If you notice a certain look in some children’s eyes that says they are not listening, it might be that they are simply lacking the ability to sequence your conversation and it might be time for some assessment of their listening ability. For example, one well-known assessment used to define [...]

With finals week approaching for most middle and high school students, here are some suggestions about how students can improve their test taking skills or strategies. We need to realize that doing well on a test is not based solely on the student’s ability to recall information, but also on [...]

Erik Erikson, the late Harvard developmental psychologist, described eight stages of psycho-social development, beginning at birth and concluding with death and dying or what professionals like to refer to as “from womb to tomb.” What makes Erikson’s theory so important to your child’s learning potential and intelligence is that much [...]

The effect the CA state school budget is having on our children’s learning potential has become cataclysmic, to say the least. According to a study conducted by U.C. Berkeley researchers, when the high school student-teacher ratio is less than 19 students to one teacher, there is a dramatic increase in [...]

There will come a time in every parent/adolescent relationship that a behavioral contract should be considered, not only for your sanity, but also as a way to stimulate growth in the adolescent's ability to deal with issues regarding family values and rules. In my private practice and work in schools [...]

Recently, several universities were charged with NCAA violations when football players were found to have received large sums of money and gifts -- even prostitution, from overly enthusiastic alumni/patrons. In all, the dollar value of the money or gifts was extensive. The NCAA has yet to make a ruling on [...]

 Special to the Press Democrat Test anxiety is something no student wants to experience, but it nevertheless, operates at so many different levels and extremes. For some students, it actually motivates them to study and/or succeed in school, while for others, it can be debilitating and actually block their innate [...]

What should parents do when they notice their kindergartener or first grader has weak or delayed printing and drawing (sensory-motor) skills? Delayed printing and drawing skills for this age group are often evidenced by inconsistent letter size of upper and lower case letters or with children’s drawings -- circles that [...]

Vocational intelligence is a preference or a particular interest toward a certain type of vocation that usually comes by way of a hobby or interest in the child’s play. Bottom line – it is never too early to make kids aware of their vocational intelligence. This does not mean we [...]

The road a student must travel for successful homework achievement is filled with many potholes for failure. One major pothole can be avoided by making the homework experience less negative? Unfortunately, with homework, we often equate it with drill and kill or no pain no gain for successful learning? Instead [...]