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In 2005, mental health experts determined that approximately 3.5 million school-aged children in the U.S. had been diagnosed with some form of attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD, now often represented by “AD/HD”). It is estimated that this number has grown exponentially each year since that determination was made.

All too often, the first thing considered when trying to manage attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (AD/HD) is the “M” word---medication. Yes, sometimes medications are indicated for a particular child or adult. However, in many cases, it is often a good idea to first try non-invasive and/or more natural approaches to help manage the symptoms of AD/HD.

There are quite a few websites available to help with information and resources for various approaches. I have assembled here a few of these resources (almost all FREE) that might offer some assistance in dealing with everyday tasks, school, home life, relationships and other things. I hope you find them helpful for your child, teen, or you.

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7507.html Summer Activities for ADHD Kids, Preteens Combine FUN and structure to give AD/HD children the best summer ever!

http://www.childrensvision.com/reading.htm Important information about WHY your child may be struggling with reading

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/8698.html Let these apps, available for the iPod Touch, the iPhone, and the iPad, make short work of your, or your child's, to-do list.

http://www.brennaninnovators.com/strategies.html FREE strategies and tips to help with attention issues at school or when doing homework at home. Also, check out the “background color changer” feature on this website. Eliminating the white background on a page of text can help a struggling reader with AD/HD.

http://www.additudemag.com/resources/printables.html FREE printable resources for ADHD/ADD; Downloadable (Adobe PDF) handouts about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) symptoms, medication, treatment, school, help, info, parenting, teen driving, and organization resources and advice for adults and parents of children AD/HD, etc.

www.chadd.org National organization with information and support for children and adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD)

www.ADHDSupport.com (Sponsored by Shire US, Inc.) ADHD Support, Help for AD/HD

www.ADDConsults.com ADD Consults, This is the place to find ADHD Professionals, Resources, Consulting Services, and Products

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD

http://www.adhd1.net/ Help for Families of Children with AD/HD -Samuel R. Caron, Ph.D.

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

Do you have one child who struggles to learn while your other child learns almost any concept as if it were “a piece of cake”? Perhaps you have a student who is very bright but at the same time is challenged with some aspect(s) of learning. What can a parent or teacher do?
Although my students know me as “Mrs. Brennan”, many adults often call me “The Link Lady”. Yes, many parents and teachers email or phone me requesting resources to help their children and students learn with more success. Many of these children/students have special needs and are challenged with physical and/or developmental differences. Others are frustrated and struggle for a different reason--- because learning is not challenging enough for them!

I keep current lists of FREE resource links to share with parents and teachers. Here are just a few of these helpful resources for children at either--- or BOTH--- ends of the educational spectrum. If you need more resources, just email me, and I will be happy to provide more of them for you.

Gifted Resources

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/ Various activities for gifted and enrichment purposes

http://www.mathforum.org/library/ Various math problems and instruction (free website)---If this link is not immediately accessible, please copy and paste it into your browser.)

http://connections.smsd.org/nieman/EL/gifted.htm Provides interesting links for parents and teachers of gifted

Special Needs Resources

http://www.smarttutor.com/home/reading_menu.asp Free reading lessons & educational activities for K-5

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/ Learn to Read: Free Phonics games, worksheets and flashcards

http://www.ldresources.org/links/ A collection of resources on various aspects of learning disabilities with comments from community members.

Combined Gifted and Special Needs Resources

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/tvsearch.php?keywords=gifted+education&sitesearch=1&in=tv_all (For teachers but contains links helpful to parents regarding “gifted with learning disabilities” information)

http://www.uniquelygifted.org/ Resources for Gifted Children with Special Needs (ADD/ADHD, Learning Disabilities (LD), Asperger’s Syndrome, etc.)

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

Do you have a child or teen who prefers to work with numbers rather than read stories? Is your child self-motivated to learn math above her grade level? Would you like a ready list of FREE yet excellent math links at the ready for the next rainy day?

Well, here is just the list for you. You will find almost any grade/math level needed, too. Several will allow your child to work independently from his current grade level in math to any level he chooses (even through college calculus!)

If you need help encouraging your child to brush up on her math skills over the summer, you might suggest links #6 or #8 below here. You will see her
become excited about math in no time because these links will provide some great online math games to enjoy!

So, try a few of these links and please let us know which one(s) work best with your child(ren) and why. We would love to hear from you!

