Dyslexia and Difficulty with Short Words
One of the hallmark reading challenges for individuals with dyslexia is difficulty with the shortest words in a text. Sometimes, these words are misread. ‘The’ becomes ‘that,’ and ‘his’ becomes ‘this.’ Sometimes, readers just skip over these words altogether. This is perplexing to a lot of people. Shouldn’t the shortest words be the easiest to […]
How Dyslexia is Evolving
Dyslexia is an often misunderstood and misrepresented learning difference. Unless you have dyslexia, love someone who has dyslexia, or have an academic background in learning disabilities, you probably have some misconceptions about it as well. To make things more complicated, we are also consistently learning more about dyslexia through research. Here are some of the […]
What are Executive Function Skills?
Executive function skills are central to success in the classroom and beyond. You can think of them as the CEO of your brain. They allow you to do things like organize, focus, and regulate emotions. We begin developing these skills from birth, but they only fully mature in our early 20s. And for many students, especially […]
6 Strengths of Dyslexia
It’s true that dyslexia often presents students with academic challenges. But the “learning disability” facet of dyslexia is only a small part of it. There are so many other characteristics of a dyslexic brain, and many of them are gifts. Here are some of the strengths many dyslexics share: Outside-the-Box Thinkers Individuals with dyslexia tend […]
Dyslexia and Emotional Intelligence
Most people associate dyslexia with letter reversal and reading difficulty. While these commonly appear in dyslexic individuals, dyslexia can affect so much more than just reading skills. Another common trait in dyslexic individuals is higher emotional intelligence. In a 2020 study done by the University of California, researchers found that children with dyslexia showed a […]
The Dyslexia Iceberg
Dyslexia is a common condition. But as common as it is, it also varies greatly from person to person. How it manifests in dyslexic individuals and how that manifestation affects academics and other areas of life widely differs. The “dyslexia iceberg” analogy visually represents the “obvious” traits that many (not all!) dyslexics share, as well […]
Is My Child on “the Spectrum” and Does it Matter?
If your child has been showing signs of developmental delays or engaging in behaviors that are not age-appropriate, you might wonder if he or she is on the autism spectrum. Some common signs of autism are lack of eye contact, repetitive movements or noises called “stimming,“ and apparent disinterest in socializing with peers. While these […]
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Are you a passionate educator? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that can affect a broad range of skills, including social, communicative, and academic. ASD can be hard to diagnose as there is no medical test to determine whether a person has autism. Doctors […]
Resources for Supporting Your Child With Special Needs
Being the parent of a child with special needs is not a job any of us should have to do alone. Luckily, there are countless resources out there with the specific purpose of helping you navigate the stressful and amazing world of having a kid with special needs. Wading through all of the resources to […]
Deciding on the Best Setting for Your Child With Special Needs
Today’s parents of students with special needs have a lot of options. This is great, but wading through all these options can also feel overwhelming. How do you know what the best setting is for your child? You will undoubtedly receive recommendations from teachers, related service providers, school administrators, or even your child’s doctor. However, […]