Every one worries. There’s a lot happening in the world that no one is certain about. Worry has changed over the years. Problems seem bigger and the outcome seems harder to achieve. As a child progresses through school, the problems become more difficult. In North Carolina, students worry about EOGs.  Students hear a lot about the EOGs, practice daily for them, and are under stress to pass them. Parents of young people and older students need to prepare themselves for the stress and worry the test causes as much as passing the test itself. The test is not the only cause of worry for young people. There are family problems, bully problems, and general problems to face. There are three steps that can be taken to address stress causes problems for all ages. Parents can initiate this process to help younger children, and the older children will have a standard by which they can judge their problems and alleviate them.

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The presence of an ADHD student in the classroom will define the meaning of "The Interrupter." Teachers struggle with the student, and the other students become agitated as the student continues to interrupt everything the teacher says and monopolizes every classroom presentation or conversation.

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Being shy is normal. A shy person may feel uncomfortable around others, or even self-conscious. He may feel nervous, timid, or insecure. Shyness affects the way a person feels and behaves around others. Physical sensations such as blushing, feeling speechless, shaky or breathless may be felt by the shy person.

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Coping with the whirlwind of Christmas is not an easy task of the majority of the population, but when a child with ADHD is added to the mix, the time has come to set come coping strategies into play. Christmas is divided into two sections: school and holidays.

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The behavior of the ADHD child is known by parents and teachers alike as one of the most troublesome areas to correct. The noises they make, their gyrations of actions, and their general inability to function on an appropriate age level creates a high level of stress for the adults who care for them. For some, it is hard to conceive that the child simply cannot refrain from his distracting behavior. For others, it is easier to accept and comply with the behavior than try to rectify it. However, for the child to become a functioning member of society, the problem must be acknowledged and addressed in learning situations.

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People with Dyslexia find that the readability of a book or magazine article or an article on the internet will vary greatly depending on the font used to print the article. Font refers to the type face or the type style used to print. People with dyslexia have the tendency to be very sensitive to many of the typefaces used in print and on the screen today. One of the best aids that a school can provide is to use a font that is appropriate to meet the needs of the student with dyslexia.

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Every one in education agrees that it is no easy task to teach reading to a child who can’t sit still. However, all educators know that it is possible with a little patience and time. In 1946, researcher Emmett Betts was the first to suggest that students needed books in which they could recognize 90% of the words and comprehend 75% of the information. Publishing companies heeded his words and now many new books have been published for the “high interest, low vocabulary” needs student!  These books are written for the struggling reader who relies heavily on the pictures as a beginning reader and on his classmates as an older student. These students develop an attitude against reading and learn coping strategies which lead them to avoid instead fix reading problems. The parents and the teachers must work to build confidence in this student and help him find success in reading.

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The dog has been given the title of “Man’s Best Friend” for many years now. Is it possible that a service dog may be the best friend of an autistic child? Service dogs are very specially trained dogs. Perhaps they are better known as guide dogs for the blind, service dogs for the police, and narcotic dogs in the war against drugs. Man has long known of the special properties of the dog. Perhaps the dog’s best property is its devotion to man.  In the case of the autistic child, the dog’s devotion to the child is its best reward.

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School is back in session. The dyslexic child may not be happy to have a new year begin, and the parents may have the same unhappy feelings. An attitude of success is necessary for the parents to maintain. There are steps to insure a smooth transition into a new school year. By this time, the parents have probably already begun a set bedtime, wake-up, and meal times that fit the school time schedule. Hopefully, the parents and child were able to visit the classroom and become comfortable with the surroundings. Often all of these preparations are made and in place, but one of the most important aspects have been forgotten - preparing the home for the school child. Yes, the home goes beyond the rules of bedtime, waking times, and meal times. The home must become an extension of the school. Home is the place were homework occurs. This area needs to be inviting and stress free, not an area to be dreaded by both child and parents. The name of the game for this area is organization! The child with dyslexia needs organization, and often these are skills that must be taught.

On the day that school supplies are bought, begin to organize and continue this skill on a day to day basis. If this skill recognized as a necessary job, the child will soon fall into a pattern of response and learn a life-long skill.

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Playing games with your child creates an environment of acceptance that is often not given to the dyslexia child and creates a sense of security. Playing with members of the family is especially rewarding. However, you as the parent take the responsibility of making the games. This isn’t that difficult, and, in time, your child will be able to work with you in making the games.

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