#LDchat Archive
Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
Wednesday October 12, 2016
Welcome to today’s LD Chat! This is Dan with the Understood team.
Cohosting today’s chat is Dr. John Kelly of .
We’ll be chatting about resilience in kids with learning and attention issues.
Looking forward to today's , pls join in with ur comments regarding building resilience in children
Hi! Peter here. with a PhD. ? That's me! I wrote a book! Screwed up somehow but not stupid: Life with a LD
John Kelly, NASP Pres-elect
Resiliency is a very important topic!
Hi Peter! It's been awhile. Where've you been? :)
Eric Rossen, school psychologist and Director of Professional Development and Standards at
Sometimes this time doesn't work. Other times it's not a topic I think I can contribute to
Hi Eric! Thanks for joining.
Hi . Kerri, blogger with ADHD and learning issues.
No worries. Glad to have you today.
Nelly Kaakaty from Dallas, TX!
Tom Brant, CT School Psych.
Clem Coulston, Manager of Communications & PR at . Looking forward to a great chat!
Agreed , helping kids face life's challenges is important
Hey Kerri! What's new in Canada?
Kelly Vaillancourt, school psychologist, Director of Government/Prof. Relations at
Nelly Kaakaty, Learning Specialist from Dallas, TX!
Some new faces joining us today. Welcome! Thanks, all, for joining! Let's have a great, productive conversation about resilience.
Jamie Heinzen, School Psychologist, Bellevue, NE
First question coming up...
Melissa Reeves, President - National Association of School Psychologists.
We’ll use a Q1, Q2… format for questions. Please use the A1, A2… format for answers.
Q1. What’s resilience? Identify a time in your own life when you’ve shown resilience.
Great to see so many school psychologists joining us today, welcome
Susan Bryant SP in GA and Pres of GASP.
A1 Resilience is the ability to float on a sea of troubles.
Hi this is Dr Pete, School Psychologist from New York
Well there was SNOW on my deck this morning but currently it’s only on the neighbour’s roof…
A1. Resilience = ability to face life's challenges even when you don't want to
Resilience is believing in yourself and others believing in you.
A1: The ability to rise above a situation and show the way. My exmaple: Working in Newtown CT and 12/14/12
A1. The ability to bounce back.
Hi . Dr Pete from NY, School Psychologist
A1 Dealing with disappointment.
great to see you, Kristin!
Resilience is the strength @ overcome challenges or adversity in life. It's building confidence in your life.
A1. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity to achieve positive outcomes
A1. Modifying your own outlook/approach in response to your circumstances to not be defeated by obstacles but rather climb over them
Very true, especially for kids with learning and attention issues.
A1 as a parent it takes resilience to successfully work within the public school special ed system
, can u talk about working with kids in Newtown and teaching resiliency
A1 Resilience is knowing that just because you are DISabled doesn't mean you aren't also ABLED https://t.co/L2CaLgqlIs
Great point. Resilience is a good attribute in both kids and their parents when navigating the system.
Being a single mom & young I had 2 build resilience 2 create an independent & successful life 4 myself & my daughter
A1: a process of overcoming or adapting to adversity or obstacles in one’s life . Not a trait, but a set of thoughts, actions, skills
Overcoming the Odds! Being stubbornly optimistic about your chances of success https://t.co/1UdA4A4tSI
Q1. What’s resilience? Identify a time in your own life when you’ve shown resilience.
Students needed to feel and see we were all hurting and that together we could build something strong.
A1. it is not about hiding, but rather, learning how to face challenges successfully! A skill that continually develops
A1. Resilient kids tend to be problem solvers - not intimidated by tough situations
: We need then had to find the strength that each adult and student had and build on that.
Q2. What personal traits or environmental factors do resilient kids with learning and attention issues seem to have in common?
this is my favorite answer!
A1. My example: research proposals being rejected from journals. We edit & submit elsewhere. Happens to the best of us. :)
A2. A whole lot of positive energy! ;)
A2 Parents/teachers who believe in them, but who also recognize their problems.
A2: an adult who believed in them.
A2. Children learn to be through supportive adults in their lives
A2: Often, the influence of a caring adult that demonstrates unconditional positive regard. https://t.co/3L2yNHkvjw
Q2. What personal traits or environmental factors do resilient kids with learning and attention issues seem to have in common?
A2. They want to succeed! We have to build from their strengths.
A2 Celebrating our differences means honoring our disabilities https://t.co/cwvbEGmDvN and that's key to resilience.
A2 Usually a strong social environment.
A2: a support network of parents, teachers, school psychs, educators, and peers who help them work through daily struggles
A2. A supportive team of parents & school staff that use strengths to build up deficits.
Determination, Perseverance, Optimism, and Courage. https://t.co/vQn0fA8APb
Q2. What personal traits or environmental factors do resilient kids with learning and attention issues seem to have in common?
laughter is such a huge coping strategy when life can bring challenges! My brother is always the life of the party!
