The 6 Success Factors for Children with Learning Disabilities: Ready-to-Use Activities to Help Kids with LD Succeed in School and in Life

Based on a 20-year study conducted by researchers at the Frostig Center, this book identifies the six attributes that lead to success for children with learning disabilities:

• self-awareness
• proactivity
• perseverance
• goal-setting
• social support systems
• emotional coping strategies

The book presents structured activities that foster these traits in students. Each of the 60 fun, ready-to-use activities contains a lesson plan and reproducible student worksheet, complete with modifications, accommodations, and helpful teaching tips.

This easy-to-use resource helps children with LD develop skills to be successful in school and beyond.

Table of Contents

Front Matter

• About This Book ix
• Foreword by Richard D. Lavoie xi
• About the Frostig Center xv
• The Contributors xvii
• Acknowledgments xix
• Introduction xxi

Chapter 1: Self-Awareness 1

• Introduction to Self-Awareness 2
• Rating Yourself 5
• Check for Understanding Self-Awareness 7
• Describing Self 10
• Describing Likes and Dislikes 13
• Compare and Contrast Success Attributes 15
• I See Me, You See Me 17
• Check Out Sparktop.org 19
• Identify Favorite Activities 21
• Freaky Friday 23
• I Feel Good About Me 26

Chapter 2: Proactivity 29

• Introduction to Proactivity 30
• Finding Help 33
• Unlock Closed Doors 35
• Ask the Experts 37
• Take Action 40
• Make the Solution Work for You 44
• How Most People Find Jobs 46
• Am I Ready to Be On My Own? 48
• What Do I Know? What Must I Learn? 51
• One Step at a Time 55

Chapter 3: Perseverance 59

• Introduction to Perseverance 60
• Help by Example 62
• Don’t Quit 65
• Help with Hanging in There 68
• Playing Games and Persevering 71
• Preseverance Award 75
• WorkaOut! Hold On to That Job! 77
• Occupations, Job Searching 80
• After-School Goals 82
• Long-Range Plans 85

Chapter 4: Goal Setting 87

• Introduction to Goal Setting 88
• Plan a Party 90
• Shop ’til You Drop 92
• School Tour 94
• Book Report 96
• Criminal Investigation 99
• Where I Am and Where I Want to Be 101
• Road Map to Success 104
• Step-by-Step to Achievement 106
• What Do I Know About Me? 109

Chapter 5: Social Support Systems 113

• Introduction to the Use of Effective Social Support Systems 114
• Friendship Rating Scale 116
• Who You Gonna Call? 119
• Strength in Numbers 122
• ”And Seldom is Heard . . .”: Discouraging Words or Deeds 125
• Imagine Me, Imagine You 128
• What’s New? 131
• Getting to Know You 134
• Human Helpers: Accommodations for School, Work, and Life 137
• Delightful Disclosure 140
• Delightful Disclosure Award 141

Chapter 6: Emotional Coping Strategies 143

• Introduction to Emotional Coping Strategies 144
• Group Roles 146
• A Mile in Your Shoes 150
• First Steps 152
• What Helps? 156
• How Does it Feel? 160
• Do Something! 163
• Name Your Bandages 165
• Help Me Cope 167
• Welcome, Stranger 169

Appendix A: Resources for Fostering the Success Attributes 171

Appendix B: Assessments 187

References 199

Index 201