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Certainly, here's an engaging introduction for your blog: "Back-to-school season is a time of anticipation and excitement, but it can also bring its fair share of anxiety and stress. As students, parents, and educators prepare for the upcoming academic year, it's essential to prioritize mental health. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore crucial tips and strategies tailored to students, parents, and educators to help navigate the back-to-school transition with confidence and well-being in mind. Join us on this journey of fostering mental health and creating a thriving school community."

Prioritizing Back-to-School Mental Health: Tips for Students, Parents, and Educators

Mental Health

6 minute read

Preparing for Standardized Tests

For many schools, standardized test season is on the horizon. Now is the perfect time to make sure everything is in order and your child has an opportunity to practice testing skills, if necessary. It is important to understand that standardized tests are only one measure of your child's academic achievement. While you don't want your child to feel unnecessary pressure and stress surrounding these tests, there are things you can do to prepare and make your child feel more comfortable.

Every holiday season we are given the opportunity to embrace more quality time at home. Some parents worry that time away from school might derail their child's learning progress. While you might be tempted to bring out the workbooks and learning apps, most teachers feel strongly about students resting and not doing work that mirrors that of a classroom during breaks. Children need to recharge and reset. However, that does not mean you can't offer plenty of engaging, off-screen, and academically stimulating activities at home. Here are 10 ways you can keep your child learning during the holidays!

10 Engaging and Educational Activities to Keep Kids Learning During the Holidays

As we enter the winter break, you may be thinking about how best to thank your child's teachers and school staff. First, please know that gifts, while appreciated, are not mandatory for your child's teacher. You might also need to check with your child's school and see if they have a gift policy. However, if you are wondering how to show gratitude during the holidays, we polled teachers across the nation to see what gifts they truly prefer during the holiday season and put together this gift guide!

Holiday Gift Guide for Our Beloved Teachers

December is a time for many that is synonymous with festivities and the holiday season. While many families celebrate the holidays which are aligned with their family culture, it is always a wonderful idea to learn more about other celebrations from cultures around the world. We have put together a list of 8 December holidays with resources for your family to learn more about these special celebrations.

December Holidays: A Family Guide

The college admissions process, while exciting, can be extremely stressful and laborious for any high school student. We spoke with Dr. Megan Hallam, a school psychologist and Director of Student Support Services with a doctorate in Educational Leadership, to learn more about how this process uniquely affects students with disabilities. We put together six important steps in the college admission process for high schoolers with disabilities.

College Admissions Process

According to the CDC, ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. Although often first diagnosed in childhood, it often lasts into adulthood. There are many characteristics which are often commonly associated with ADHD, such as attention difficulties, impulsivity, hyper-activity, etc. However, there are many times these behaviors could be attributed to something else and there are often other signs of ADHD which can be easily missed. We've put together a quick guide on what to look out for and what ADHD is, and isn't.

A Guide to ADHD

ADD/ADHD is one of the most misunderstood neurodivergencies. Many people casually assign the label to anyone who demonstrates any of the wide range of indicators. Some people don't even believe it to be a real diagnosis, but rather a ploy by the pharmaceutical companies to tame energetic kids. In truth, it is very real and can greatly impact the daily lives of children and adults. As with our recent article focusing on dyslexia, we took to social media and asked parents, caregivers and teachers what they wish they had known early on in the process of seeking a diagnosis or receiving one.

Things I Wish I'd Known: ADHD

Embrace inclusivity and support for the LGBTQIA+ community in the insightful blog post. Gain valuable insights, access helpful resources, and discover effective strategies to foster a welcoming environment year-round. Join us in celebrating acceptance and advocacy beyond Pride Month.

Pride and Beyond: Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated in the United States which commemorates the end of slavery and celebrates African-American culture. In this blog we will give you a brief history of this important holiday as well as resources and ways to celebrate and honor this significant day with your family.

6 minute read

Honoring Juneteenth: A Guide to Celebrating Freedom and Equality

Learning about the different types of learning assessments and evaluations can give you clues as to what type of testing may benefit your child and help get to the root of their challenges or learning differences.

What are the 6 Different Types of Learning Evaluations?

School is a challenge. Your student will have ups and downs throughout the school year, but consistent learning challenges and difficulties may be caused by an unidentified learning difference or learning disability.

How Do I Know If My Child Needs a Learning Evaluation?

Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in the classroom, but some students require instruction and support that is catered to their learning profile. However, most lesson plans, teaching styles, and even the classroom structure are all designed to be effective for the average student. This leaves students with learning differences and disabilities behind. IEPs play an essential role in ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn in a way that works for them.

6 minute read

What Is An Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

“You should have your child evaluated.” No parent wants to hear their child may have a learning difference or a disability, but every parent wants the best for their child. When a recommendation for a learning evaluation is made, it’s important to take that recommendation seriously and seek out professional help to ensure that your child is receiving the support they need to succeed in and out of school.

Evaluating Your Evaluation Options: Comparing Private Clinic and Public School Testing for Learning Differences

December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day gives us pause to consider how each of us can make an impact on those in our personal lives and greater circles with actions both big and small. Below are some ways we can all give back, self-reflect, and make changes to be better advocates and allies to those with disabilities.