1. www.brightstorm.com/math 2,000+ FREE Math Videos – Every Topic in Algebra through Calculus! Excellent site.

2. www.mathforum.org/mathmagic/ A “bountiful” offering of math resources is listed here by grade level.

3. www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/ Please visit this site for explanations and examples covering decimals, percents, integers, probability, and much more. (Very good for 6th-8th grade math)

4. www.mathmammoth.com/worksheets/free.php Free sample math worksheet downloads (for Grades 1-9)

5. www.freemathhelp.com/ Here there are many math help resources available, including math lessons, math games, and a math help message board.

6. www.cut-the-knot.org/games.shtml Link to many MATH GAMES for ALL grade levels---Great site for practice AND fun!

7. www.algebrahelp.com/index.jsp This is another great website for those times when a student needs help with solving algebra problems.

8. www.learn-with-math-games.com/index.html Various math games for K through Middle School. Includes interactive as well as printable math games.

9. www.dadsworksheets.com/v1/Timer.html Use this free, web-based countdown timer to time math worksheets, quizzes, tests, projects, games, or other classroom activities. 100% JavaScript... Nothing to download, no software installation. This timer is perfect for math practice, writing assignments or any other school work activity that has a time limit. Enjoy!

10. step.nn.k12.va.us/math/middlemath/ppt/mid_math_ppt.htm Try these math PowerPoint presentations all ready to go for middle school students!

11. www.math.com Choose the appropriate level from the left sidebar. Then begin to answer the math problems presented at that level. You will receive immediate feedback about your answers. Investigate the "1-2-3-4 Step" feature where you can find explanations, examples, etc. for the math problems presented. How many problems will you answer correctly?

12. www.khanacademy.org/ Math tutorial videos and practice on any level---FREE! (YouTube videos)---Also, many other tutorials for various content areas (over 2,100 lessons online)

13. http://empowerkidz.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/math-made-fun/ An article by Anupma Sethi that includes a GREAT list of interesting, educational math activities and resources for kids to do themselves!

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

It’s often called “summer brain drain” by many teachers. The term describes the loss of learning that occurs in children during the summer break from school, a very real and annual concern for teachers as well as parents. What can parents do to help their children avoid this?

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been talking about this topic with my young students in grades 2 through 5 as the end of the school year has been fast approaching. Some suggestions and resources were also provided for the children and their families.

One bright-eyed, third grader described how he keeps his skills sharp over the summer. Tyler told the class that at the beginning of every summer, his mother purchases a skill-building workbook for his next grade level. She also buys one for each of his brothers, and they work together in their respective books several times each week. It is no surprise that all three children are successful in school. This is just one way of keeping “summer brain drain” at bay.

Other strategies can also promote skill building and retention over the summer. Many of them are available at low or no cost. Just a little effort and forethought might be needed. Here are just a few:

1. Encourage your child to read often. Surround your child with books wherever and whenever possible. Regular visits to your local public library go a long way in establishing good habits of life-long reading and learning. These visits can also be great opportunities to spend quality, family time together---and the price is certainly right!

2. Set aside time each day to read to your child. This will show him that reading is very important to you and your family. It will also increase a child’s desire to read independently. Consider a “family reading time” for obvious, additional benefits.

3. Promote reading in the many things you already do with your children. Ask them to read street signs, menus, game directions, cereal boxes, and other items. This will demonstrate that our world provides much information and opportunities through the reading of words and text. It will also promote independence.

4. Consider providing a journal for your child, a place where she can write about the books she is reading during the summer. You might recommend that she write an alternative ending to a favorite book. Looking back through the journal at the end of the summer will remind her of all the reading she has accomplished in only a few weeks. She will also have improved her critical thinking and writing skills.

5. Do you have a reluctant or struggling reader? You might suggest books (at first) with a few more illustrations and a little less text per page. Another idea to consider: audio books (also available at your local library). If you discover that your child learns best by listening (an auditory learner), this approach will be a very good idea. Share this discovery with your child’s teacher when the fall semester begins. It will be helpful information for that teacher and invaluable for your child’s future classroom success.

So, you can do much to help your children “stay sharp” over the summer months. Just think ahead, plan, and be prepared to have a wonderful summer of reading together! Next fall, your children will thank you (and so will their teachers)!

