Each child with MERLD learns differently.  Some learn quickly, are able to memorize.  Others take much longer, needing to assimilate differently.  You have to determine how your child learns...and sometimes that means looking at, and revamping, how you, as a parent, see both teaching and learning.  

First, you need to observe your child like never before in everyday situations.  If you have the time to volunteer in school, watch your child from afar--remembering that children act differently away from home and mommy or daddy.  It may be wise to refrain from volunteering in your child's classroom if you are in observation mode.  At home, observe your child in individual play, with siblings, with neighborhood friends.  Observe your child engaged in household chores, while watching TV, playing video games, or reading a book. 

Keeping a journal is a great way to chronicle what you observe.  It is also a great way to list questions, make suggestions to yourself that you won't forget, and plan learning activities.  Unless you have a mind like a steel trap, journaling, making notes, lists, saves a heck of a lot of frustration later.  Another plus is that members of your child's educational team may like to see your observations.

Remember, you are your child's best advocate in the school system and in life.  Equally important is remembering that you are the key player in your child's interdisciplinary team of educators.  Lastly, remember that your child, however, is the captain of this ship.  Your child will tell you which direction to sail.  It is up to us as parents to watch for cues and to learn how to listen to your child's directions in the context of normal school and family life.

Some Basic Questions to Consider

Does your child thrive on detail?

Does your child prefer to see the whole picture first; then break it down into manageable chunks of detail?

Does your child thrive on routine? 

Is your child easily frustrated if too much is thrust at him at once?

Does your child need short snippets of learning and then talking about how it relates to his life?

Does your child exhibit behavioral issues that keep him from learning?

Watch what makes your child at ease, what makes your child easily frustrated, smile, frown.  We as parents watch our children and make mental notes about them anyway. Trouble is, they get tucked in and lost between shuttling kids to school, our own work, home life in general, and the million things that we deal with each day.  So if you can jot your observations down.

A Note about Your Child's Interdisciplinary Team

No matter what school your child goes to, public, private, or parochial, he will be expected to maintain minimal state and federal standards. Your child may have an interdisciplinary team in place to help him or her reach those standards if your child is in mainstream learning. I do encourage mainstream education unless the special education department is geared toward getting your child into mainstream classrooms.

Your interdisciplinary team may consist of your child, yourself and other family members, teachers, speech language pathologists, physical or occupational therapists, reading specialists and peer tutors. 

Keep in mind that they all have a zillion things going on as well in their days. They may have autistic children, children with behavioral issues, food allergies, etc, to attend to and tons of paperwork required by school, local, state and federal governments to contend with, so it is even more imperative for parents to stay involved.  Parent or educator, it is tough to constantly keep switching gears and not get behind with all the different personalities and learning styles of the children in your care.

It can be exhausting trying to keep on top of home, hearth, and all the special needs of your family and extended families. In this economy, the stress levels are high as parents lose jobs and insurance, which may mean loss of therapeutic coverage for children with MERLD. If you are at this point, step back, take a breather, and reassess.  There are ways to maintain your child's learning levels.  We will discuss that on our next blog post.