Good Sensory Learning Blog

Did you know that comfort foods such as ice cream, chips, cereal, and cookies can impact children's health, behaviors and ability to learn? As a child, I learned that I was allergic to preservatives, and once I got off of processed foods, I felt tremendous cognitive gains. There is a multitude of reported, dietary remedies for students with learning disabilities and ADHD, however, what works for one individual often does not work for another. The reason for this is that each individual has their own background, genetic makeup, and sensitivities. As a result, finding a natural remedy can be a...

Organizing ideas and building paragraphs can be a taxing and complicated process for beginning writers. Writing requires multitasking. When some of these tasks are challenging, they can become overwhelming hurtles that trip up the flow of ideas and can stop the creative process in its tracks. For instance, if a student is still toiling with the formation of letters, the second they go to write down their fabulous ideas, their attention is swept away by the engulfing fine motor task. Likewise, those that tussle with spelling often lose their thoughts as they get diverted down a path of sounds and...

Apple has been offering free accessibility tools with their personal computing devices for some time, but with each new operating system upgrade comes improvements and changes. This blog focuses on the dictation tool, as it is real game changer for students with dyslexia and other types of learning disabilities. What is Dictation? Dictation is a tool that allows users to speak computer commands and also dictate text when creating documents, texts or emails. The computer “listens” to your words and follows your directives. Because the computer “hears” every utterance, it is important to speak clearly and mindfully so that your...

Helping students find the best method for recording assignments and organizing their packed schedules can be a game changing strategy that can boost grades and confidence. Over the years, I have tested out many apps as well as printed and digital calendars.  Most recently, I have been evaluating Google Keep, and I’m really excited about this option that communicates across platforms. What is Google Keep? Google Keep is a web-based application that allows you to create, access and share notes, lists, and reminders on many devices.  In addition, it offers many cool features such as images, voice notes, drawings, reminders,...

Self advocacy is one of the most important skills struggling students can learn. Whether it is communicating with a teacher about a best learning approach, a needed testing modification, or a classroom accommodation, self advocacy can assure that students get what they need to learn. What is Student Self-Advocacy? Student self-advocacy is when a learner communicates what he or she needs to a teacher or administrator in an academic environment. This skill should be taught in middle school so that students are knowledgeable about the process and procedures by high school. Although it sounds easy, it’s actually quite complex, because...