International Day for Persons with Disabilities

We all know that capturing who your child is as a learner on one document can be challenging. However, report cards are a necessary means to communicate a child's academic and social progress throughout the school year. So what do you do with this document exactly? You have the report card...now what?

How Should I Interpret My Child's Report Card?

For many of us, the start of the second half of the school year signals a fresh beginning and an opportunity for growth and change. In addition to setting goals and resolutions, January also offers a great time to clear out and organize spaces. For families with children who have unique needs and/or learning disabilities, organization and structure can be especially helpful in creating a more successful home and school experience.

Organizing for Success: Places and Spaces

On the heels of our recent blog post on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, we wanted to put together a list of books that focus on, or include characters with diverse learning styles or disabilities. Whether it's your own child who would benefit from relatable characters and content, or you simply want to enrich your home library, these books offer increased representation and will make a wonderful addition to your collection.

Parallel's Inclusive Book Guide for Children

Oftentimes, we look back at certain times in our lives and think, "If I only knew then what I know now." We wish we could sit our past selves down and share the knowledge we have accrued in hopes of easing worries and providing invaluable information. As you start down the path with a child who might need an evaluation for dyslexia or has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia, you may face a mix of emotions: confirmation, fear, anxiety, confusion, anger, relief at a diagnosis, etc. We asked parents, teachers, and adults with dyslexia to share with us the advice they would give to others. We asked, "What are the things you wish you would have known?" Below are their words.

Things I Wish I'd Known: Dyslexia

We all hope for our children to have a passion for books and a love for reading. In a world full of video games and flashy devices, we take great joy in seeing our child tucked away in a corner, nose in a book. Building lifelong readers starts at home. While literacy instruction is happening in schools, it is also important to create an environment at home which supports younger children who are learning to read. Below are some ways you can reinforce those budding literacy skills.

Literacy at Home: Learning to Read

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner. With so much to think about and plan for the summer months, you may be wondering how to make the most of your child's summer break. One of the most beneficial things for your child or teen can be involvement in a specialized summer program which provides a jumpstart and proactive approach to preparing for the next school year. We've put together four reasons why summer programs can be a highly advantageous opportunity.

Top Benefits of Summer Programs

Check out these 10 fun and engaging ways to get your child learning this summer with friends and family!

10 Ways To Keep Your Child Learning This Summer

As children grow older and spend less and less time developing the skills necessary to learn to read, they make a switch to being able to read to learn. Once your child is past the emergent literacy stage, they will really start to engage in deep levels of reading for meaning. There are many ways you can help facilitate this learning at home. Here are 5 ways to help boost your older child and teen's literacy skills!

Literacy At Home: Reading to Learn

Literacy

The school doors are opening soon and those back to school butterflies are starting to flutter for both parents and children. We know just how hectic the days leading up to the return to classrooms can be, so we've put together 10 tips on how to help your child (and you) have an easy transition back to school!

Back to School Guide for Parents

There is no shortage of things to buy, do, and prepare for your child's return to school this fall. If you have a child who has learning differences, receives services, struggles with behavior or mental health, etc., you have even more to think about this school year. We've put together some important reminders to start this next school year off right!

Your Back-To-School Checklist

In our last "Organizing for Success" blog, we tackled ways to set up your spaces to help ease your child's anxieties and conquer their day. Another way to organize for success in your home is by creating a predictable and positive homework experience. If your child has ever had homework anxiety or even a meltdown, you know how frustrating it can be for everyone. Below are 6 ways to design a homework routine and system that can help with this daily task.

Organizing for Success: Homework

Curious about Parallel? Want to learn more about what we do and, most importantly, how we can help you and your child? At Parallel, we offer a free consultation as a first step in building a wonderful partnership with you and your family. This 15 minute consultation allows us to get to know you and your child and help us find the right match of providers and care plan for you. Below are 7 reasons to book this free consultation with us today!

7 Reasons to Book a Parallel Consultation Today

When you start to research famous individuals with dyslexia, it is easy to see why there may be a correlation with success and creativity. Below are 10 famous people with dyslexia.

2 minute read

10 Famous Individuals with Dyslexia

In our last Literacy at Home series blog we discussed how older students read to learn. Very similarly, once a child has mastered writing mechanics and the act of learning to write, they are able to begin the process of writing to learn. No longer are their brains solely focused on letter formation, handwriting, and other mechanics. They now can use writing as a tool to communicate and comprehend across genres.

Literacy at Home: Writing to Learn

Literacy

In our first Inclusive Book Guide, we put together a list of books that focus on, or include characters with diverse learning styles or disabilities. We've created a part 2 of our Inclusive Book Guide with even more book titles.

Inclusive Book Guide: Part 2

Literacy

ADHD can impact a child's daily life, especially in school. Oftentimes, children will begin to show signs and symptoms of ADHD before an official diagnosis. Therefore, we've put together common ways ADHD presents in the classroom.

