Good Sensory Learning Blog

I have never understood why the number-line extends horizontally from left to right. Young learners often confuse left from right and others have trouble remembering which way to travel when trying to solve simple addition and subtraction problems. However, when viewing a vertical number-line, it makes conceptual sense that going up would equate with adding, while traveling down would result in subtraction. Furthermore, when solving multi-digit problems, we teach students to line up numbers vertically. Therefore wouldn't it be best to commence instruction with the number-line extending up-and-down? Turning the Number-line Into a Ladder To make the learning process even...

Federal law requires schools, colleges, and universities to provide reasonable accommodations for students who have documented learning disabilities such as dyslexia (commonly called a Specific Learning Disability). Many of these students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities need a foreign language requirement to be modified. A common accommodation is a foreign language exemption, waiver or modification. What are Foreign Language Exemptions, Waivers and Modifications? Over the years I have heard a few terms that have been used to describe foreign language accommodations in education.  Here is a quick review: A foreign language exemption: Some state laws provide mandates that...

This blog shares my most recent video podcast featuring Winston Chen, the author of my favorite app for readers with dyslexia. This is the first of many free video podcasts for Go Dyslexia! Winston founded Voice Dream while on sabbatical on an island north of the Arctic Circle and his flagship product Voice Dream Reader is an amazing technology device that offers text-to-voice for audiobooks, PDFs, and more. This top-selling iOS app has a recent, free, comprehensive update with some new extraordinary features. Come learn about this creation and view a demonstration of this amazing tool that is changing the...

Challenges with spelling disrupt the flow of thoughts, distract the writer and often result in poor word choice. Even though the author may have an excellent speaking vocabulary, their writing may suffer due to avoidance of words that are difficult to spell. What's more, many poor spellers skirt writing altogether because navigating spelling potholes can be time-consuming, and they fear that others will question their intellect. What Can Be Done to Help Poor Spellers? The technology age offers a number excellent tools for struggling spellers. Speech-to-Text Software: Speech-to-text is a type of software that transcribes the spoken word into typed...

A strong working memory is now reported to be the cornerstone to academic success. It is a mental notepad where we post both visual and auditory information until we need to use it in short-term memory.  Strengthening one's working memory can have a profound effect on a students' learning capacity, and there are activities that can help exercise this core cognitive skill. How Can I Learn to Strengthen Working Memory? Providing fun and engaging activities that require working memory such as Red Light, Green Light can help. However, ready-made activities that were designed specifically to exercise working memory can save time...