I Speak of Dreams

Learning Styles: A Teacher Misunderstands A Paper, and A Psychological Scientist Explains.

I've written now and again about the popular-in-education notion of "learning styles", which has two parts:

1. that individuals have a preferred modality for taking in new information (auditory, visual and kinaesthetic -- listening, by reading and through pictures, or by moving, touching and doing). 
2. That students' performance will be improved if the teacher matches the delivery of instruction to the students' preferred modality.

Both halves of the notion have  been questionable for years, despite extreme popularity with teachers at all levels of education.

In December 2009 the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest published an article reviewing evidence for the second half of the learning styles notion.  Pashler et al. found no evidence that matching teaching modality to an individual's learning style increased the learner's educational performance, and recommended that in general the nature of the content to be learned should determine how the material is presented.

On Feb. 17, 2010, Teacher Journal published Heather Wolpert-Gawron's article, The Bunk of Debunking Learning Styles. (Teach Effectively! showed me the way to this and the rebuttal at Cedar's Digest.)

I read her article, and thought she had really misunderstood the Pashler article on several levels: The first was how she illustrated "learning styles":

Children's Books, Read By Actors

From Mike Falicks's blog I learned about Storyline Online, which features members of the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) reading stories. The program is supported in part by the SAG Foundation:

In 2001, the SAG Foundation was given a generous grant by Verizon to create five digital videos featuring professional actors reading quality children’s books. These imaginatively produced videos fully captured the intricate illustrations, colors and textures of each book. Those initial 5 stories turned into an internationally recognized website that currently streams 19 stories featuring celebrities including Jane Kaczmarek, Bradley Whitford, Sean Astin, Esai Morales, Amber Tamblyn, Eric Close, and Elijah Wood.

Storyline Online also features supplemental activities for each book developed by an early literacy specialist. Together, the videos and related curriculum strengthen comprehension, verbal and written skills of English language learners worldwide. Available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge, Storyline Online ensures that every child who has access to an Internet connection can be exposed to a story.

I've listened to Stellaluna (still a favorite of mine), read by Pamela Reed and James Earl Jones reading To Be a Drum. To me, this would be a great resource for early childhood education classes and ESL classes up to about 5th grade.

Autism One, Two, Three

One:

In the wicked humor division, Hitler Rants: Autism and Vaccines

Two:

Somewhat related, Iris Erlingsdottir's post on Jenny McCarthy at Huffington Post

I'll venture that McCarthy has no less a financial stake in the vaccine wars than Big Pharma and the evil "diagnosticians and pediatricians." There is a lot of money to be made in snake oil pitching and crockpottery -- long known lucrative side industries for aging celebrities -- as she knows from personal experience selling books and the false cures on her website where her sponsors peddle hyperbaric chambers and useless supplements -- in the US, a $24 billion industry annually -- to desperate parents of autistic children. When you have a whole industry -- books, TV appearances, supplements, merchandise -- and the adulation of religiously devoted followers riding on your theory, the stakes are high. Having to admit you're wrong is intolerable. (How's McCarthy's "quantum prayer wheel" working for your kid's autism?) It is much easier to simply reject the truth, which as we know, the vaccine denialists don't care about; it is irrelevant to them. Their attitude is that of Lord Molson: "I will look at any additional evidence to confirm the opinion to which I have already come."

Three:

Many  of Obama's appointments are being held up, including that of Ari Ne'eman (founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Asan) to the National Council on Disability (NCD).

1. ABFH at Whose Planet Is It Anyway: Senate Needs to Confirm Ne'eman
2. Cat in a Dog's World: An Open Letter to the U.S. Senate: Support Americans With Disabilities
3. Sullivan at LeftBrain/RightBrain: Ari Ne’eman’s appointment to the National Council on Disability on hold

July 5 2010 Stephen Barrett is the doctor behind QuackWatch a wonderful resource for exposing bogus medical claims. Among the many subjects of common charlatanry he's taken apart, one is the use of invalid tests to justify useless treatments, like chelation for autism, which is a goldmine for quacks. One of the labs providing the urine tests "proving" the need for chelation is Doctor's Data. They have sued Dr. Barrett. Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett Stephen Barrett

Two Public Service Announcements on Dyslexia

The first is a 60 second PSA from dhfl143, uploaded October 2009





The second is a longer version of the foregoing, and was uploaded July 2007. Some of the resources listed at the end of the film have changed, and I have appended a list that I know is accurate as of March 2010.

