FAQ
What are Executive Functioning Skills?
Our executive functioning skills are essential in helping us navigate through simple and complex tasks. They are responsible for guiding, directing, and managing our daily functions, whether it be school, work or socially related. Think of executive functioning as what the CEO of a company must do – analyze, organize, decide, and execute. Similarly, our executive functioning skills help us to: Analyze a task; Initiate the task; Plan how to address the task (step by step); Organize the steps needed to carry out the task; Develop timelines for completing the task; Adjust or shift the steps, if needed, to complete the task; Complete the task in a timely way.
What is a Learning Disability?
A learning disability is a disorder, which can range from mild to severe, that impacts an individual's capability to understand, receive, express, and/or process information accurately and effectively. There are various types of learning disabilities that can affect one or more areas of functioning (i.e. listening, speaking, reading, dyslexia, writing, dysgraphia, math, comprehension, etc.).
How do I know if my child is struggling with their academics?
If you suspect your child is struggling in school, talk to their teachers. Ask the teacher the following questions: Is my child able to keep up with curriculum and concepts? Is my child engaged in the lessons? Where does my child "rank" when compared to the rest of the class? Are there any noteworthy observations I should be aware of?
Talk to your child and ask them how they are feeling about school and if there are any issues they are experiencing. Viewing recent standardized test scores and work samples will also shed some light into their current academic functioning.
If the information you have collected from your child's teachers, current work samples, test scores, and reports from your child suggest there is cause for concern, you should strongly consider having your child assessed for a comprehensive educational evaluation. The data (both quantitative and qualitative) collected will provide a clear learning profile of your child's strengths and weaknesses. The information from the evaluation will also serve to create an effective researched-based intervention plan.
What is Dyslexia and what signs should I look for if I suspect my child has issues with reading?
Dyslexia is a type of specific learning disability that affects a child's ability to decode words and read with fluency. The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as:
"...characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impeded growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”