USA: English May be Dropped from Disability Evaluation

What’s new in the USA? Read more here

Don’t Give up on English: Is Dyslexia Permanent? How Teachers Can Rewire a Struggling Reader’s Brain

Dyslexia is not a condition that prevents students from learning new languages. Excerpt:

A National Science Foundation–funded study from the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington (UW) examined growth in reading skills and white matter in school-aged, struggling readers. Diffusion MRI data collected during eight weeks of special instruction showed large-scale changes in white matter and significant growth in reading skills.

Dr. Jason Yeatman, one of the researchers, says that although dyslexia is often considered permanent, his findings prove otherwise. The research shows that targeted, intensive instruction leads to “substantial” improvements in reading skills. It also changes the “underlying wiring of the brain’s reading circuitry.”

“It’s underappreciated that teachers are brain engineers who help kids build new brain circuits for important academic skills, like reading,” says Yeatman.

Read more here

 

Dyslexia is not a condition that prevents students from learning new languages. Excerpt:

A National Science Foundation–funded study from the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington (UW) examined growth in reading skills and white matter in school-aged, struggling readers. Diffusion MRI data collected during eight weeks of special instruction showed large-scale changes in white matter and significant growth in reading skills.

Dr. Jason Yeatman, one of the researchers, says that although dyslexia is often considered permanent, his findings prove otherwise. The research shows that targeted, intensive instruction leads to “substantial” improvements in reading skills. It also changes the “underlying wiring of the brain’s reading circuitry.”

“It’s underappreciated that teachers are brain engineers who help kids build new brain circuits for important academic skills, like reading,” says Yeatman.

Read more here

 

Can and Should Every Person Study A New Language? Dyslexia, Bilingualism, and Learning a Second Language

Read the scientific response to the question here

Using Technology to Assist Struggling English Learners

More at Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students and Special Needs

Dyslexia, Bilingualism, and Learning a Second Language

A good discussion here

Being Bilingual May Be A Plus For Kids With Autism

A new study, excerpt:

Kids on the spectrum who are bilingual appear to be able to switch gears more quickly than their peers who speak only a single language, according to findings published recently in the journal Child Development.

Did You Know? Bilingualism No Problem for Children with Down Syndrome

Don’t underestimate the abilities of your special needs students. Down Syndrom Children, for example, can learn additional languages as well. More at this link 

Research finds bilingual therapy vital to improving language disorders in dual-language children

Interesting research at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-bilingual-therapy-vital-language-disorders.html

Language Learning and Down’s Syndrom

Down’s syndrome no bar to bilingualism, study suggests. More at https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46632888?fbclid=IwAR0aAn5sHgiT3CfVEwBvtyscqIJqPhhtmbqyoB0qbPrhvkdHdGhKPrl7oCU