Learning Resources

List of 6 items.

  • The Brain and Learning

    The Gift of Learning by Ron Davis
    Davis talks about a variety of different learning differences and how they can be viewed in a new light. Davis provides alternative but simple strategies for managing ADD and ADHD.
     
     In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong
    Armstrong examines multiple intelligence and neurological development.  He also discusses other schools and cultures and their educational expectations.
     
    You're Smarter Than You Think by Thomas Armstrong
    This book is written for kids and it provides descriptions of the different intelligences (based on Howard Gardner's model).  Armstrong also provides very practical study strategies for the different types of minds.
     
    Intelligence Reframed by Howard Gardner
    Gardner examines his multiple intelligence theory and explains how it is playing a role in education and business.
     
     A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine
    Levine is the man who originated the Schools Attuned program. In this book, he explores the way different minds work.  The book is clearly written and very interesting.
     
    The Myth of Laziness by Mel Levine
    Levine explores the idea of laziness and explains how the label is often misused. By examining the lives and learning of people who have been labeled lazy by themselves or others, he reveals the real culprit of their lack of productivity.
     
    Upside-Down Brilliance by Silverman
    Silverman explores what it means to be a visual-spatial learner. She describes the characteristics of visual spatial learners, and she includes strategies to help these types of learners navigate school and life.  She also includes some teaching strategies.
     
    Temperament Tools by Diane Clark Johnson
    Clark Johnson identifies different temperament types and explains how a person's temperament affects learning and processing information.  Clark Johnson also includes practical strategies for working with the different types of temperaments.
     
    Childhood Speech, Language and Listening Problems by Hamaguchi
    Hamaguchi examines different speech and language problems. She describes the symptoms, and she also discusses ways to correct the problems or compensate for them.
     
    Delivered From Distraction by Edward Hallowell
    This book is an easy read about ADHD.  Hallowell includes anecdotes from famous people with ADHD, and he also discusses the many different treatments.  He also includes some interesting exercises people can do to increase their concentration.
     
    Stopping ADHD by O'dell and Cook
    O'dell and Cook see a connection between the development of a tonic reflex muscle and fidgeting.  Sections of the book talk about how uncomfortable it is for some people to sit quietly at a desk. The authors explain an alternative treatment of ADHD that does not include drugs.
     
    Learning to Learn by Carolyn Oliver and Rosemary Bowler
    This is an easy read about the way people learn and the obstacles they encounter due to their unique way of learning.
     
    The Misunderstood Child by Larry B. Silver
    This book does a wonderful job of explaining different learning differences and why they can cause so many problems in school. Silver explains how many of the differences are addressed and treated with medications, and then he describes some of the side effects of the medication.
     
    Infinity Walk by Sunbeck
    Sunbeck presents different ways the left and right sides of the brain can be encouraged to work together.
     
    Brain Gym by Paul Dennison
    Dennison provides simple exercises that help the right and left sides of the brain work together.
     
    Smart Moves by Carla Hanaford
    Hanaford examines the importance of movement in learning.
     
    The Dominance Factor by Carla Hanaford
    This is a fascinating book that shows how the dominance of a person can influence the way people think and process information. Hanaford posits that everyone is born with a dominant ear, eye, hand and brain.  A person's dominant make-up can shed insight into the way a person learns.
     
    ADHD and Me by Blake Taylor
    This book about ADHD is a first-hand account of life with ADHD. Each chapter explores a different problem Taylor encountered in his life because of his ADHD. After exploring the problem, Taylor provides a list of strategies he used to overcome the problem.
     
    Sparks of Genius by Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein
    The Root-Bernstein explores how creative thinkers process information.
     
    A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
    This an easy to read about the kinds of minds and ways of thinking that will be most needed in the future.
  • Reading Issues/Dyslexia

    Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz
    Dr. Shaywitz demystifies the subject of reading difficulties and explains how a child can be helped to become a good reader. This book is appropriate for children and adults with reading problems and provides exactly what should be known about diagnosis, programs and accommodations.
     
    The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis
    Davis presents dyslexia in a different light.  He provides some alternative yet practical strategies for teaching reading.
     
    The Multiple Intelligence of Reading and Writing: Making the Words Come Alive by Thomas Armstrong
    Armstrong shows how involving the other seven intelligences-logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic-will help students acquire reading and writing skills, especially those students who are not particularly strong in linguistic intelligence.
     
    Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen
    Irlen's fascinating book on scotopic sensitivity syndrome or the Irlen Syndrome reveals how Helen Irlen discovered the syndrome and how the syndrome manifests itself.
  • Social/Emotional Development

    Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
    This is a wonderful book that explores the importance of emotional intelligence.  Goleman defines EQ and gives many of examples of its importance for your child's success in life.
     
    The Anxiety Cure For Kids by Dupont
    Dupont examines many different types of anxiety, and he provides some very concrete ways those anxieties can be addressed.
     
    Why do I worry so much? by Dawn Huebner
    This book is written for kids.  Huebner provides exercises kids can complete to help them understand their anxiety and how anxiety can affect their body.  Huebner also provides a number of easy to understand metaphors for anxiety and its treatment.
     
    Jarvis Clutch: Social Spy by Mel Levine
    Jarvis is a fourteen year old whose social skills need a bit of improving. He wants to make friends, but for him, the social scene is terribly confusing. Each chapter in this book is about how kids try to get along with each other. Learning about social cognition for some children, is like learning another language. This book is a great way to gain insight and discuss social concerns.
     
    The Upside Down Kids by Harold N. Levinson
    This was a very quick read, which both kids and adults can enjoy it. It is essentially a fiction story about eight kids with different learning issues who are thrown into a special education class together.  Levison did a great job of showing what life can be like for these kids.
  • Creativity

    In the Mind's Eye by Thomas West
    West examines the minds of great thinkers like Michael Faraday, Leonardo DiVinci and Albert Einstein. All of these men had serious learning issues that affected their ability to read and write.  West explores how their minds or any untraditional mind develops. The book is dense, but fascinating.
     
    Notebooks of the Mind: Explorations in Thinking by Vera John-Steiner
    John-Steiner interviews a number of creative thinkers and explores how their ideas emerged and how they were nurtured.
     
    The Ten Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelly
    Kelly wrote this book with the business world in mind.  Kelly examines ten different types of minds and thinkers and explains how each one plays a vital role in the workplace.
  • Organization/Study Skills/Note Taking

    The Organized Student by Donna Golberg
    Goldberg's book is easy to read and informative.  She includes practical ways to help students get and stay organized.
     
    Help for the Struggling Student by Mimi Gold
    Gold fills her book with practical lessons and worksheets to help teach reading and math skills.
     
    Learning to Learn: Strengthening Study Skills and Brain Power by Gloria Frender
    Frender's book is filled with practical advice on note taking, reading and organization.  A number of graphic organizers are also included.
     
    Mind Maps for Kids by Tony Buzan
    If you are a visual learner and looking for ways to take notes or organize information, Buzman offers instructions on how and why you should use mind maps.  He also includes a number of colorful examples.
     
    Beyond Words: A Guide to Drawing Out Ideas by Milly R. Sonneman
    This is a helpful manual on teaching visual learners how to draw out their ideas and organize information with pictures.
     
    Mapping Inner Space (second edition) by Nancy Margulies and Nusa Maal
    This is a wonderful book that explains and teaches visual mapping. The authors provide a lot of examples.  However, the drawings aren't in color.  
  • Fiction

    Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
    This picture book tells the story of a young girl who struggles to read.
     
    Get Busy Beaver by Carolyn Crimi
    This picture book about is about a beaver who seems to have no concept of time.  He thinks and works differently, but he creates masterpieces with his mind.
     
     Joey Pigza Swallows the Key by Jack Gantos
    This work of fiction shows how life is like for a kid struggling with ADHD. The book is both humorous and poignant.
     
    Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
    The sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, this work of fiction continues the story of Joey and his struggles dealing with ADHD and his "wired" family. 
     
    Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
    In this picture book, a little lion matures at his own pace.  His father is nervous, but his mother remains calm.
     
    Captain Underpants by David Pilkey
    The Captain Underpants books follow two unusual thinkers, George and Harold, as they bring excitement and imagination into their lives and school.  The books are crass but funny.
     
    Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
    These comic books follow a young boy named Calvin and his stuffed tiger named Hobbes. Calvin is a very smart boy with a great imagination, but he does terribly in school.
     
    A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
    Meg, the main character in the book, is very smart, but she doesn't show her work in math and is failing geography. Despite her troubles in school, she discovers she is smarter and more powerful than she realized.

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