The video refers to Douglas Carnine's 2003 testimony to the house Education and Labor Committee, "IDEA: Focusing on Improving Results for Children with Disabilities" The testimony is available here http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/hearings/108th/edr/idea031303/carnine.htm.

Credible resources for those struggling with reading:

• http://www.DyslexiaFacts.net
• http://www.brightsolutions.us
• http://www.LDOnline.org 
  

Advocacy Links:

• http://www.wrightslaw.com
• http://www.ncld.org

Link to the International Dyslexia Association: http://www.interdys.org

Additional Reading Resources:

• http://www.childrenofthecode.org
• http://www.readingrockets.org
• http://www.getreadtytoread.org

Response To Intervention Resources:

• http://www.RTINewtork.org
• http://www.RTI4Success.org

FORUMS:

• LDOnline Forum- http://www.ldonline.org/xarbb/?catid=769
• MillerMom- http://millermom.proboards.com/

Assistive Technologies:

• http://www.bookshare.org
• http://www.rfbd.org

SAFE Voices -- Teens on Learning Disabilities

SAFE (Student Advisors for Education) is a program sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area organization Parents Education Network

The mission of SAFE Voices is to

educate, mentor, and support students, parents and teachers regarding the challenges and strengths of LD and ADHD students.

Several years ago, teens then in the SAFEVoices program appeared at a conference:

Part One:


Part Two:




A learning difficulties awareness video featuring the SAFE Voices group and produced by Blake Rudolph. Premiered at AT&T Ballpark, San Francisco on 9/20/07.

A Message For SmockityFrocks

Update the last: Smockity posted the following on her blog on March 30, 2010:

From the very beginning, I have always wanted this blog to be a blessing, something to help others, and never to hurt. I wanted to make people laugh, even in the midst of parenting trials.

It has become evident that I have not achieved that goal. I have unintentionally caused hurt and pain and for that I am truly sorry.

When I described a situation I observed recently, I was seeing in my mind and describing on my blog behavior that I have witnessed dozens of times in my own seven children and hundreds of students during my eight years as a school teacher. The behavior I described was nothing more to me than childishness and impatience, but I can see now that the words I used were viewed as symptoms of autism and many people were offended.

The most grievous part, for me, is that this has brought dishonor to the name of Christ, and that is wholly the opposite of my life’s mission.

It is my sincere hope that this apology will bring healing and peace.

I am sure that it was a hard journey to get to that apology, which I find heart-felt.  I am grateful for her apology, and I share her wish for peace and healing.

Update #5 I have heard from a friend of Smockity's that she's received emails that attack her personally for her religious practices, or which call her vile names.  I fully and totally condemn such behavior, and have rebuked the commenters,  below, who tread a little too close to the line of attacking Smockity's person rather than condemning her statements.

Update #4 (#s 1, 2, & 3 are at the bottom) Smockity, if you happen to come here and read this, please know that in your post you  ridiculed behaviors (like toe-walking, hand-flapping, and perseverating) that many of my friends' children exhibit -- behaviors they can't control, any more than a child with paralysis can get up and walk normally,  or a blind child can see.  I dearly hope that you can come to imagine the hurt these parents encounter, and resolve to be more accepting and more welcoming in the future.

About a year ago, my real-life friend Squid, who has three children, one with autism,  wrote a post about a very harrowing trip she took to Costco, in which her middle child (with autism) had a meltdown.

Please know that if you see a child who looks too old to be having a tantrum going into full tantrum mode, there's a good chance that child is autistic. It's okay to watch and see if the adult has the situation under control

Squid's post changed my behavior. I now always offer to help when I see a family struggling as she did with her tribe of three. I don't care any more if I'm rebuffed -- the offer matters. 

The deal is here: many children with neurological challenges to their behavior appear to be perfectly normal.  Until you really have the tools to see.

