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Wouldn't it be nice if children would simply listen and learn.

If it  was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called "labour".

If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

Parents are the external regulator for kids who cannot regulate themselves.

It's more effective to reward your child for being "good" (appropriate) than to punish him for being "bad" (inappropriate).

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

Early intervention is always better than crisis management - but it is never too late to do the right thing.

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

The more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

Learn more.

Now Try To Read This!

Theparagraphyoureadafewpostingsagowasprobablyeasiertoreadthanthisoneeventhoughthespellingofeach wordiscorrectthereasonthisoneismoredifficulttoreadisbecausetheothercluesweuseinreadingsuchassize ofwordinitialandfinalsoundspunctuationandcontextcannotbeeasilyseenbyyourbrainwhenallthelettersandwordsarejust jammedtogetherreadingclearlyisacomplexskillthismayevengiveyouaheadachekeepreadingandyouwillbeable toreadthetranslationwithanytrouble Translation: The paragraph you read a few postings ago was probably easier to read than this one even though the spelling of each word is correct. The reason this is more difficult to read is because the other clues we use in reading such as size of word, initial and final sounds , punctuation and context cannot be easily seen by your brain when all the letters and words are […]

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Reading Rescue – theory part 2

    Rescue Reading” is intended  for those children who are not experiencing success in their ability to read in the early grades. It is a highly structured and sequential phonics based reading program that teaches: the sounds of individual letters the skill of blending 2 sounds together, then 3, then 4, then  . . .to make words focuses initially on the “short” vowel sounds the combining of words to make sentences uses games to […]

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Reading Rescue – theory Part 2

My blog entry on November 23 presented a paragraph to read that broke all the rules for reading. You did not use your phonics skills or your whole language skills to read the passage as none of them conformed to the rules of reading. and yet you were able to read it by using a set of skills that were not taught to you. Your brain has mastered the skill of reading to such an […]

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Politics of Teaching Reading

    Proponents of each of the 2 approaches to reading (phonics based vs whole language) maintain their approach is the “KEY” to engaging children in reading and are often critical of the other. The “whole language” group think children’s literature, writing activities and communication activities can be used across the curriculum to teach reading. The backers of “phonics” instruction insist that a direct, sequential mode of teaching reading enables students to master reading in […]

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Reading Rescue – theory – part 1

    There are 2 basic approaches to teaching reading: phonics based whole language The traditional theory of learning established in the 19th century draws on the notion that children need to break down a complex skill into its smallest components and then put the components together to perform the complex skill. Example – the complex skill of skiing The components of skiing: putting boots and skis on walking on level, snow covered ground with […]

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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See more of our workshops


Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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Parents' Comments

“Our psychiatrist recommended Rick to help us sort out behaviour management issues for our autistic son. He was an invaluable help.”

(C.C. – Sarnia)