DORONA REINGOLD
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Navigating the Israeli educational system and meeting the needs of students who have learning disabilities, ADHD or other learning challenges.
I am an educator with over 20 years of experience in the classroom,
both in Jewish day schools in the USA and in the Israeli school system.
Having made aliya in elementary school I have gone through the Israeli school system myself, as a student.
For most of my teaching career, I have designed innovative methods
to include students with learning difficulties and disabilities in my classroom,
even in challenging subjects such as language and Judaic studies, which is my specialty.
I completed my M. Ed degree in Special Education through David Yellin Teachers College, specializing in integrating students with learning disabilities in the mainstream classroom.
I am a mother of 3 and married to Stephen, a pediatrician. We live in Modiin.
What does integrating LD students
in the classroom entail?
A student with learning disabilities needs added support inside and outside the classroom.
This may be receiving hours of Shiluv (remedial teaching in small groups), “partani” hours (learning in a small group with other children from the mainstream classroom, once or twice a week),
or classroom assignments specifically tailored to his or her ability.
Each child’s needs are different and are determined in specialized meetings at the school.
In attendance are the michanechet, professionals from within the school and sometimes, representatives from the special education department (Matya). Together, they create a plan (ISP) for each child with individual needs.
Your child was diagnosed with a Learning Disability
and/or an attentional disorder (ADD/ADHD).
What now?
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that finding out your child has a learning disability
and/or an attentional disorder can be overwhelming.
Even if you have received written guidelines from a psycho-didactic ivchun, or a diagnosis from a doctor,
it often does not give you practical tips on how to assure your child receives the help he or she needs.
You may need help navigating the school system in order to make sure your child gets remedial hours if eligible.
What can I help you with?
As a teacher with many years of hands-on experience in the classroom, and at ISP meetings I can give you practical information on how to ensure your child receives all the help available to ensure the best possible learning experience in school.
I can:
Review the ivchun with you, the parents, and explain the findings, as well as the recommendations stated by the assessor and explain how the recommendations can practically be implemented in the classroom and at home.
Work together with you on creating a “plan of action”, based on the recommendations written in the Ivchun.
Guide you on how to be your child’s advocate in school, while working in partnership with the teachers and staff.
Provide you with tips how to help your child at home (tips regarding school projects, exam preparation, and organizational skills)
Explain the various committees you may have to sit in to get the proper help for your child and even simulate such a committee meeting with you.
Help select additional resources outside of school that can help your child have the best possible learning experience. For example- coaching, therapies, etc.
