Comments on: Testing-teaching relationships http://LDBlog.com/2007/07/09/testing-teaching/ News, commentary, and resources about Learning Disabilities Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:42:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: JohnL http://LDBlog.com/2007/07/09/testing-teaching/#comment-36115 JohnL Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:29:56 +0000 http://LDBlog.com/2007/07/09/testing-teaching/#comment-36115 Silvia, thanks for taking the time to stop at <i>LD Blog</i> and leave a comment. I have not read Mr. Armstrong’s books. I'm sure I should. From what I've read on his Web site, though, I'm reluctant to agree with his views. For example, proivided you're accurately recounting his argument (and I take your hesitation about that honestly), then his argument has some substantial holes. First, I know of no scientific evidence showing that students with Learning Disabilities differ from their peers in spatial or kinesthetic competence. Second, as I've noted repeatedly, the idea that students with Learning Disabilities reverse letters and numerals inordinately is bogus (see <a href="http://ldblog.com/index.php?s=reversal" rel="nofollow">these entries</a>). Third, as intuitively appealing as the idea may seem, the application of multiple intelligences to schooling has been substantially oversold, as <a href="http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3261311.html" rel="nofollow">shown clearly</a> by my colleague Dan Willingham. Sorry to rain on his parade, but please feel free to drop a comment any time. And, good luck with your home schooling efforts. Silvia, thanks for taking the time to stop at LD Blog and leave a comment.

I have not read Mr. Armstrong’s books. I’m sure I should. From what I’ve read on his Web site, though, I’m reluctant to agree with his views.

For example, proivided you’re accurately recounting his argument (and I take your hesitation about that honestly), then his argument has some substantial holes. First, I know of no scientific evidence showing that students with Learning Disabilities differ from their peers in spatial or kinesthetic competence. Second, as I’ve noted repeatedly, the idea that students with Learning Disabilities reverse letters and numerals inordinately is bogus (see these entries). Third, as intuitively appealing as the idea may seem, the application of multiple intelligences to schooling has been substantially oversold, as shown clearly by my colleague Dan Willingham.

Sorry to rain on his parade, but please feel free to drop a comment any time. And, good luck with your home schooling efforts.

]]> By: Silvia http://LDBlog.com/2007/07/09/testing-teaching/#comment-35426 Silvia Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:42:12 +0000 http://LDBlog.com/2007/07/09/testing-teaching/#comment-35426 And naturally I had to respond to your comment. :) I haven't read much on this blog yet, but have you read Thomas Armstrong's books? He had something interesting to say about children with learning disabilities, related to their possibly being children with a high intelligence in spatial or kinesthetic areas. So for example, a child who reverses letters or is dyslexic, may be seeing the words in more of a three-dimensional way, not realizing that others see the word left to right. They might mix things up because they "play" with the visual input in their heads. I'm probably not repeating this correctly, but it's something I remembered reading. And naturally I had to respond to your comment. :) I haven’t read much on this blog yet, but have you read Thomas Armstrong’s books? He had something interesting to say about children with learning disabilities, related to their possibly being children with a high intelligence in spatial or kinesthetic areas. So for example, a child who reverses letters or is dyslexic, may be seeing the words in more of a three-dimensional way, not realizing that others see the word left to right. They might mix things up because they “play” with the visual input in their heads. I’m probably not repeating this correctly, but it’s something I remembered reading.

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