Smart Kids With LD

Kids may be at greater risk of losing math skills than reading skills during the summer months, according to research noted by Frances Nankin, the Director of Cyberchase. This animated daily math series on PBS KIDS GO! features numerous ways to help kids avoid the “summer slump” in math.

Check out the eye-catching activities described online at www.pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase including number puzzles, keeping track of summer earnings (and developing a budget to help with money math), charting progress in self-designed exercise programs such as swimming or biking, or learning about estimating – and when an answer that is close to the right answer is good enough for the question at hand.

Strengthen your kids’ math skills over the summer? It may be as simple as engaging your kids in the activities on Cyberchase on your local PBS station – including “sneak peeks” at new episodes, photos, and behind-the-scenes videos.

When Smart Kids asked a group of middle school kids how their learning disabilities impacted them, we were impressed—and sometimes surprised—by their thoughtful responses. During the course of the wide-ranging discussion, students were not shy about expressing their views. In most cases, their comments were initially positive; however, as they began to reflect on their experiences, a far different picture emerged.

We knew we’d hear how challenging it is to travel between the resource room and their mainstream classes, but we never expected to hear how teachers frequently added to the burden. We thought we knew how beneficial accommodations could be—after all, they’re put in place to help students achieve their potential—but we were amazed to learn that students often don’t understand the reasons behind their special treatment, leaving them to assume the worst. While opinions differed on some topics, one thing they all agreed on was that they often feel put upon to succeed, or as they said, “No pressure, please!”

For the full rundown see Living with LD: A Kids’ Eye View. Their comments are likely to cause you to take a second look at your child’s school program and to listen differently when she speaks.

For years health advocates have warned the public about the evils of lead, particularly for young children. High levels of the mineral have been linked to a wide range of physical ailments and, more recently, to an alarming number of learning difficulties. But conventional wisdom suggested that with vigilance we could protect our children from the harmful effects, primarily by keeping them away from toys, furniture and other products that contained lead-based paint.

Now, however, a new source of lead contamination has been uncovered, one potentially more difficult for parents to monitor. Last month, the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) filed notice alleging that lead levels exceeding .5 micrograms were found in a variety of children’s foods and baby foods. The products included a number of popular juices and packaged fruit products. A complete list of the products tested, and whether or not they exceeded the standard, is available at the ELF website at www.envirolaw.org

The notices filed by ELF claim that the foods contain enough lead in a single serving that they require a warning under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). Toxicologist Barbara G. Callahan, PhD, DABT, termed the findings “alarming.” As Dr. Callahan explained, “Lead exposure among children is a particular concern because their developing bodies absorb lead at a higher rate and because children are particularly sensitive to lead’s toxic effects, including decreased I.Q.”

What Happens Next?

Notification has been sent to appropriate law enforcement officials, and to the affected manufacturers, retailers and distributors, alerting them that these products require a warning label. If, within 60 days of notification, the companies have not brought themselves into compliance by either (a) reducing or eliminating the lead or (b) placing “clear and reasonable warnings” on the food packages, then ELF will file suit if no other law enforcement prosecutes the violation.