Music to stimulate the brain during standardized testing

Today we're giving the CAHSEE, the California High School Exit Exam.  Your state probably has something similar.  Since I work with special ed kids, some of them get to have "accommodations," which means they get to use a calculator, or a CD that reads the questions to them, or some other thing that helps compensate for their processing difficulties without actually changing the test (which would be called a "modification").

The calculator is definitely helpful on the math section, and the CD seems to work well on the English section, but there's one accommodation that isn't offered but I know would be extremely helpful--let them listen to music.

Throughout our own high school days, it was universal parental wisdom that kids would study or work best when free from distraction.  "Turn off the TV/stereo, sit still, get your nose in that book and study!"  But over the past few decades it has become abundantly clear that many types of ADD/ADHD brains (and maybe many other "non-disabled" teenaged brains) actually NEED external stimulation and/or movement in order to function adequately.

The same applies to some adults but they typically have more freedom to make the adjustments they need for themselves (e.g. doodling during meetings to keep their brain activated, listening to music in their office, taking stretch breaks at their own discretion, choosing careers that let them be active).  However, kids are usually scolded or disciplined for employing these types of self-management techniques and consequently, their performance and productivity goes way down.

If you're interested in more information on this subject, or if you're just not yet convinced, please visit the following:

Med Page Today

Fidgeting Helps ADHD People Stay Focused

There are countless other articles and studies on this topic as well, which are easily found through a web search.

A little humor to start off your week

Since we're all in the full swing of the college search process (for juniors), I thought I would start off the week with a little humor that you might be able to relate to.  I like some of this guy's stuff, while some of his cartoons are over my head (sort of like listening to Dennis Miller).  I really appreciate this one because it validates that I'm not alone!

(Click here to find more online comics by this guy.)

Colleges for Animal Lovers

Our society is becoming increasingly animal friendly. By now, it seems that most people consider pets to be part of the family, rather than mere property as was once the case.  Consequently, it is becoming harder for some students to leave their pets to attend college away from home so some schools are responding by allowing animals in their dorm rooms!

Animal-friendly dorms
The most well-known dog-friendly dorm system is at Eckerd College in Florida.  (In order to avoid my usual long-windedness, I am going to just provide you with links to various programs instead of details about each one.  Another Florida college that is recently gaining attention is Stetson, whose current president brought the policy with her from Stephens College in Missouri.  There are a few other colleges as well, and you can find various lists by doing a websearch for "pet-friendly colleges" or something similar.

It's more common for colleges to allow cats in their dorms, as is the policy at big-brain schools MIT and CalTech.  And many, many colleges allow aquariums, reptiles and small caged mammals in their rooms now.   Just have your child check out their prospective colleges' "housing" or "residential life" pages.

Then there's Sweet Briar College in Virginia--you can't bring anything but an aquarium into your dorm room, but you can board your horse there!!

Animal-related clubs on campus
Below I've listed three examples of service-oriented animal-related clubs that would probably be of interest to young people who care deeply about animals and are seeking a means of associating with kindred spirits (not to mention some opportunities to snuggle with four-legged friends in the local area every once in a while):

Penn State (PA): Small and Exotic Animal Club
Becker College (MA): Animal Health Club (note: there is music on this homepage)
Lewis & Clark (OR): The Animal Club

If your son or daughter's first choice of college doesn't already have an animal-related club on campus, just remind them that every college has a procedure for starting new clubs and it's usually quite simple. Often, as few as five students can petition for club status, and then many schools will provide them with a meager budget to get started.  Not only will this fix your child's desire for participating in such a club, but being the founder of this type of group will look fantastic on their résumé.

And last but not least...

Animal-related majors
Some people love animals so much that they want to devote their careers to their care and handling, and these students can pursue one of the animal-related majors offered at so many colleges these days.  Their options include, but are not limited to:

• Veterinary medicine
• Veterinary technician school (often an associate's degree instead of a bachelor's degree)
• Zoology
• Animal science
• Wildlife management
• Livestock management

(There are also non-degree programs in animal training and grooming that might be appropriate for some students, especially those with special needs who won't be able successfully complete a university course of study.)

Two unique program that I would like to share with you are the Teaching Zoos at Santa Fe College in Florida (not New Mexico) and Moorpark College near Los Angeles.  I'm not sure if there is anything else quite like them in the whole country. They are hard to gain admissions to because of the high demand, and their programs are very rigorous--demanding long hours and unwavering dedication to the animals in their care because this is what is required of zoo handlers in the real world.

Here is a link to the American Association of Zoo Keepers' webpage with some additional exotic animal training options.

I hope this article has helped eradicate any misconceptions that your son or daughter going away to college means they have to live without that all-important human-animal bond.  We are fortunate to live in an era where society as a whole is beginning to realize how life sustaining and stabilizing the love of an animal truly is.