester
January 2009
Cincinnati
Dallas
Flint
India
Milwaukee
Ogden
Phoenix
West Chester
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How to Contact Us
NACD - The National Association for Child Development National Headquarters 549 25th Street Ogden, UT 84401 801.621.8606 info@nacd.orgwww.nacd.org
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