Christine, Author at Strategies for Learning

Tackling Procrastination in Kids with Learning Differences (infographic)

The main causes for procrastination and strategies to tackle it. (infographic)

Tackling Procrastination in Kids with Learning Differences

Procrastination is a universal struggle! But for children with Learning Differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or ADHD, it often feels insurmountable. When any learning challenge makes a task inherently more difficult, the brain naturally triggers avoidance. The key to tackling this isn’t discipline; it’s strategy, structure, and support.

California’s New Reading Screening Requirement: What Families Need to Know

At the start of the 2025-26 school year, California implemented Senate Bill 114, which mandates reading difficulty screenings for all Kindergarten through 2nd grade students in public school districts. This improvement will provide teachers and families with valuable information about students’ reading challenges and aligns with Science of Reading practices.

Why The New Definition of Dyslexia Is Important

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) recently published a new definition of dyslexia, developed through a rigorous and collaborative process to reflect the latest research and the lived experiences of individuals with dyslexia. Members of the Strategies for Learning team, including our Certified Academic Language Therapists, also participated in this important effort.

ADHD Myths and Realities

In my field, I hear plenty of misconceptions about ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) that linger even in 2025. These myths don’t just confuse parents—they also get in the way of providing the right support. Let’s clear up some of the most persistent misunderstandings about ADHD and focus on what really matters.

How to Support School-Related Anxiety or Stress

student with school related stress and anxiety

It’s normal for young people to feel worried or nervous about school. School can be a complex and sometimes overwhelming environment- filled with academic pressures, social dynamics, and constant change. For some students, these worries can become more intense and impact their school experience. In some cases, it can even impact whether a student is able or willing to attend school at all.

Parental Guide to Student AI Use

How does a parent know when a child becomes overly reliant on AI and outsources the very learning they need to acquire? While the answer is quite complex and ever evolving, the key lies in knowing when the tool enhances a child’s learning and when it prevents learning.

Pathological Demand Avoidance and School Struggles

If your child resists school, melts down over routine tasks, or avoids expectations in ways that feel extreme. One possible explanation is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a profile currently thought to be a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) where everyday demands trigger intense anxiety, leading to extreme avoidance behaviors.

Understanding and Supporting Dysgraphia

If we use the etymology of dysgraphia (the history of the word as well as it’s language of origin), we find that it comes from the Greek words dys meaning “impaired” and graphía meaning “writing by hand” we can see that describes an avoidance when it comes to writing. Dysgraphia can also be a neurological disorder and learning disability that affects the ability to write with coherence.

Dyslexia Assessments: How to Choose the Right One for Your Child

When parents begin to suspect dyslexia in their child, the first question often asked is: What kind of assessment should we pursue? Two common options are a full diagnostic psychoeducational evaluation or a formal dyslexia screener or targeted assessment, such as the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD). Both approaches provide valuable information, but they differ in terms of purpose, cost, time commitment, and the depth of results.