Learning Differences and Learning Difficulties
Learning Difficulties and Differences - Differentiation between learning differences and learning difficulties is essential. Visual spatial learners mostly have a learning difference and not a learning difficulty. However, this section of the website provides information about learning difficulties because some VSL children have a learning difficulty on top of their visual spatial thinking system. The Starjump assessment identifies the underlying causes of a learning difficulty and it identifies the visual spatial learner.
Multidisciplinary approach - It is important to use a multidisciplinary approach in an attempt to understand the complexities. The information gathered in our assessment is analyzed with an understanding that no particular strength or weakness can be seen in isolation. The interplay between our physical, emotional and cognitive functions has to be considered.
The Cycle of Failure helps us see the multidimensional nature of factors that affect learning. When children experience failure at school on a daily basis for example, they usually experience high levels of anxiety. We know that anxiety can actually stop a vsl child from being able to think becasue it stops them from creating imagery in their minds. They become vulnerable to and are often misjudged as being slow learners who are directed to remedial programs designed for auditory sequential thinkers. They don't respond to such programs and continue to faill or improve marginally. The ramifications of not getting the diagnosis and treatment right are indeed profound.
Be sure to complete the "Questionnaire" on the home page menu bar to begin the process of identifying factors that may be affecting your child's learning if you haven't already done so.
The cycle of Failure can be broken by:
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Early intervention that is based on the correct diagnosis of the specific learning difficulty.
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Ensuring the child has the physical capacity to perform the learning task with ease.
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Helping the child reflect on his or her own patterns of thinking and learning.
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Taking away the fear of failure.
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Actively engaging the parents in the process.
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Having classroom teachers understand and accomodate for the visual spatial learner.
Remember early intervention is important to avoid serious ongoing
educational and emotional problems.
Gifted VSL and Learning difficulties
Gifted LD - Learning difficulties can be found in children across the intellectual spectrum with some highly gifted children suffering from an often hidden learning disability. They are referred to as being "Twice Exceptional". This reality can be very confusing for parents and teachers because giftedness is often associated with high achievement. Many gifted students do not do well at school and indeed high achievers are not always gifted people. (Click on the "Twice Exceptional" link above to open the 2e newsletter which is dedicated to this subject.)
Gifted LD at Risk - Gifted learning disabled students are seriously at risk because their high intellectual ability is usually masked by areas of specific weakness. Few ever make it into the specialist gifted programs. Teachers may instinctively recognize them as "smart kids" but label them as lazy because they don't achieve to the standard that is expected of someone with their capability. Many smart kids have very intense emotions and so the frustration and anger they feel as a consequence of putting enormous amounts of energy into learning without success, can generate behavioural problems or problems with extreme anxiety. Some become the smart trouble makers in the school. Being smart but having a difficulty is very confusing to children too. Some of our brightest children leave school feeling and thinking they must be really "dumb" because they can't do what other students do, yet they can be in the top 10% on the intellectual spectrum. Most have no idea that they are actually very bright. These are the most at risk group of children in our schools for social, emotional and academic reasons.
Nourish strengths Remdiate weaknesses - Gifted VSL students who have learning difficulties need to have their areas of difficulty attended to as well as having their areas of strength validated and nurtured. Starjump offers both remediation and enhancement programs for this reason.
Negative Consequencs - The consequences of not attending to a child's learning difficulty are very serious and negatively impact on the child for life. Similarly the consequences of not recognizing, honouring and nurturing a child's exceptional ability, has equally devastating implications. I urge you to take action individually and collectively with other parents, to advocate for these children, your children. Encourage your school community to take action. Start your own gifted VSL group or Starjump Club and make use of the many activities and suggestions available in the members section of this website.
You are also welcome to join the members section of this web site to communicate through our online forum with other parents. Share your experiences and ideas and find out how other mums and dads have dealt with the issues creatively and positively.
Download Starjump's free spelling tool for Visual Spatial Learners.