The Learning Puzzle
How can I help my child learn?
Parents may ask themselves why some children learn differently than others, especially if their own child is having difficulty. Learning disabilities are a common problem, affecting an estimated one in ten children in Canada. They have a profound impact on children's lives and families, who are often without ready access to other means of support. Not only must the child, parents, and teachers try to accommodate the learning disability itself, but they must also often deal with the social stigma attached to it. Children with learning disabilities face being bullied, having low self-esteem, dropping out from school, or turning to drug use or crime.
Now there is help
The Quebec Learners' Network (QLN) has produced The Learning Puzzle, a support tool for parents and teachers of children with Learning Disabilities, consisting of multimedia resources now available for free viewing from: www.TheLearningPuzzle.net or in CD format through its project partners, The Centre for Literacy of Quebec.
The series consists of four online modules:
- Introduction to Learning Disabilities – takes a look at the basics for parents and teachers alike
- Understanding Specific Learning Disabilities – focuses on specific learning disabilities and common disorders
- Supporting Children with Learning Disabilities – provides a wide variety of strategies and resource tips
- Learning Disabilities and Adults (supplementary section)
These narrated slide shows have been designed with advice from family psychologists and special education advisors for use by parents and teachers in rural and remote areas, where there is a serious need for information and support for people living and working with afflicted children. In addition, the audio-visual learning approach ensures that the modules can be easily understood even by viewers with limited computer or literacy skills. The learning series can be used privately or in a group setting with additional support being provided by teachers, social service workers, or members of local parent groups.
Focus group testing conducted by the QLN has indicated that this material is highly effective and would provide significant support for teachers and parents in rural and remote communities. The QLN would like to ensure that all West Quebec parents are aware of the series.
The Support for Parents and Teachers of Children with Learning Disabilities learning series is available for viewing by anyone with an Internet connection. Just visit the QLN website at www.TheLearningPuzzle.net and you'll see the links to the modules. Each module comes with a set of resources and references that are specific to the topics covered. The modules are also designed to be used by teachers and school psychologists as a springboard for workshops with parents of LD-ADD kids, since many parents—especially in the rural areas—may be unaware or in denial of their child's disorder.
For convenience of use, you may want to order The Learning Puzzle in CD format (total cost of just $6). To do so, please contact:
The Centre for Literacy of Quebec
e-mail: literacycntr@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
Tel: (514) 931-8731 ext 1415
Fax: (514) 931-5181
3040 Sherbrooke Street West
Montréal, QC H3Z 1A4
To get involved with this or any other aspect of the project, please contact: Peter MacGibbon, The Quebec Learners' Network, (819) 827-8038, peter@qln.ca