The Confusion of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a lifelong learning disability that runs in families and hinders language skills. Three to six percent of the US population is dyslexic, and boys are affected more often than girls. Those who suffer with this disability have problems recognizing numbers and words. Dyslexic children have average or above average IQs, higher than average understanding of spatial relations, and tend to be extremely creative.  Though bright, they have great difficulties in reading and tend to read well below grade level. Their learning difficulties include: letter or word reversal while reading and writing, difficulty repeating spoken sentences, poor handwriting, difficulty with directions, and poor memory and reading comprehension. These symptoms are due to brain dysfunctions. The eyes and ears take in information correctly, but the brain mixes up the information. With special help, children like Tricia can overcome dyslexia by learning to compensate. The most common approach to treating dyslexia is learning in small groups or individual tutoring by a trained instructor. Besides Patricia Polacca, the author of many children’s books, other famous people who lived with dyslexia include Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison.

Sticks and Stones
Bullying is constant verbal, physical or emotional abuse by one or more people. These behaviors are most common during adolescence; however, bullies exist among younger children and adults as well. Abusing others may be an attention-getting strategy, but in many cases bullies are mistreated by parents, siblings, or peers and take it out on others. Victims of bullies may show their emotions more readily, look different, have physical or mental challenges, or be unable to defend themselves. Acts of aggression are harmful because they diminish the victim’s self-esteem. Children who are bullied often feel lonely, sick, or unwilling to go to school. Many schools have programs to stop negative interactions among students. They encourage students to tell teachers or parents about bullying and encourage adults to take these reports seriously. Schools must work hard to establish an overall atmosphere in which bullying is not accepted.

Michigan

View Larger Version

Michigan
The state of Michigan, Patricia Polacco’s home state, is one of the leading manufacturing states in the U.S. producing machinery, metal products, food products, and chemicals. Its name comes from the Chippewa Indian word Michigama, meaning “great lake”.  It is found in the Great Lakes region of the northern United States and touches four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan has a long shoreline (second only to Alaska’s) and consists of two peninsulas called the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. There are over 11,000 smaller lakes containing the most fresh water of any U.S. state and earning Michigan the nickname “Water Wonderland”. There is a great deal of farmland in Michigan, especially in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Leading crops include apples and cherries.

Michigan