Customer Reviews

Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Mothering and homeschooling a child who learned "differently" was a trying and exhausting adventure, to say the least! I knew in my heart my child was unique and sort of "quirky", and after searching for help in the public library and discovering little there to really help me or give me some hope and encouragement, I finally did stumble over Jeffrey Freed's book on the shelf. "What a unique title!" I thought. After standing in the aisle and skimming through the book, I was intrigued and hopeful! Mr. Freed's insightful and resourceful book literally turned bright floodlights onto the dark path I was destined to trod with my child, in tow! My child, via the 20 question inventory, was somewhat right-brained according to me, but according to my child's answers, extremely right-brained! After I read Mr. Freed's detailed, easy, and right-brained approach to teaching the traditional subjects, I tried his approach in spelling one Saturday morning. I discovered to both my and my child's delight, just how visual she truly was! My son and husband too, were truly amazed when she spelled "opportunity" and other words both forwards and backwards without skipping a beat! I purchased my own copy and have reread, highlighted, and employed Mr. Freed's suggestions. Almost immediately, my daughter's self-esteem rose and I was "freed" to see her as gifted, not damaged as the traditional school system leads us parents of "ADD" children to believe. Educators, wake up! I would encourage parents and teachers alike to "re-view" and readjust their teaching methods to fit the child. I have purchased another copy for our local school system's exceptional children's program director.

Wow! This book was quite an eye opener. I highly recommend it for anyone who has or teaches an ADD or ADHD child (or even just a child with learning difficulties).

I am a homeschooling mother of 5 children, ages 10, 9, 7, 4 and 6 months and have had constant challenges with my 9-year old son. He has been diagnosed ADHD and his doctor recommended medication. My husband and I read a lot and prayed a lot and decided that medicating him was not an option. We both felt that his "handicap" could actually be an advantage if handled correctly, however we seemed to be in the minority with that view. Many times while trying to teach him and wondering if he would ever pay attention to me, I began to doubt our decision also. Then came this book and it confirmed our thinking and has given me new ways to work with our son. He is now reading and writing very well and knocking my socks off with his mathematical ability. We are still working on spelling but the techniques in the book are helping us a lot. I think the biggest revelation this book taught me was that ADD and ADHD children (right-brained learners) see things as a series of pictures. This is what gives them the ability to see so much deeper into things - taking a word and making it 3 dimensional! I can also now see how my ADHD husband can look at a bunch of wood and a pencil drawing and transform it into an awesome entertainment center.

We truly need these right-brained learners in our world and I believe all parents and educators need to understand the different learning styles so they can teach all of our kids to use their God given talents to the best of their abilities.

I am so relieved to finally "see the light" at the end of my child's tunnel. He'd been struggling in 1st grade, especially with any written assignment. Finishing tasks has always been a challenge for him. It always seems like he isn't listening to me or his teacher, but now I realize I just needed to change my way of "talking" to him.

Tears of relief came to me as I read this book. My relationship with my child has greatly improved, as homework is no longer a struggle.

Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World is an excellent book. I've read so many books since my child was diagnosed as ADHD six years ago, and this is by far the best. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to convince our local educators to read it. It could help so many children that are currently struggling in school. Our son is now 12 years old, is not on any medications, is going to a Montessori school, and doing just fine. After reading this book, I've found it so much easier to understand him. I wonder if Jeffrey Freed does any public speaking on this subject. I sure hope he does. We need to get this information out. I will be taking this book with me to our local public school meeting on Curriculum and hoping to get the teachers to pick up a copy and read it over the summer!

Tomorrow morning my son starts his sophomore year in high school, and I hope and pray it will be better than the last few academic years. This book has given me real hope by providing practical approaches to the challenges posed by and for my gifted, ADHD, right-brain son. As a former educator who became disenchanted by the dinosaur methods required by public school systems, I actually found my passion for teaching returning while reading this book. I only wish this book had been around 15 years ago, as I will forever be haunted by certain kids (David, Chip, Courtney, Chico - what became of you?) Now, I feel newly empowered and can pass that along to my son, who generally picks up on my mood faster than I do! Thank you, Jeffrey and Laurie, for finally distilling all the theories floating around into a cohesive whole. Highly, highly recommended!

This book is a truly useful and approachable read. As a parent trying to juggle work, parenting and a child with an unconventional learning style, this was the most illuminating and practical read to date!