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

We at Brennan Innovators, LLC are more than pleased that our product, the Reading Focus Card Combo Pack (Patent 7,565,759), recently received the outstanding Kidlutions Seal of Approval. On April 25, 2011, the Reading Focus Card Combo Pack of sensory-appealing focus tools for struggling readers was distinguished with this award. The Kidlutions Seal of Approval is only awarded to products that solve problems for children, parents, educators and others as well as change lives!

We are very proud and grateful to receive this award. We wish to thank Ms. Wendy Young, LMSW, BCD, and her team of mom-reviewers for evaluating the Reading Focus Cards and for making the decision to award this Kidlutions Seal of Approval to our product for struggling readers.

We invite you to read the blog article written by Ms. Young at http://kidlutionssfk.blogspot.com/2011/04/reading-focus-card-changes-lives.html. Feel free to enter your own comments if you, your child, or someone you know has benefited from using our Reading Focus Cards. We will appreciate your comments!

To read testimonials from teachers, parents and students who have used the Reading Focus Cards, please visit http://www.focusandread.com/rfc%20testimonials.

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For AD/HD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Happy New Year to all! As we turn another page on the calendar, it seems appropriate to provide you with some free resources that just might help your struggling learners have a great start to their new year, too.

So, here is a list of links that cover a variety of issues for challenged readers and learners. It is hoped that these resources will help them as well as their teachers and parents.

Please let me know how these various resources help your student(s), child(ren), or you. Feel free to contact me at joan@brennaninnovators.com. I will welcome your comments!

http://www.senteacher.org/Print/ Many FREE resources for teachers can be found here. There are numerous downloads and printables for immediate classroom use!

http://www.autismbuddy.com/ Aims to provide a FREE user-friendly website that provides high quality printables and resources for teachers and parents for use with children with special educational needs

http://www.watchknow.org/ Free educational videos categorized by age of viewer and content area

http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/4/7181.html Comic Books ADHD Children Will Love to Read (and Learn from, Too)

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/6608.html ADHD Adults Raising ADHD Children: Parenting Strategies

http://www.addresources.org/adhd_friends.php A wonderful and extensive list of ADD/ADHD resources!

http://www.addresources.org/adhd_reading.php ADHD reading materials

http://www.foniks.org/ Learn to read, write, spell & speak English with phonics & Instant Sound. The layout is in a step-by-step format, complete with hearing the sounds (turn your sound “on”!) and printables.

http://www.smarttutor.com/home/reading_menu.asp Free reading lessons and educational activities for K-5

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/ Learn to Read: Free Phonics games, worksheets and flashcards

http://connectability.ca/visuals-engine/ Create visual supports for your child with FREE online templates!

http://www.ldresources.com/ A collection of resources on various aspects of learning disabilities with comments from community members.

http://www.ldonline.org/ One of the world’s leading websites for learning disabilities and ADHD

http://www.ldonline.org/parents “Parent page” of above website

http://www.virtualnerd.com Assistance with math and science content and challenges

http://www.additudemag.com/RCLP/sub/7059.html Safe Driving for ADD/ADHD Teen Drivers

http://www.FocusandRead.com For focusing tools that help children and adults with reading challenges

http://www.BrennanInnovators.com For info and support about reading challenges, ADHD, dyslexia and other issues

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

Did you know that the white background on a page of text can be "visually offensive" to some readers? Most definitely! By changing the background color of a page of print, focus, concentration, comprehension, and retention can be improved for many. Certain colors can actually "unblock" pathways in the brain, making it possible to improve brain connectivity. This can result in improved reading success.

At several recent conferences, many parents, teachers, and students were able to test colored overlays and the Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) that were available for them. For some, yellow overlays worked well to bring words into focus and to "stop the letters from moving". For others, amber (an orange color), green, deep blue, or tan (like the blog here) worked best.

For those readers who needed color AND focusing help, the Reading Focus Card kits were the best option. With a choice of blue, yellow, and clear/non-glare reading window filters in every kit, readers can customize their Reading Focus Cards to suit their individual reading needs.

Developmental optometrists can evaluate and diagnose individual reading problems. Many times, the treatment will involve vision therapy or other options. This can be expensive and time consuming; however, the benefits can be significant.

An inexpensive and timesaving alternative can be the introduction of colored overlays or the use of Reading Focus Cards. They certainly provided some much needed help for readers at the recent conferences.

Source

Press release: Patented ADHD Reading Tools Can Help ALL Kinds of Readers
http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/patented-adhd-reading-tools-can-help-all-kinds-readers

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897