Strategies For Managing Language Challenges

By Glenda Thorne, Alice Thomas and Candy Lawson

There are many strategies that will help a student with language problems. A few are listed below.

1. Take the Mystery Away

Teach the student about language and language strategies. Help the student understand his/her own language strengths and challenges. This process is sometimes called demystification – taking the mystery […]

• Articles
• Literacy

What Can A Student Do To Increase His/Her Attention?

By Glenda Thorne, Ph.D. and Alice Thomas, M.Ed.

Attention Self-Test (Designed primarily for the junior high school student; statements may be adjusted for younger or older students.) Directions: Circle one number for each question. Key 0 Never 1 Sometimes 2 Often 3 Always

1. In conversations with friends or when the teacher […]

• Articles
• Attention

How To Increase Higher Level Thinking

By Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne

Most of us don’’t think about thinking – –we just do it. But educators, parents, and legislators have been thinking more about thinking, and thinking about how we want teachers to teach our students to think.

As students move from elementary to middle to high school, they are asked by their […]

• Articles
• Higher Level/Critical Thinking

Language, Learning And A Place Called School: Learning Language And Using Language To Learn

By Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne

In school as in life, the main way that ideas are exchanged is through language. So it becomes essential for a child to master language if he is to succeed at this place called school and a journey called life.

Kids who are “naturally” adept at language seem to master language […]

• Articles
• Literacy

What Is Attention?

By Glenda Thorne and Alice Thomas

Attention Quick Facts

Paying attention is the first step in the learning process.
Everybody fails to pay attention sometimes, but some people fail to pay attention a lot.
Not paying attention to what you are doing can be a problem for both children and adults. For example, not listening to the directions in […]

• Articles
• Attention

What Are Some Problems With Attention?

By Glenda Thorne and Alice Thomas

Alertness and Arousal

Deficits in alertness and arousal to having a reticular activating system can be compared to a “stuck” thermostat. The alert and arousal thermostat will not turn completely up in the morning so that we are optimally alert and aroused and will not turn down sufficiently at night so […]

• Articles
• Attention

Is Attention Related To Motivation?

By Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne

Q: Is attention related to motivation?

A: Yes. In our work with teachers, we frequently ask, “In your experience, what are the most common impediments to student achievement in your classrooms?” Almost without fail, at the top or near the top of the list is the big “M” word: MOTIVATION. […]

• Articles
• Attention

Higher Level Thinking–It’s Hot!

By Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne

Thinking Out Loud Most of us don’t think about thinking – we just do it. But with all the new emphasis on accountability and increased student achievement, educators, parents, and legislators have been thinking more about thinking, and thinking about how we want our teachers to teach our students to […]

• Articles
• Higher Level/Critical Thinking

Why Is Paying Attention So Hard?

By Glenda Thorne and Alice Thomas

“You need to pay attention to me when I’m talking to you.”

“Your grades would be better if you would put out more effort; you’re just not motivated!”

“See what happens when you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing?”

“I have the hardest time paying attention to something I’m not interested in.”

For […]

• Articles
• Attention

Tricky Memory And Memory Tricks

By Glenda Thorne and Alice Thomas

“I just don’t understand. Steven knew all of his spelling words when we went over them on Thursday night, but he made a D on his spelling test on Friday.”

“My daughter Janet remembers the most intricate details about our family holidays – the numbers of the condominiums we stayed in […]

• Articles
• Memory