I am trying to find specific information about the teaching methods and techniques used by NILD therapists. I would like a brief description of actual lessons. I am thinking about becoming an NILD therapist and would appreciate any info on this. (I have already seen the NILD site and it does not describe specific teaching methods.)
Re: National Institute of Learning Disabilities
Kathy,
I am an NILD therapist. One of the first things you should do is go to one of their conferences. While there you will be able to see a live therapy session which will help you to see the different techniques used. Also you could call the main office in Norfolk, VA and find out where schools are that have the NILD programs. Get in touch with one of them and visit a session.
All their tecniques are geared toward building the deficit areas evidenced from prior testing. The core techniques are Rhythmic Writing, Blue Book, Dictation & Copy, Buzzer, Listen, My Children, and Math Block. There are others, but this will give you an idea. Rhythmic Writing is multisensory requiring the student to trace 8’s while saying the direction his hamd is going and ansering mental math problems. After the 8’s, the student then does motifs on the chalkboard as he says directions. Then the student moves to a mat on the table where he writes letters and words in cursive. The Blue Book is a keyword association phonics program that includes a workbook as well as a booklet with the sounds and keywords. Dictation & Copy has the student dictating back different sentences and then copying the remainder of the paragraph which he proofreads and then chooses a main idea. The Math Block is a series of mental thinking questions dealing with problem solving. The Buzzer is a technique using the Morse code; the letters of a word are buzzed, the student finds the letter, holds that letter until all the letters of the word have been buzzed. The student then tells you what the word is and then that word is analyzed phonetically, used in a sentence, defined, and parts of speech are reviewed.
NILD phone # 757-423-8646
107 Seekel Street, Norfolk, VA 23505
Hope this gives you a little taste of the NILD program. It is great!
Sandy Bossard
Re: National Institute of Learning Disabilities
Is there a web site to access? The program sounds very interesting and I would like more information. Kristine
Try going to http://www.vegsource.com, the homeschooling bulletin boards, and do a search there. I found three posts, one of which was from someone who seemed very knowledgeable. You could try emailing that person for more information, and/or post a question on the special needs board at vegsource.
Mary