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Empowering Students to Succeed Despite Learning Differences

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Transitioning to college can be a challenge for any student, but this is particularly true for teens who learn differently.

Having to rely more on their own capacity for initiative and organization, students with Executive Functioning challenges often feel as if they’re fighting an uphill battle to become a collegiate self-starter.  Add ADHD, and college can become a campus for confusion, anxiety and disillusionment.

Enter Dr. Odey Raviv, Ph.D.

For over 30 years, Dr. Raviv has helped students with special needs who struggle with motivation and academic challenges. 

Born in Tel Aviv, and now living in Glen Cove, NY, he is an Academic Coach, and more and more parents are calling on him to help their teens achieve success at college. 

Dr. Raviv began his career as a teacher of self-contained classes for children with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.  Five years later, he was offered a Ph.D. fellowship at the University of Florida where he studied Special Education.  After returning to the NYC school system, he was in the core group that initiated the Resource Room Teaching Model, and he formulated therapeutic sports programs for mainstream and special education youngsters.  His work at the Long Island Jewish Hospital’s Learning Diagnostic Center and as an Assistant Professor at CUNY, broadened his experience addressing older students with Learning Differences, ADHD, and Executive Functioning challenges.

Executive Functioning (EF) and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable students to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Student with poor EF skills often also have learning disabilities and ADHD. They are more disorganized than other kids and get overwhelmed by assignments that involve planning and decision making.  “Formulating time management schedules, along with daily and weekly plans, are important steps in helping student with EF cope more efficiently,” says Dr. Raviv. “Explaining  the rationale of each strategy so the student can develop an understanding of the process and its impact on easing the struggles of self-regulation deficits. Exploring effective ways of learning is crucial to turning the tide of helplessness. Graphic organizers can be extremely effective in organizing thoughts to initiate writing. Routine and rewards are practices that parents may utilize with specialists’ inputs. EF can be improved with new skills, consistency and determination.”

Through cultivating a personal relationship with each student and fully assessing and addressing individual needs, Dr. Raviv provides mentoring, inspiration, tools, strategies, and instills a sense of enhanced confidence. By offering continuity via their work together, he helps students stay accountable and on track, as they strengthen their newfound independence. He also guides college students in advocating for themselves in an environment that differs considerably from high school where they received services and support.  

“College presents a scenario that can easily have a student feeling overwhelmed. Time management, for example, is of particular importance,” Dr. Raviv explains, and “this doesn’t come naturally to those who procrastinate and struggle to prioritize.  Interpreting a class syllabus and breaking it down into manageable steps can be tough, as is learning to balance leisure and extracurricular activities with studies. Students engaged in demanding collegiate sports face this challenge in a big way.”

“In high school, if a student receives special support services, the school is going to come to these kids and take them out of class for support. At the college level, the schools won’t chase students. They have to acknowledge they need support to succeed, “says Dr. Raviv.  “It takes determination  because when they see fellow students do things in half the time, it can be frustrating. They need to have a long-term goal in order to stick with it. I have seen many kids thrive after struggling with academics for years. “

Dr. Raviv addresses a wide array of subjects including Reading Comprehension and Fluency, Written Expression and Editing, Problem Solving, Study Skills, Time Management, and Standardized Test Preparation.  He works privately with students nationwide both in-person and virtually via Skype, FaceTime and Google Docs.  

“My message to parents is: never give up on your child. Provide the support and direction that will lead them to success,” says Dr. Raviv.  “It’s vital how you communicate. You want to identify strengths and play them up as much as possible. Grades aren’t everything, and you want to raise your child so they may pave their own way in the world.  There is more than one way to find happiness and success.  We can’t all be good at everything, but we each bring something to the table.  Nurture that.  Build their socialization skills and sense of self through positive dialogue.  Focus on the long run and not get caught up strictly in academia.  Teach perseverance and that it’s okay to make mistakes. What’s important is that they do their personal best and don’t give up, but share with you how they feel, so you can step in if necessary.  Let them know it’s not a weakness to reach out for help. Celebrate their achievements, the big and small.”

Visit www.CollegiateAcademicCoach.com.  Dr. Raviv may be reached via email at [email protected] and 516-732-1617.

By: Robin Gorman Newman

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