Learning Disabilities
Book Reviews

Lessons and Articles

Bookstore and Catalog

Ages: 5 years old - adult literacy training
In 5-10 minute sessions, this highly effective program can be used with individuals or small groups. Children expand their ability to retain sight words for reading and spelling, understand and apply phonics and syllabication, and recall terms for basic subjects such as history and science. It is designed for developmental or remedial use. There is a step-by-step teacher's guide.

Read Development, Introduction, and Endorsements.

Achieve Levels I & II: A Visual Memory Program
Developmentally for grades 1-3
Order from Learning Abilities Books or PayPal.
Two volume set: $43.95

Achieve Levels III & IV: A Visual Memory Program
Developmentally for grades 4-6
Order from Learning Abilities Books or PayPal.
Two volume set: $43.95

Achieve Levels I, II, III, & IV: A Visual Memory Program
Developmentally for grades 1-6
Order from Learning Abilities Books, or PayPal
Four volume set: $79.95 (Save $10.00)

Achieve levels V & VI: A Visual Memory Program
Developmentally for grades 7-8
Order from Learning Abilities Books, or PayPal.
Two volume set: $43.95

Read reviews of these books by the same author.

Auditory Sequential Memory Instructional Workbook for the Development of Auditory Listening, Processing, and Recall of Numbers, Letters, and Words

Visual Discrimination
Noting Differences in Frequently Misperceived Words: A Develomentally Presented Workbook for Beginning Readers and Students with Visual Discrimination Weaknesses

This is the 2002 revision of the popular book which tactfully uses the term learning differences for LD. In a non-threatening manner, the authors describe various learning differences. The language and art work appeal directly to children. Sharing this book, parents and children develop skills and knowledge to discuss difficulties and solutions. This encouraging book offers specific tips to use at home, with peers, and at school.

The author is a parent of an LD child. She is also a talented writer who consulted with several specialists in writing this entertaining story for LD children. She skillfully helps the reader identify with Alex as he experiences frustrations, successes, and hopes. Gehret uses the term learning differences rather than learning disabilities. Classroom teachers, scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, and others have found this book useful for increasing understanding among children who aren't LD. In a small class, Alex masters some specific learning strategies and he gains confidence. The book has an informative parent resource guide.

This is listed under children's books because it is a valuable resource to read to elementary school children. It helps take some of the mystery out of intelligence testing and helps with understanding intervention techniques. Although the book is about LD, all children can identify with strengths and weaknesses in the mountain climbing analogy. Children with LD gain from the concepts. Other children benefit from developing a better understanding of their classmates and of themselves. Who doesn't have some learning strengths and weaknesses?

Parents and teachers can delve deeper into the concepts of many ways to learn by studying Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons by Howard Gardner. This theory was introduced in 1983 and has had a large influence on education.

by Betsy B. Lee, Ed. S., Linda Lee (Illustrator)
Ages 5-8
Patterns of failure and poor study habits can be well established before a child reaches fourth grade when most study skill instruction begins. In fourth grade, children are more able to use advanced memory strategies but younger children benefit from learning basic memory strategies. A school psychologist/school counselor created this fictional story for K-3 which has puppets, music, lesson plans, and discussion questions for developing motivation and memory skills. This helps build success which enhances self-esteem and reduces anxiety and frustration in academic settings.
See Little Lemon excerpts and lesson plans.

by Betsy B. Lee, Ed. S., Catharine E. Varnedoe (Illustrator)
The book has discussion questions which address the issue of kind or unkind nicknames, the benefits of helping someone, etc. The puppets (Little Lemon and Lickety-split) help Wiggle-worm gain self-control, self-respect, the respect of others, and secrets for doing better in school. A turning point in the story is when the boy discovers that he can control a runaway pony. A specific diagnosis is not mentioned in the story. Wiggle-worm could be a child with ADD/ADHD or other conditions such as LD, behavioral problems, low or high blood sugar, or sleep deprivation.

See excerpts and discussion questions from Whoa Wiggle-worm.

by Betsy B. Lee, Illustrated by Catharine E. Varnedoe
Ages 2 and up.
Help children use memory strategies. The book has an entertaining story, music, and hands-on activities for learning colors. The ages of the children are not indicated which makes the book equally appropriate for enrichment or remediation.

See excerpts from A Purple Cow.

    This revised second edition of Learning Disabilities: There is a Cure includes two new chapters: application of learning strategies to the teaching of foreign languages and mathematics. It also presents updated details on the teaching of reading. I highly recommend this book as well as her other books:
Achieve: A Visual Memory Program
Auditory Sequential Memory Instructional Workbook and
Visual Discrimination: Noting Differences in Frequently Misperceived Words workbook.
    The author's suggestions help learners prevent or cope successfully with disability. The author is an experienced educational specialist who presents effective techniques for teaching specific learning skills such as visual and auditory memory skills and perceptual skills necessary for learning. Because of my research and experience with learning strategies and similarities - differences concept formation, I'm especially impressed by the practical applications she offers to parents, educators, and physicians. These techniques can be adapted to learners of any age.
    At first glance at this book's title, I was skeptical about the claim for a cure. This feeling melted away as I read about the author's credentials and as I saw her suggestions. She recommends an eclectic approach. Her recommendations are based on years of research, advanced professional education, and teaching experience. She left public education to establish a learning center. The reading ability of the average child at her learning center increased two to two and a half years during one year of instruction. She shows how learning is impacted by visual perception, visual memory, auditory perception, and auditory memory skills. She shows how to recognize these deficiencies and remedy them. She states: "With concentrated remediation that develops learning skills along with the basic reading, thinking, and study skills, learning disabilities can be cured." She urges publishers to design reading programs using all approaches rather than to struggle over which type of reading approach to use. Her book has an interesting review of different reading programs. The author has created an excellent visual memory program.

This book presents basic principles of instruction in reading, spelling, writing, math, and it offers information for adults with dyslexia. There are over 50 activity sheets and insights from people who have experience with dyslexia. The author has experience as a special education teacher, a school psychologist, and a writer of children's books.

This 2006 publication presents the latest developments in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences which he introduced his in 1983. His ideas have been called an educational fad by some and a source of great insight by others. For more background, you might like to read the 1992 revision of the book in which he first outlined his theory, Frames of Mind. Intelligences include linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, etc. He has extended his theory to consider a ninth intelligence (pondering deep, life questions). Some people have interpreted information about intelligences and learning styles to conclude that their preferred learning style should be used at the exclusion of other styles. It can be in injustice. However, confidence and success can be increased by greater attention to how we learn best. Gardner states that his list of intelligences encompasses much of human intelligence but it is not complete list.

Children can appreciate some of the concepts if parents or teachers use the following book directly with them: Many Ways to Learn: Young People's Guide to Learning Disablities by Judith M. Stern.

A distinguished educator speaks of his own dyslexia and his gratitude for a loving family, high expectations, and no official disability label. Therapy was just play. Early educational intervention was just playing school. He offers many practical ideas for improving literacy.

An educational psychologist who is dyslexic helps readers develop a deeper understanding of how these children think, feel, and how they can succeed. Students, parents, and teachers often feel overwhelmed by the neurological nature of this disorder. The author's experiences show how much can be done with parental love, support, and specific strategies. He succeeded in college although his condition was not diagnosed until he was a graduate student.