Which brings us to today's topic: in which a homeschooling mother of seven observed a child, and did not see. She blogs at SmockityFrocks.  I want to be generous to this person, even though her post, In Which Smockity Considers Jabbing A Ball Point Pen Into Her Eye, made me feel....well, quite uncharitable. 

It's possible, given that her family homeschools, and possibly where she lives, she has never met a family affected by autism. That's the most generous view.

Let me review for you some pointers that a child may be affected by autism:

1. Toewalking  or walking on "tippy-toes"
2. Handflapping  or "stims", which may help a child with autism self-regulate
3. Repetitive strings of words or  "perseveration".
4. Urm.  I'm having a hard time capturing this.  OK: socially-awkward interactions
5. Behavior that is appropriate for a child months or years younger than the child appears to be

In her post In Which Smockity Considers Jabbing A Ball Point Pen Into Her Eye, the 4 year old girl she mocks and ridicules exhibits all five of the pointers above.  Does Smockity even consider this child might be...neurologically non-standard?  Nope.  It's mother's and grandmother's failure to parent well:

If you had a big mixing bowl and added 1 cup of overindulged, 1 cup of coddled, 1 cup of impatient, and a handful of annoying, stirred it up, rolled it out, and put it in a pan, your little Honeybun Adora-belle would be the tasty nugget that popped right out of the pan, and you are doing her a huge disservice in teaching her that what is not at all patient is what you call “patience”.

Sheesh. I've re-written this paragraph 10 times. Bless your heart, Smockity, that grandmother and granddaughter were doing as best they could.  How about you and your children?

And: What would Jesus say about your thoughts?

Elsewhere (Updated silently):

1. Storkdok: So this is what those Moms are thinking when they give me and my son "that look" 
2. Emily: Thou shalt not mock other people's children
3. Squid's roundup post and as a reminder, her manifesto on autism-mommy-blogging
4. Life with Joey Judgments Aside
5. Snarky Ignorance and Autism Awarenessfrom Asperger's 2 Mom.
6. We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming from I Don't Need Excuses
7. What Those Snippy Typical Parents Are Thinking Behind Your Back from Terri Mauro, About.com's Special Children Guide
8. Huh.  When Life Gives You A Chance to Show Empathy, Get Defensive Instead from Kim Wombles at Countering Age of Autism
9. In Which A Mother Chooses A Mote Instead of A Pen from AustismHerd
10. All Eyes Are Upon You by Comfort in the Midst of Chaos
11. I Don't Often Post About Autism by Mitten Time
12. Why Yes We Are the Weird Ones by Kristina Chew at We Go With Him
13. Hey Parents of Autistic Asperberger's and other ASD Kids! Some of Us Parents of Typical Kids Get It! from Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of the Time I Know You?
14. Want a little challenge? from Raising Complicated Kids
15. Judgement from Understanding My Son
16. In Which Squillo Considers Motes and Eyes at Confutata
17. I Wrote an Email to SmockityFrocks But William Erased it from Life As The Mother of Four
18. Yes, This is What It Feels Like by Papa Bear at Goldilocks and the Three Bears
19. Maybe It's Not Paranoia from Surviving the System
20. Compassionate Disapproval for the Autism-Ignorant from Fuschia with Yellow Polka Dots
21. Our Mall Meltdown, or Where I Tell SmockityFrocks Where To Go from 9.39
22. When Autistic Behavior Is Misunderstood by Jean Winegardener at Autism Unexpected (Washington Times)
23. Oh the Joys of Judgmental People by Down The Rabbit Hole
24. How A Person's Name Becomes an Adjective, by JennyAlice at Into The Woods, Living Deliberately
25. Hoping that Autism Awareness Brings Compassion and Understanding, by Velvet over Steel
26. Autism Awareness and the Smockity Flap, by Mom-NOS
27. The Legend of Smockity by Welcome To Normal: Population 0
28. An Eye for an Eye, by Rooster Calls, and Rooster Call's spouse's response to Smockity's apology
29. Smockity Frocks by My Brain Wants to Go Home
30. Smockity Hath Apologized -- Where Do We Go From Here?, by A Life Less Ordinary
31. Smockity Frocks Has Sincerely Apologized, and I Accept Her Apology by Storkdok
32. A Mocking Compassion by Corina Becker at No Stereotypes Here (also posted at Blogher)
33. What Little Man Has to Say to Smockity Frocks by Heart of a Child
34. Why Did The Blog Storm that Engulfed Smockity Erupt? by Life As the Mother of Four
35. Apology Accepted by Heart of a Child
36. A K & K Duet: Now What?  at Respect for Infinite Diversity (RFID)
37. The Ladies of RFID Note That Smockity Has Apologized Respect for Infinite Diversity (RFID)
38. The Weaving Together of A Community: A Linkapalooza and a Kickass Kumbaya, by Kim Wombles at BlogHer and at her Countering Mirror site
39. Honouring the Apology from Smockity Frocks, by Fuchsia with Yellow Polka Dots
40. An apology? by Mittentime
41. Smockity Apologized! by Down the Rabbit Hole
42. Apology Accepted, Appreciated and Admired by Tragedy? Not in This House?