There are only two elements that need more attention: 1)There needs to be a little section within the first chapter which sumarizes the history of left-brain/right brain theories - as currently presented the authors assume that the readers are familiar with this debate. This addition would make it easier to to grasp the whole approach. Given the amount of theory swirling around the ADD topic, one needs more information on this subject to help make an assessment. (2) The programme for Spelling, Math, Speed Reading and so on is excellent but cries out to be presented in a more user-friendly, task-oriented format. As a trainer who has helped design sessions on management topics, which have to be alert to adult learning needs (and in this case you need to educate the parents as they try and help their children), I found myself itching to transform the exercises into a more structured format. However, I am a little hesitant since I am not a trained middle-school teacher.

A workbook would be a great companion piece. And would give a parent more material with which to practice the techniques of visual learning etc. It will definitely be a god-send for those parents who are unable to relocate to Colorado, stay in line for two years and pound on his door to ask him to tutor their kids!

Hope this feedback gets back to Mr Freed. I am sure its not the first request for a follow-up book!

Excellent book, I was diagnosed with ADD when I was in Jr. High (I have no idea why they didn't catch it earlier), now I am in College and discovered that contrary to popular belief, you DO NOT simply "grow out" of ADD. Even though this book is written for parents of ADD kids, I bought the book in high school to help myself, and still use many of the tips and techniques to help me get through college classes. It also comes in handy to help my professors understand why I am the way I am. In fact, one of the professors I showed it to ended up buying a copy for themself to help with a grandchild who has ADHD. I highly recommend this book to people with ADD/ADHD and parents & teachers of ADD/ADHD children. I wish my parents & teacher had this book when I was growing up.

I thought my child was learning disabled. This book proved that she is merely a right-brained visual learner. She is also ADHD and gifted. I couldn't understand why she had so much trouble with phonics and spelling. I've teased her that she has a teflon brain because some things just don't stick. Every week I help her with spelling using the visual method described in the book. She often makes A's depending on how much she practices. It's the only method that works for her. I also used the shortened version of teaching her long division and it worked like a miracle. Her teacher read the book and started making comments that she could add in her head much better than some of the others. This comment and other similar ones tremendously boosted her self-esteem. I am a teacher of gifted students also. This helped me understand many of my students that I thought were borderline ADHD. One parent was certain her child was dyslexic. After screening the child for dyslexia I finally proved to her that he is just right-brained. She was a little annoyed with me for teaching him how to spell backwards because now he spells much better backwards! She must think I put a real "spell" on him! I can't thank Dr. Freed enough for finally explaining why my so called "gifted" child couldn't spell simple words. He also made the connection of gifted and ADHD that I felt existed but couldn't prove or explain. I now understand the difference between gifted, ADHD, dyslexic, and right-brained children. I would like a sequel to the book because I've referred to it for other math problems but there was none. This book should be a requirement for ALL teachers!

I have never read a better book on add and adhd. my son has struggled with add all through school, but because he was not hyper (adhd) well behaved and never drew attention he was one of the thousands that slipped through the cracks of the system. we finally, with our own money (about $5000) found out his problem, and he is learning, but it has been a long, hard struggle. this book is so on target with these children. The problem isn't that these children can't learn, but that they learn in a different way. not a wrong way, just different. it should be required reading before a teacher is allowed to teach. every year i struggle through the process of visting teachers over and over to make sure my child is learning at grade level, and explaning his way of learning and what i need from them. i shouldn't have to do this. as much money as i pay in taxes my child should be getting the help he needs, but they can't provide it becasue they don't teach in a way these children can learn. great, great book..any parent struggling through add/adhd with a child must read it. not only does it pinpoint the problem, but makes you feel great about your child and his/her ability.

After 4 years of reading depressing books about what to expect from my ADHD child, finally I feel like someone has given me the key to unlocking his wonderful potential. As a homeschooling parent this book is a special blessing! The first day I read it I tried writing out the word collaborate and followed the instructions to have him visualize it. (This is a 9 year old child who is a full grade level behind in spelling) He not only spelled it, he immediately spelled it backwards without missing a letter. I cried! This book will be an immense help in choosing curriculum for him, and I would highly recommend it as a must to parents of ADD/ADHD labeled children.