My daughter has language processing deficit and ADD which makes note taking in school difficult, frustrating and miserable for her! Fortunately, one of her school accommodations is to trade her notes for a copy of the teacher's notes at the end of her class period. Many times, however, she forgets to request the copy and as a high school student she is expected to advocate for herself. As a parent, I have worried endlessly as to how she will continue to be successful in school without being able to listen to the teachers and take notes on the lecture simultaneously. NOW, there is new technology that I am hopeful will help her take notes in her high school and college classes--Livescribe Smartpen! According to Livescribe's website: "While you're writing, your smartpen is remembering–linking everything you hear to everything you write. Later, simply tap on your notes to replay the recording. Now you can find and get what you need, instantly, with a tap." At the ADDA Conference last week many parents and professionals were praising this new technology. Livescribe's smartpen is rather expensive and so it is a concern of parents of children with ADD that it will get lost or misplaced just like their phones, ipods, itouch, etc. I have ordered a Livescribe smartpen for my daughter so "stay tuned" for my review of the smartpen.

With the missed school days due to snow this year many teachers are concerned that students will not be ready for the March 1 TAKS. On March 1 fourth and seventh grade students will be taking the writing TAKS, ninth graders will be taking the Reading TAKS, and tenth graders will be taking the English Language Arts (ELA) TAKS. Is your child ready? If not, just a few sessions with a Creative Tutors' tutor can help your child be prepared and confident for the TAKS.

I strongly encourage parents to attend their child's open house. Also, for those parents that have a child transitioning to a new school for the 2011-2012 school year this is a great time to attend that school's open house so that you and your child can become familiar with the new school and its teachers.

*Texas Public Schools Week Celebration
The following is PISD's School Open Houses schedule:

Thursday, March 3 - High Schools (Grades 9-10)
Monday, March 7 - Senior High Schools (Grades 11-12)
Tuesday, March 8 - Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
Thursday, March 10 - Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)

*Please check with your child's school for exact open house times.

The Attention Deficit Disorders Association (ADDA) Southern Region's Annual Conference is being held this year in Irving, TX on February 18 and 19, 2011. This conference, New ADDitudes, is offered to educate health care professionals, educators, adults, parents and the general public about ADD and coexisting conditions.

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