Learning abilities—and differences—result from a complex interaction of genetics, brain development, and a child’s experiences at home and school. This means that parents and teachers can play a powerful role in helping shape -- and re-shape -- neural networks for life-long networks for life-long learning.

• EXPLORE research on this nature-nurture interaction in children of the digital age, review successful case studies of youngsters with different types of learning problems; and explain why many gifted youngsters are "different" learners.
• EXPLORE positive strategies for recognizing symptoms, finding effective therapies, "brain-cleaning", and constructing a learning-power environment to help any child achieve more effectively.
• "Problem" students are often the ones with particular skills and talents for success in the 21st century.FIND OUT why different brains may be the most promising of all and how to recognize and encourage your child's or student's unique talents.

Jane Healy’s newest book Different Learners: Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Your Child’s Learning Problems will be NOT be on sale at the event.  You may pre-order this book at a substantial discount - if you order before October 14th.  Current IDA members may pre-order the book for only $10.  To obain this discount, you will need to indicate your current IDA membership number. If you are unsure of this, please contact Jill at the national office and she will provide it for you:  jilleagan@interdys.org

Speaker: Jane Healy, Ph.D. is a teacher, author, and lecturer who has worked with all ages from pre-school to graduate school. A graduate of Smith College, she holds a M.A. from John Carroll University, a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and post-doctoral work in developmental neuropsychology. She has served on the faculty of Cleveland State University. Dr. Healy has received international media coverage, including Nightline, Good Morning America, the Today Show, BBC, CNN and NPR, for her ideas about the impact of technology, media and culture on children's brain development. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Objectives:

1.  Participants will gain new understanding of why “different” does not mean “defective” as well as how to identify problems and foster talents of individual learners.

2.  Participants will become sensitized to the importance of experiential/environmental contexts in diagnosing and treating children’s problems.

 3.  Participants will master strategies for helping children succeed academically, and for “brain-cleaning” to help create learning-power environments.

 4.  Participants will learn about new research on “epigenetics” and why biology is not destiny as far as children’s learning is concerned.

 5.  Particpants will see work samples typical of dyslexia, Asperger’s syndrome (ASD), gifted LD,  and ADHD.

 6.  Participants will have opportunities to interact with each other and with speaker to gain a fuller understanding of how to help individual children about whom they are concerned.

Also available for pre-purchase: Jane Healy's book, Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can Do About It

This book answers the question, Is today's fast-paced media culture creating a toxic environment for our children's brains?

In this landmark, bestselling assessment tracing the roots of America's escalating crisis in education, Jane M. Healy, Ph.D., examines how television, video games, and other components of popular culture compromise our children's ability to concentrate and to absorb and analyze information. Drawing on neuropsychological research and an analysis of current educational practices, Healy presents in clear, understandable language:

• How growing brains are physically shaped by experience
• Why television programs -- even supposedly educational shows like Sesame Street -- develop "habits of mind" that place children at a disadvantage in school
• Why increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder
• How parents and teachers can make a critical difference by making children good learners from the day they are born

Paperback copies of the book may be pre-purchased above. They will not be on sale at the library itself. However, we will be distributing all pre-purchased books at that event - and Jane will be available for book signing.