A2. Resilient kids tend to be optimistic
A2. “Grit” and a team of people supporting students make all the difference.
Very true! A sense of humor can go a long way.
Laughter is the best medicine!
Unconditional positive regard is so important
Are some kids innately resilient?
Yes. People vary on that, like on most things, but nurture also matters
Q3. What risk factors can make it hard for kids with learning and attention issues to build resilience?
it truly has for my brother! Laughter and positivity are apart of his great successes!
can you talk about "grit"
Love this we laugh a lot at our house!!! https://t.co/MlRyaTlhi6
laughter is such a huge coping strategy when life can bring challenges! My brother is always the life of the party!
Research suggests it's not a trait, but a set of thoughts, actions behaviors that can be nurtured.
I think personality is definitely a factor in resilience so I’d say yes—but w/ the right other factors in play too
Similar question...Can we "teach" resilience?
A3 - parents who doubt them. Teachers who demean them. An environment that does not support them.
A3 Being told they are not disabled
A3. Continued academic failure and social struggles w/out proper support erodes children's confidence
A3 Being told they have to "try harder"
Yes, in the sense that some kids need less support than others to build up their resilience.
A3: Risk Factor: Not feeling the support and care of an adult who has a vested interest in the child.
VERY important w the stresses life can bring w learning & attn issues!
A2: have caring adults/parents who do not do FOR them but support & encourage independence.
Regarding laughter - I agree! How do people without a sense of humor survive?
This is essential for systems-change! Great point, ! https://t.co/aS5OBT5EOK
A1 as a parent it takes resilience to successfully work within the public school special ed system
A3. Poverty, being exposed to violence, poor adult role models
A3. Being thought of as "lazy" by either parents and/or teachers.
A3 Being told that all their work is good, when they know some of it isn't
Always hearing they are never good enough :( Our educ. system sadly puts SO much importance on reading success
A3 Being publicly humiliated can be one of the most trying experiences.
A3. When others have preconceived notions they are less capable. They learn differently and that is OK!.
Very good point. There's a difference between honest praise and empty praise.
. thinking about also connecting and the work of Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner.
A3 unsupportive daily environment, being misunderstood daily can impact resilience
A3. Poor schools, medical issues, learning and attention issues
Nurture is so much better a word than teach. I want to be a nurturer when I grow up!
A3: having others 'fix' their mistakes instead of helping them problem solve https://t.co/03vPDJazn4
Q3. What risk factors can make it hard for kids with learning and attention issues to build resilience?
and you don't need a degree to be one!
Sure, the determination to achieve long-term goals & view challenges as growth opportunities, not the end of the road
Last question coming up...
I think the best way to boost self esteem is to succeed in tasks that are slightly challenging but not overwhelming
Q4. How can schools and teachers foster resilience in their students with learning and attention issues?
A3. Risk factor: when students believe a learning difference is bad/wrong, rather than an alternate path to understanding
A4. Allowing students to approach challenges or challenging academic situations creatively.
A4 (controversial) get them out of the mainstream. The mainstream is a place to drown.
Working within the zone of proximal development (nerd alert - sorry).
A4 School psychs & other school-based MH professionals provide support to children, families, and teachers to help build resilience
Yes problem solving, solution seeking. Good for resilience
I am a statistician. Nerdiness is fine. (My PhD is actually in psychometrics)
Consistently hold them to high expectations and continue to challenge (and support) them https://t.co/XVuytqBKfm
Q4. How can schools and teachers foster resilience in their students with learning and attention issues?
Students’ social and emotional welfare is important for academic success, educators can help https://t.co/TtmoBtDEhp
A4 Implementing strengths to overshadow weaknesses.
A4: Have them be active in their own learning, let them own it, challenge them.
A4. Social and emotional learning (SEL) often can support these behaviors and habits of interaction.
we as educators need to Understand what our Ss r facing w learning & attn issues
A4 Not denying that their problems exist and have real effects on learning
Through modeling and experiential learning...be the change you want to see in the world! … https://t.co/984enLjyRp
Q4. How can schools and teachers foster resilience in their students with learning and attention issues?
A4 Encourage creative failure. Getting the wrong answer is OK.
when we as teachers &administrators Understand our Ss needs we can b 1 of their greatest advocates throughout school
A4: Positive school climates, caring for the caregiver, promoting education equity, SEL, empathy, … https://t.co/N4xxS57M3n
Q4. How can schools and teachers foster resilience in their students with learning and attention issues?
A4. Sharing our own experiences of setbacks & using other stories of resilience can help foster it in students. They are not alone!
A4: Consider the use of restorative circles as a daily exercise with all students in all grades
We'll be wrapping up in a minute. Any final thoughts?
