Outstanding Video Resources from Richard Lavoie

How Difficult Can this Be? Understanding Learning Disabilities-The F.A.T. City Workshop, DVD Format $58.95

"…(P)rogram host and workshop facilitator Richard Lavoie assembles special education teachers, psychologists, parents, siblings and teachers of learning disabled children in an experiential workshop…" In a series of planned interactions, Richard Lavoie vividly recreates for this audience the disconnections and frustrations of kids with LD trapped in unaccommodating environments. He demonstrates how deficits and differences in visual perception, visual-motor coordination, reading and decoding, language processing, reading comprehension challenge their potential even in supportive environments, and offers "…techniques…designed to improve the behavior of mainstreamed students and provide them with the structure and support they need to maintain positive behaviors." Includes a discussion leader's guide.

Last One Picked…First One Picked On: Learning Disabilities and Social Skills, DVD $58.95

"Children who have social skill deficits generally manifest the following behaviors-poor at independent activities...poor at judging the moods and attitudes of others…insensitive to general mood/atmosphere of a social setting…continually doing, saying inappropriate things." "The purpose of this video is to provide parents and teachers with information and guidance related to the development of social competence for children and youths with learning disabilities." Includes a teacher's guide.

Beyond F.A.T. City: a Look Back, a Look Ahead — a Conversation about Special Education, $58.95 (DVD format, 90 minutes)

F.A.T — Frustration, Anxiety, Tension, three all-too-familiar feelings for the families of children with learning disabilities. Richard Lavoie, creator of the original F.A.T. City Workshop and the popular How Difficult Can This Be video, reviews the history & philosophy of the project, the major trends & issues in the field of learning disabilities and the challenges ahead for parents & educators.

A successful social life is immeasurably important to a child's happiness, health, and development. For more than thirty years, Richard Lavoie has lived with and taught learning disabled children. His bestselling PBS videos, including How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop, and his sellout lectures and workshops have made him one of the most popular and respected experts in the field. At last, Rick's pioneering techniques for helping children achieve a happy and successful social life are available in book form. It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend offers practical strategies to help learning disabled children ages six through seventeen navigate the treacherous social waters of their school, home, and community.

Motivation is the key to learning. But very few parents and teachers have an effective arsenal of techniques at their disposal. Acclaimed author Rick Lavoie arms all those who deal with children with proven, effective tools and strategies they can use to encourage any child to learn and achieve success. Lavoie explores motivational styles, presenting proven techniques, strategies, and scripts that can be used in the classroom and at home to break through a child's apathy and discouragement and inspire him/her to succeed and achieve. Along the way, Lavoie explodes some common myths about motivation: for instance, he demonstrates that rewards, punishment, and competition are not effective motivational tools. He gives specific advice throughout for parents and teachers of children with learning disabilities and provides detailed instructions for how to create a motivated classroom.