Testimonials

It was with much joy that I read your book entitled "The Shut-Down Learner" recently. There are so many books out there that tell kids and their parents what's wrong with them. Finally, a book that speaks to their strengths. As an advocate for the "non-labeling" approach to kids with learning differences, I was impressed with your ability to disucss the various types of reading, writing and spelling weaknesses while emphasizing the spatial giftedness that these children possess.

The use of the vignettes was especially clever and certainly holds the reader's interest, even those whose minds might wander easily. The spatial resources in the back were especially helpful and parents and professionals with interest in this topic can certainly make use of them. I will be recommending this book to the parents and students that I see in my practice as a must read.

- Carlo B. Melini, M.D.. FAAP, Clinical Associate, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Senior Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

"I have just received the Shut-Down Learner authored by Richard Selznick, Ph.D.  Dr. Selznick’s many years of working with children and parents is the foundation of his new book The Shut-Down Learner.  Immediately apparent is his keen eye that Dr. Selznick has for professional observation and his extraordinary empathy for the children and parents that are fortunate enough to cross his path.  Without resorting to professional jargon, Dr. Selznick has created a resource for parents and teachers that promotes insight and understanding, relieves guilt, and provides strategies for intervention."

- G. Emerson Dickman, J.D., President of the International Dyslexia Society

Emerson Dickman is an attorney who, for over thirty years, has specialized in the representation of children with disabilities. Among the cases he has handled are leading precedents protecting the due process rights of pupils in special education and the constitutional rights of adults with developmental disabilities. Emerson has been a member of the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association for 12 years and is currently the President.

“In reading Dr. Selznick's book, I thought for a minute he was writing my biography!  I was one of those "shut down learners" who was called lazy almost every day.  I was a child who believed I was just not very bright, and I believed that for the first 30 years of my life.  And like the rest of us, I was filled with shame and self-loathing.  If this book was available to my teachers and my parents back then, how much suffering could have been avoided.  If your child is doing poorly in school, imagine how much suffering can still be avoided.

This book is clear, informative and without jargon. But more important, in today's world of 'diagnose it and medicate it,' Dr. Selznick humanizes very real children with very real problems."

- Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist

Dr. Gottlieb hosts Voices in the Family, a psychology call-in  show on WHYY-FM, Philadelphia's local NPR affiliate. Author of four books including the best-selling Letters to Sam.  He lectures nationally on the well-being of children and families.

“Dr. Selznick not only challenges parents to gain a better understanding of their children, but also challenges the schools to understand how these children shut-down. While wholesale revamping of curriculum is not being suggested, small changes can be easily accomplished. Children can be mentored. They can be encouraged. Teachers play a central role in altering the child’s negative belief patterns. The key is on relationship building. This does not cost money. It takes time. As Dr. Selznick pointed out, sometimes taking a child for a walk or sharing a soda will long be remembered. Just conveying to the child that he/she is valued is enormously important on so many levels."

- William G Sharrar, M.D., Chief of Pediatrics, Cooper University Hospital, Professor of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

“Dr. Richard Selznick has consulted for several years in the Brooklawn Public School District and has provided training to teachers and parents. He’s the rare academician who speaks the language of parents and is able to make learning and developmental theory readable. I’ve ordered copies of The Shut Down Learner for   members of my staff, as well as to be placed in the community library. Dr. Selznick has the gift to turn theory into practice and to offer parents hope where there was hopelessness and frustration."

- John Kellmayer Ed.D., Superintendent, Brooklawn Public School District

“I always knew I had certain talents and gifts, but up until I read your book, none of my feelings about school made sense to me. The revelation was I felt validated reading your book. It validated my brand of thinking, which is something that had never had happened before. My brand of thinking was always more visual and spatial. No one had ever said that to me."

- Patrick Flannigan, Photographer and Former Shut-Down Learner

“Yes, I related to the book very much in terms of Alex’s style of approaching life and his characteristics. There were so many features that fit Alex exactly. He's always struggled with reading, and when he was little, he would get all those worksheets and these were very difficult for him. He started to lose steam very early on in elementary school, showing the signs of shutting down that you discussed. For Alex, it wasn't the air slowly seeping out. I think there was a big puncture wound in first grade because first grade was worksheet after worksheet after worksheet. It was phonics. It was reading comprehension and addition. It didn't matter. It was entirely too much for him. He hated it and then started to hate school. We almost lost him entirely."

- Helen, Mother of a Shut-Down Learner

"I just wanted to let you know that I read your book and I thought it was wonderful. I can imagine so many parents reading it and feeling like they finally understand what's going on with their kids. The style was very "you"; down to earth and in plain English, easy to comprehend. The illustrations were great too."

- Linda Levitsky, Parent