ADHD Support

There are roughly 2 million children in the United States today who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Judging by the laws of nature and society today, that means there are more than 4 million parents who have children, step-children, or foster children diagnosed with this disorder. As ADHD becomes more visible in schools across the nation, more and more organizations are taking notice of the need for support not only for the individuals affected by ADHD, but those around them as well.

If you find that you are in need of more information about medication, alternative treatments, or ADHD in general, a good place to start is actually your insurance company. Many plans, including BC/BC, provide tools and resources for parents and children coping with affects of ADHD. You can also log in to www.chadd.org on the web for the national chapter of Children and Adults with ADD (ADHD). Find your own local chapter of this support group by entering your zip code!

While ADHD seems to be getting its 15 minutes of fame, not a lot of people are talking about the challenges and difficulties that come along with those letters. There is definitely help and support out there. If you need a starting place, feel free to call us! We'll point you in the correct direction.

What did you do this summer?

I know we're all familiar with the "summer vacation" writing project at school! It seems to be a rite of passage for beginnging each new school year, but it can be completed at home over the summer as well to keep writing skills sharp. Initiated by parents or tutors, use summer trips, vacations, excursions, or camps to lay the foundation for writing projects over the summer months. This year, though, spice it up by adding a new twist. Use the Library of Congress' database of travel journals and diaries written between 1750 and 1920 to jumpstart creativity. Children and teens can find first hand accounts written by historical peers their age during times when America was a vastly different country (though eerily the same).
Send us your projects and we'll post them online so students can read and review other works in a mini-online community.

Summer Reading!

Looking for some great books for the kiddos to read this summer? Well we are too! With the help of the National Education Association, we have a great summer lineup for both our students and tutors. In 1999, the NEA selected the "100 Best Books for Kids." Don't let the title mislead you, though! The list includes lots of books for young adults, too! You can also view the NEA's list of "Best Books for 2007" while you're checking out the site. The best part of all is that the website also includes links to TogetheRead and TeachersandFamilies that promote literacy as a family activity--an endless resource for family reading activities. Let us know how the summer reading goes and be sure to pass along the titles of your favorite books!

Motivation Webinar

Hello!
We recently presented a webinar to our families and tutors about increasing and sustaining academic motivation. The webinar was a hit with the attendees so we thought we'd provide some of the highlights via our podcast.

What the Webinar is all about!



Intrinsic v. Extrinsic Motivation



Goal setting and positive reinforcement



Charismatic adults and "islands of competence"



Some final thoughts from the staff at EC!