Mind by Design

12/12/2025

The email from your child's teacher pops up in your inbox, and your stomach immediately tightens. Is it another message about missing homework? Behavior concerns? A request for a meeting? When communication with your child's teacher feels stressful rather than supportive, everyone loses, especially your child.

What if that teacher's email could be the start of a productive conversation instead of a source of anxiety? Strong partnerships between parents and teachers can transform your child's educational experience, creating a support system that helps them thrive rather than just survive school.

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Want to help your child succeed at school? Learn how to build strong partnerships with teachers that create real change and lasting support.

12/12/2025

The college transition represents one of the biggest leaps in a young person's life.

For students with learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, or autism, this transition requires thoughtful preparation that goes far beyond academics.

The good news is that with the right preparation, students with learning differences can absolutely thrive in college.

Let's explore the critical areas families should focus on to set their neurodivergent students up for college success.

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Wondering how to prepare your child with learning differences for college success? Discover the essential skills and strategies families need to know.

12/11/2025

Let's Set the Record Straight. The truth is, students with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and other learning differences don't just survive in college... they can thrive!

Do you have questions about college readiness? Drop them in the comments or reach out. We love talking about this stuff!

12/10/2025

Your child sits at the kitchen table, staring at a page of words with tears forming in their eyes. "I just can't read it," they say, and your heart breaks a little. You know they're smart and capable, so why is reading so hard?

Evidence-based literacy instruction refers to teaching methods that have been rigorously tested through scientific research and proven effective across diverse groups of learners. These approaches are grounded in what we know about how the brain processes written language, not just what seems like it should work or what's been done traditionally.

The key is understanding that reading is not a natural process like speaking. Our brains aren't hardwired to read; they need to be explicitly taught to connect sounds to letters, blend those sounds into words, and extract meaning from text. Evidence-based instruction respects this reality and teaches accordingly.

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Wondering why traditional reading instruction isn't working for your child? Discover how evidence-based literacy approaches make all the difference.

12/09/2025

You ask your seven-year-old to get ready for school, and twenty minutes later, they're sitting on the floor with one shoe on. Your middle schooler insists they'll "just remember" their homework without writing it down. Your high schooler starts a three-week project at 10 PM the night before it's due.

Should my child be able to do this by now?

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Wondering if your child's organizational skills are on track? Explore age-appropriate executive function expectations from preschool through high school.

12/04/2025

Understanding typical literacy development can help you recognize your child's strengths and identify when they might benefit from additional support. Remember, every child develops at their own pace, and these are guidelines, not rigid rules!

Have questions about your child's literacy development? Reach out. We're here to provide clarity and support.

12/04/2025

When it comes to helping children become confident readers, there's a lot of information out there. Some helpful, some... not so much. Let's clear up some common misconceptions!

Do you have questions about your child's reading development? We're here to help you navigate the path forward with clarity and confidence.

12/02/2025

Watching your child navigate friendships can bring both joy and heartache. For neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences, friendship can look different, and that's absolutely okay.

At Mind by Design, we support the whole child, because our job isn't to make them fit a neurotypical mold; it's to help them build authentic relationships where they can be fully themselves.

Questions about supporting your child's social development? Reach out. We're here for your whole family.

11/25/2025

Navigating conversations with your child's teacher can feel intimidating, especially when you have concerns about their learning. But here's the truth: you and your child's teacher share the same goal, helping your child succeed.

At Mind by Design, we help families navigate the educational system. Strong parent-teacher partnerships make an enormous difference in outcomes for children with learning differences. When everyone's on the same page, your child benefits.

Need support navigating school relationships or advocating for your child? We're here to help.

11/13/2025

Educational transitions represent some of the most significant challenges children with learning differences face during their academic careers. Unlike their neurotypical peers, who may adapt relatively easily to new routines and expectations, children with learning differences often rely heavily on familiar structures, consistent relationships, and predictable environments to feel secure and perform their best.

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Worried about your child's transition to the next school level? Learn how to prepare children with learning differences for successful academic transitions.

11/08/2025

Resilience isn't about eliminating struggle or pretending that learning challenges don't create real difficulties. Instead, it's about developing the inner resources to face challenges with confidence, recover from setbacks, and continue moving forward despite obstacles. For children with learning differences, resilience becomes an essential life skill that often matters more than any single academic achievement.

Children with learning challenges face unique obstacles that can either become sources of strength or ongoing struggles, depending on how they learn to interpret and respond to these experiences. They may work twice as hard as their peers to achieve the same results, face daily reminders of their differences, and navigate complex emotions about their capabilities and worth.

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How can you help your child with learning challenges develop resilience? Discover proven strategies to build confidence and coping skills for lifelong success.

11/06/2025

School transitions can feel overwhelming when your child has learning differences. Let's clear up some common misconceptions that might be holding your family back.

Here's what I want every parent to know: your child's learning differences don't disqualify them from successful transitions. They just mean we need to be more intentional about planning and support.

The most important thing? You don't have to figure this out alone. Trust yourself. Trust your child's potential. And don't let myths keep you from exploring all the options available.

Have you heard other myths about school transitions? Share them with us and let's tackle them together!