Update #6:

Here's an antidote to the hard feelings engendered by Smockity's words:  Grace on Aisle Five, from Both Hands and a Flashlight, in which Tim encounters a welcoming person in the midst of flapping and echolalia

Two older posts on the rejection neurodiverse families face:  Can You Hear Me Now? an older post from diary of a mom and Oh, Those Insensitive Comments, by Chris Haynes at ApraxiaKids.com

Update #2: Smockity has taken down the post, replacing it with:

It has come to my attention that my motives are being slandered because of what I meant to be a humorous look at life around me. I do not speak for any group of Christians, homeschoolers, stay at home moms, or anyone else, nor am I interested in defending myself to strangers who believe they can judge my character from one post.

If you are interested in spreading Autism awareness please go to this link to make a donation.

Motives? Character? No, Smockity, you were being rebuked for your public statements. And the link takes you to Autism Speaks, an organization not well-liked loathed and reviled by many in the autism community.

Update #3: If you'd like to read Smockity's original post and all the comments, it's been preserved as a Google document,  here

Tom West on Dyslexia "An Unwrapped Gift"

Dyslexia, an unwrapped gift: Part I (9:26 minutes)

From the UK, produced by Silvasmart

Makes the case for dyslexia is "a gift" and that all dyslexics have unique and superior visual gifts. This is the view of Tom West,

"Thinking in pictures"

Dyslexia, an unwrapped gift: Part II (10:00 minutes)

"The dyslexic type of mind is not going to exist in the general population unless it is useful in some way".

I am not sure I agree totally with the idea that all dyslexics have extraordinary visual or spacial gifts.

Autism's False Prophets Out in Paperback

From Columbia Univeristy Press:

Paul Offit’s best-selling Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure is now available in paperback with a new preface.

While the hardcover was first published in 2008 events have kept the book in the headlines. Most notably was The Lancet’s decision to retract Andrew Wakefield’s article which claimed a link between vaccines and autism. Recently, Chris Mooney interviewed Paul Offit on the popular podcast Points of Inquiry, hosted by Chris Mooney. In the interview, Offit discusses the state of the vaccine skeptic movement in light of [the news about Wakefield]. In particular, Offit explores why the tides may be turning on the movement—as well as the grave public health consequences of ongoing vaccine avoidance.

Following the interview, Mooney wrote about three insights:

• Waking the Silent Majority. Many parts of children with autism do not agree with the idea of vaccine causation and are angry that it has dominated public discussion of autism
• How the medical publishing industry contributed to the anti-vaccination hysteria
• The anti-vaccination fervor is contributing to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses

Columbia University Press filmed an interview with Dr. Offit as a part of the book's launch

Please Take this Dyslexia Survey

The UK site Dyslexic Brian have written a survey and would like to have responses from all over the English-speaking world.

The survey is up at SurveyMonkey and consists of ten questions.  The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Click here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TMJT27Z

to be taken to the survey.

Thanks!

Emma Bull!

The War for the Oaks is one of my favorite of the urban fantasy genre, and I also liked Territory. So I was excited to stumble upon Bull's new online publishing enterprise, The Shadow Unit (http://shadowunit.org/)