Language learning difference can affect your child’s academic performance
You are certain your child is intelligent, and her teacher is also certain she is intelligent. However, your child continues to struggle academically. You wonder if your child is just not trying hard enough, but she follows all your instructions, and does not get into trouble at school. As a matter of fact, she is very conscientious about her work. She stays up longer than most of her peers trying very hard to complete her assignments. It is likely your child may have language-based learning difference (LLD). LLD affects the way the brain processes information and can impact how a child learns to read, write, hear and speaks. All students have different learning styles, but some students experience a greater disconnection between their academic aptitude and their ability to learn. LLD is not a reflection of low intelligence but it can negatively impact your child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Students with LLD may have problems understanding what they read (grade level materials). They may also have problems with spelling, sequencing information and difficulty organizing information they present. LLD students often ask clarification immediately after receiving instructions or lectures. Below is a checklist for you and your child’s teacher to complete if you suspect your child may have LLD.
1. Does the student have difficulty using complex vocabulary to describe, with details, a wide range of topics. For example using indirect speech such as irony or predicts what might happen in a complex story? Yes NO
2. When reading a book, the student can deduct the meaning of unfamiliar words based context clues or prior knowledge. Yes NO
3. Can the student describe the differences between the two meanings of sound in sentences like? For example, “The creaking sound makes me wonder if the bridge is sound.” Yes NO
4. Can the student write a paragraph with descriptive sentences about topic with details about characters, plot, events, etc.,? Yes NO
5. Does the student read stories and accurately retell what she has read? Yes NO
6. Can the student read and understand instructions for a game, a recipe to bake cookies, instructions about how to build a model and she is able to explain the process to someone else? Yes NO
7. The student can compare one story character to another, and can compare information from two or more newspaper articles. Yes NO
8. The student can read a chapter of a book set in the past or the future and talks about how things are different compared to the present. Yes NO
Having LLD does not mean your child is less intelligent than her classmates. It just means she may need language strategies to support her learning style. We use language strategies to enhance the students learning style.
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