Special Learners
Young Special Minds
We have come so far in our understanding of how the young mind works. Luckily, long gone are the days where "one size fits all," and we now have widespread acceptance that each child learns differently.
Nonetheless, there are a myriad of conditions that can impede a child's academic accomplishments, and prevent our youngsters from reaching their full potential.
A Comprehensive Analysis
At Housecalls, we understand and advocate for a coordinated team approach. We conduct a comprehensive review of your child’s prior evaluations including neuropsychological or psycho-educational evaluations as well as a thorough examination of all prior reports, including teacher reports and parent feedback. We routinely reach out to psychologists, school officials and any other member of your child's academic team. We encourage that team approach and never make the school feel like we are usurping their role as leaders in the academic plan for your child.
In the medical world, Dr. Gilgoff too often observes a complex medical situation involving numerous independent consult services, each working alone. As a true child expert and pediatrician who understands the complex nuances of a child’s mind and well-being, Dr. Gilgoff can effectively coordinate your child’s team.
When dealing with the young mind of a special learner, the approach must be coordinated and efficient, with realistic goals that are clearly outlined but more importantly continuously reassessed.
Regardless of the actual diagnosis or name of the learning issue, your child's organization skills are crucial. Executive dysfunction and an overall failure to focus, prioritize, and make the most out of limited time can be the biggest obstacles when it comes to homework and mastering content. Children speak of wheels moving, but not going anywhere. Parents report that their child spends hours on a project but has little to show for it. Frustration builds, and once a youngster feels like he or she "can't do it," a negative cycle ensues, and the entire attitude toward school and even learning itself can be gravely affected.
The Missing Link and How to Close the Gap
Many of our students have received a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation. These in-depth comprehensive explorations into how a child learns can be invaluable. But in almost every case, the expert evaluator then leaves the team and may never be involved again. The school may be trying their best to implement some of the suggestions, but a family is often left advocating for their child without a team approach. In some cases, the complicated tests can be difficult to decipher, or in many cases they don’t translate easily into practical solutions.
At Housecalls, we strongly believe in a team approach that is practical, realistic, and clear. We have integrated coordinated specialists that will bring energy and clarity to the evaluations and feedback that teachers and psychologists have offered. We have learning specialists, executive function experts, teachers, psychologists and actual evaluators all on our team to ensure a truly holistic approach. We can offer more intensive evaluations in a specific area, or help break down an evaluation already done, and then directly communicate and create a plan with our individual mentors. Call or email us to learn more about our approach to your child’s individual learning needs.
An Individualized Approach
Our learning specialists will construct a concrete academic plan that's individualized for your child's learning style. This will include the bigger picture, including distributing time and resources among the different subjects in school, and keeping track of projects, papers and tests. But the smaller, more practical undertaking of the day-to-day, and in some cases, hour-by-hour will also be mapped out. When children have an idea of how long they will spend on each endeavor, and see both the time that it will take to finish an academic task and the time they will have to themselves outside of schoolwork, their minds relax a bit. By giving them the structure they yearn, they will actually work harder and more efficiently during the time allotted to each task.
Balance during these stressful years is so important. Yes, colleges want to see a well-rounded individual who has participated in team sports or music, volunteered often, traveled extensively, and is an active school and community member. But your child's mental health calls for some breaks - and real breaks. We have seen firsthand the burn-out and deterioration that can result from pushing and pressuring a student past his or her limit.
Setting Concrete and Realistic Goals
At Housecalls, we will attempt to create realistic expectations and foster a sense of confidence and pride around both academic and extracurricular activities.
This is where the thorough evaluation of prior reports and current level of functioning come into play. Only after our in-depth analysis can we create a thorough, comprehensive learning plan. This plan will be shaped and remolded continuously, but after three to five sessions of working one-on-one with your child we will aim to give you an early analysis. Furthermore, we will give you frequent and detailed feedback as we are making our observations.
We have worked with numerous children who were underachieving and struggling because they weren't being taught in the proper manner. We have endless success stories in which a student's grades skyrocketed once we learned how they learn best. While the debate goes on regarding certain nuances of Howard Gardner's "Multiple Intelligences Theory," or "Mind Mapping," it is clear that we need to individualize our approach toward those whom learn differently.
We want each child to shoot for the stars, but the child who has been a B- student all his life shouldn't be made to feel a failure if he doesn't bring home the A.
Housecalls Can Help
What we do at Housecalls Tutoring is completely different than what other companies offer. Dr. Gilgoff and his team of learning specialists have extensive backgrounds in a plethora of diagnosable learning conditions.
Our learning specialists are at the top of their field, all holding advanced degrees as well as possessing the ability to connect with children without making them feel disadvantaged or disabled in any way.
Housecalls prides itself on having true specialists in executive dysfunction, receptive and expressive speech delay, ADHD, and anxiety, in addition to the basic organizational and motivational problems that often coexist. Dr. Gilgoff himself will take an in-depth learning assessment and character inventory of your child, in an effort to select the right individual to mentor your child. In addition to that tutor, you'll have the ongoing support of not only Dr. Gilgoff, but also the chief of that age-appropriate division.
While Dr. Gilgoff is proud of Housecalls' AP Calculus or Physics tutors, it is the learning division that he holds dear to his heart. A tutor since 1986 and pediatrician since 1996, he has seen what a difference it can make when a child with a learning issue is taught utilizing the proper methods. Let the Housecalls team help your child blossom, and regain her vigor and love for learning. Please call or email us for more information.
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