Publications & Sites 
Workshops to focus on attention issues
Dr. Deborah Zelinsky checks the vision of Kevin Levy of Northbrook during a check-up at her office in Northbrook October 5, 2012. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Thinking outside the classroom
The free workshops will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, at Temple Beth El, 1175 Sheridan Road, Highland Park; and 7 p.m. Oct. 18, at the Mind-Eye Connection office of Dr. Zelinsky, 1414 Techny Road, Northbrook.
Advanced registration is required by sending an e-mail with contact information and location preference to info@ThinkingOutsidetheClassroom.com, or by registering at www.ThinkingOutsidetheClassroom.com.
Walk-ins will be accepted only if space is available.
Article Extras
Updated: November 12, 2012 6:10AM
Thinking Outside the Classroom, an educational organization new to the North Shore, will offer two free workshops to introduce parents to an outside-the-box approach to executive functioning problems.
The organization provides help to everyone from youngsters who hate homework to adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder problems.
“During the workshops, I’ll look at homework management and project planning. Projects don’t have as immediate of a deadline, but they are put off to the last minute anyway,” said Michael Delman, founder and CEO of Thinking Outside the Classroom. “I also want to help parents understand the student’s mindset – ‘I can’t do this, so why bother?’ – which fulfills the prophesy.”
Delman will provide parents with strategies for ending homework battles and to help their children with planning, prioritizing and motivation.
The father of two, Delman has a master’s degree in education and taught eight years in Boston-area public schools, where he started his company in 2006.
Sheryl Seef, an executive function coach and the organization’s director of Chicago area operations since it began offering services here in July, said the organization is about more than special education.
“We also provide parent support for the review and analysis of testing results, individualized education program team meetings and communication with teachers and staff,” said Seef, an Evanston resident who has taught in Highland Park and other North Shore schools.
She is working with Ben Arvizu, the 9-year-old son of Juliane Arvizu, a Skokie mom who noted that his organizational skills have improved since he began the sessions a few months ago.
“He looks forward to them and enjoys his one-on-one time with Sheryl, partly because of the relationship she has established with him,” Arvizu said. “And the fact that the coach comes to our home is also a definite plus, because I have three children and I don’t have to go anywhere to fit in another appointment.”
Also making a presentation will be Dr. Deborah Zelinsky, a Northbrook optometrist who focuses on neuro-development to address learning disabilities.
“Just because one can individually see and hear doesn’t mean that one can simultaneously watch and listen. Some children are mislabeled as having attention problems, because they are not able to maintain attention on a target,” Zelinsky said.
“That could be because their eyes and ears are not synchronized. If eyes and ears are not working as a team, that can create an illusion of attention deficit.”
