AN OPEN BOOK: (Clockwise from top left) Desi in Bulgaria; with her mother Maria; leading the Special Olympics Torch Run; and finishing a Midland School race.
whenever they want. So we're reaching out to the world to help make that happen.
But while we're working to create the Readeezy library, we parents can provide some of these aids to our children as they read. Find pictures that match those in the stories they like. Make up a simple game to check for understanding when you finish a chapter. Perhaps you can even record a narration for easy books that you can play while your child follows along. (There are also some books online for this age group that have a text-to-speech feature.) It's extra work but worth it if it can help a young person be motivated to read more. You can also visit our website at readeezy.com for links to research on neuroplasticity of the brain and how neural connections can both strengthen and weaken, depending on how they're stimulated. It may inspire you to create reading solutions of your own.
For those of us who've ever enjoyed a good book, we know the
fun of losing yourself in a story. We hope that Readeezy can be the kind of place where any reader who wants can climb inside the pages, learn something new, go on an adventure and most of all, have a wonderful time doing it. •
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Maria Finaro Cleary is a parent of a young adult with learning disabilities and works as an interim school superintendent. She is also the President of Readeezy. You can contact her at maria@readeezy.com or visit readeezy.com •
- Doidge, Norman. (2007). The brain that changes itself: Stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. New York: Viking.
- Doidge, Norman. (2015). The brain's way of healing: Remarkable discoveries and recoveries from the frontiers of neuroplasticity. New York: Viking.
- Blackwell, Lisa, Kali H. Trzesniewski and Carol Sorich Dweck. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across adolescent transition: a longitudinal study and an intervention. Child Development, 78(1), 246 – 263.