Customer Reviews

Misunderstood Minds: Understanding Kids Who Struggle to Learn [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I teach high school and this video did a few things for me. First, it showed me the importance of elementary school teachers in pin pointing learning disabilities. Second, it is important for parents to explore different possibilities for why students aren't performing. I have an 8 yr old nephew who was just diagnosed with severe dislexia and the original prescription was drugs for ADD. Explore the possibilities! Third, the specific story of the teenager drove home the importance of having smaller classes in high school. I have 35 kids in each class. I know that for some, that is small. I have 6 classes. It is impossible for teachers, most of us wish we could, to be able to cater to the needs of each individual student. The video showed the importance of not only giving a correct diagnosis for a students problems, but the importance of following through and working with the student, so he or she can really succeed. The real stories showed the emotion that not only the students go through, but the families as well. It is a firm reminder that children need understanding, not labels. I recommend Misunderstood Minds.

I was so captivated by just the title. It is a must see for every parent with a child who has a learning disability. That not every child is an honor student or needs to be. If you see this video you must read the book A Mind at a Time, by Dr. Mel Levine.

Parents and educators alike must get this presentation !! We must stop labeling every problem as ADD and get educated on the latest Brain Research . Many young people are suffering needlessly because there has not been enough promotion of this research .

I'M A MOTHER OF A 7 YEAR OLD ADD DAUGHTER I LIVE IN CANCUN-MEXICO WHERE INFORMATION OTHER THAN PSICOLOGIST'S VIEW OF "THE PROBLEM" IS VERY HARD TO COME BY, MY DAUGHTER SPENT 3 YEARS IN OCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND EVERYWHERE I WENT I WAS TOLD TO MEDICATE HER, HOWEVER SOME INSTINCT TOLD ME NOT TO....IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND A FORTUNE ON BOOKS LIKE I DID I'LL RECOMMEND 3 BOOKS THAT WILL GET YOU STARTED AND WELL ON YOUR WAY IN FINDING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT AND HOW TO HELP; NO MORE RITALIN, NO MORE ADHD - RIGHT BRAINED CHILDREN IN A LEFT BRAINED WORLD - THE ADD AND ADHD DIET, UPDATED VERSION. GOOD LUCK, HELENA

No doubt this WGBH documentary can be an eye-opener for people who have not had a chance to hear about the last 20 years of brain research, but as a teacher who works with children with learning differences, my advice is to spend your money on one of Mel Levine's books (One Mind at a Time or The Myth of Laziness). That way you'll actually get some concrete advice instead of just hearing about how bad it's been for other families. And you won't have to watch a doctor tell distraught parents that if they don't put their 11 year old daughter on Ritalin she'll probably grow up to be a drug addict.

I feel this program should be seen by teachers and students who themselves have a misunderstanding of what life is like for students who need extra help. We all learn differently, and whose place is it to judge others ? Bottom line is I have seen too many times, students who will not seek help, due to stigma placed on them by peers, teachers, and family. Maybe we have lost sight of education and its purpose ... isn't getting an education the goal ? Great program for classes who cannot understand we are all not the same, we are individuals, learn differently, etc. The goal I had when purchasing was to show students who are rude and or cruel to other students in hope they will will have no misunderstandings why we all need help.

I purchased this DVD, because I am a special education teacher. I enjoyed the stories of the five students and I think it was a bit of an eye opener for me to intervene some more with a few of mine. Wtih names like Mel Levine and Rick Lavoie I expected to hear about more strategies and ways to intervene.

If you have children with special needs or are a member of the general public interested in this area, this is a great documentary. If you are already in the special education field, don't expect more than stories. I wish there was more ways to intervene with these students with special needs. Overall, it was a good DVD, but not what I expected and did not give any knowledge beyond what I already knew.

I would suggest going to the PBS website, they have some great simulations of what it is like to be a student with special needs.

I am a high school teacher and I found this video both interesting and informative. We simply cannot give up on the youth of this country-they are out future and they deserve all the aid necessary to meet their needs. Every student is unique and should be treated as such.

I am an adjunct professor at a local university and this video is an excellent resource for my class. I teach social workers how to identify and work with students with disabilities so the DVD gives great case examples for discussion. It is also a great resource for parents seeking additional information about potential disabilities in their own children.

I am enjoying my product very much. It is helping me as I raise a child with ADHD. I recommend that it be manditory for all educators to have to view and discuss this.