ADHD in the Classroom

In our last blog in the Literacy at Home series, we discussed ways you can help your younger child learn to read at home. Just like you can support your child's growth in learning to read, you can also help to facilitate the early writing process. Here are 6 ways to help your child develop those early writing skills at home.

Literacy at Home: Learning to Write

If you have a child who is demonstrating difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling, you are most likely curious about what resources and programs are best to help your child learn literacy skills. In talking with teachers, parents, and other professionals, you have probably heard of or will hear about Orton-Gillingham or "OG". So what is this program and why is it beneficial for your child to have a tutor who uses this instructional method? In this post, we break down the basics for you, discussing exactly what it is and why it is so helpful.

Your Guide to Orton Gillingham

Millions of adults and children across the country have challenges with speech and language. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 7.5 million people in the United States have difficulties using their voices. While some children might outgrow mild speech disorders, for many it may be necessary to seek the expertise of a speech therapist.

Your Guide to Speech and Language Disorders

Speech and Language

The Power of a Diagnosis for a Learning or Thinking Difference

You make decisions based on the information you have. The more information you have before making a decision, the more likely you are to make the right decision. When it comes to caring for your child, you have endless streams of information that you use to make decisions for them. But, while endless, this information comes in pieces, and it doesn’t always lead to understanding. A diagnosis brings understanding to you, your child, and educators, and this understanding can become a powerful tool that helps your child grow in and out of the classroom.

The holidays bring so many things into our lives which we hold special. They also bring extra time to spend with our families. Whether you are looking for things to fill the time, new traditions to start, or activities to enrich learning while your children are on break from school, we've put together 6 ways to learn at home during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Learning at Home

If your child already has an evaluation, receives special education services, or is undergoing the process to determine eligibility for services, you may have noticed there are many people involved in the journey. In this blog, we're breaking down the roles and responsibilities of all of the school-based professionals who are involved in a school's special education program.

Roles & Responsibilities of Special Education Professionals

Each December, schools across the country abound with holiday programs, musicals, concerts, art shows, presentations, etc. It is a wonderful time for children and teens to show off all their amazing talents and skills across various subject areas. Extracurricular activities, such as music, art, athletics, etc. have many benefits. These special areas and after school activities can be especially important for those students with learning or behavioral differences. We have put together 8 reasons why we love extracurricular activities and the benefits they bring!

Benefits of Extracurricular Activities

In this blog, we look at how psychologists, teachers, and parents work together during the evaluation process to utilize an evaluation and its recommendations to best help a child within the school context.

How do Psychologists, Teachers, and Parents Work Together?

About this time every year, students (and teachers) across the country hit what educators call the “mid-year slump”. This is the point in the academic year when the newness and fun of the school year has worn off. Students are no longer well-rested from the summer, excited for the new year, and eager to please and impress their new teachers and classmates.

Overcoming the Mid-Year Slump

February is nationally recognized as Black History month, a time dedicated to focusing attention on the accomplishments, stories, contributions, and history of African Americans throughout United States history. We've put together ideas and resources to help your family learn and celebrate in February and beyond.

Black History Month: A Family Guide

In today's busy world, parents and educators are stretched to the max, making the face to face time provided by parent-teacher conferences precious. Despite parents having more access to teachers than ever before via email (remember when our parents had to hand-write notes to send in our backpack?), there is no replacement for in person conversation. Making the most of the conference is crucial and there are things parents can do to make the experience positive and productive!

7 Tips For a Great Parent Teacher Conference

Learning differences come in many iterations, looking different from one person to the next. You might have heard the expression "The 3 D's" in the learning and medical communities. But what does that mean? The 3 D's represent dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. While many children and adults might be diagnosed with just one of these learning disabilities, there are also times when someone is diagnosed with all three. In this blog we break down each of these LD's and what to look for.

Defining the 3 D's: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia

Oftentimes, parents, caregivers, and educators come to realize that a student with learning differences or needs might not be as successful in a general education classroom as they could be. Fortunately, your child may be able to qualify for and receive assistance from an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 plan which can help provide individualized support, instruction, and accommodations. Navigating which plan might be best for your child and how to go about obtaining one can be both time consuming and confusing. To help make the process easier, we've mapped out the plans' similarities and differences below.

4 min read

Learning Plans Explained: IEP's & 504s

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders affecting children. ADHD is considered a chronic disorder which impacts an individual in many aspects of their life. Common ways ADHD might be affecting your child are: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While ADHD can impact everyone differently, there are several resources available for families and students which can help with day to day tasks and productivity for work and school.

ADHD ToolKit For Families

Dyslexia is a language processing disorder which can impact reading, writing, spelling, and potentially speaking. While dyslexia can impact everyone differently, there are several resources available for families and students which can help with day to day tasks and productivity for work and school.

Dyslexia Toolkit For Families

Dyscalculia refers to a range of struggles with mathematics that include difficulties understanding the meaning of numbers and challenges using mathematical principles to solve math problems. This might cause some children to have trouble recognizing numbers, delays in counting, challenges with patterns and numbering, etc. We’ve put together several resources available for families and students which can help with day to day tasks and productivity for work and school.

Dyscalculia ToolKit For Families

Dyscalculia