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Back To School with dyslexia

JamesPorter profile image
3 Replies

Hi everyone,

I was hoping for some advice please!

We're running a back to school webinar series for dyslexic students at the end of August.

I'd really like your feedback on any issues you come up against as a dyslexic

There are 4 webinars:

1. Understand you dyslexia

Why understanding your dyslexia is so important

Differences in way dyslexic brain works

2. Working effectively with dyslexia

Writing techniques, reading techniques, memory techniques

3. Dyslexia and exam technique

The importance of planning

Specific exam techniques (modelling, paraphrasing, structuring, revision techniques)

4. Dyslexia for Parents and Teachers

Synopsis of issues

The psychology of a dyslexic

Why critical to behave in a certain way

The 'correct' way to work with dyslexics

If you could let me know what you think other good topics would be, that would be great.

thetutorcrowd.com/dyslexia-...

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JamesPorter profile image
JamesPorter
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3 Replies
cedarmoon profile image
cedarmoon

all sounds good thanks. Gina

mathewlisett profile image
mathewlisett

Ive decided to not use spell check on this so you can see some repetitions in certain words,or how our brains see certain words are spelt.and in our heads we have the correct spelling,but when we write/type its spelt completely diffierntly

As you may have figured out already, any mental health or infact "health" issues that arise, can be long in explanation to understand and take onboard.

most of the answers are within my own write up scribd.com/doc/97539169/Dys...

if you would like a specific file format from txt, pdf, word , get in touch with the info right down the bottom of the write up and ill help you out.

Also if you would like me to come and speak about it, get in touch.

right as for the shorter help guide.

1. Understand you dyslexia

If we as humans dont take the approach to understand differences in ourselves and others, we will never evolve effectively to improve the future generations. In the recent years i have found like many things in life, dyslexia (and i believe its dystopia) has a few levels in its understanding. but ,for me as an example i was diagnoised with dyslexia back when i was around 5 yrs, way back when you were still considered just lazy and that this new wording was just an easy way out. but in the recent years ive understand i was dealt the blow of SEVER level, for me this meant (and again ive only recently figured this out myself) i only remmber around 2 hours of the first 16 years of my life. My attitude was to the extreme with voilence, i couldnt express myself like "normal" humans can, i was unable to do basic maths or do a btask and my organisation skills were down the drain.

Now heres the twist. just becuase somebody else may be on the severe level does not mean they deal with the same issues. It could mean that level only goes with maths,english, tasks, emotions.

Then we have another level , which is mild. as for example my sisters faince has dyslexia, but he does extremely well in maths, yet has difficulty in reading. But part of his brain likes the challenege, so he reads a lot. however its not like again "nomral" reading, it may be the fact he reads the whole sentence, where 4 words along is first taken in way before his brain understands and takes in the first 4 words that hes actually looking at, yet instead of reading the words in that order, he still reads as per "normal" he could also have words and letter floating, or disapearing (more details on this in the write up)

Many people even in their 50's are only just finding out that they are dyslexic, and ive personally pointed this out without them telling me, simply by listening, watching etc, of what they do . even with what they type.

It also doesnt matter if your 50 or 5, you will be dealt with the same issues, andmost will likely be emotional, as in not understanding how to deal with issues or tasks, or even how to ask for help becuase they may not know they need to ask, or even know HOW to ask. some act out in "adventuroues" mannrs like distruptive behaviours, stealing, destruction, violence, anger, some may even go into the reverse of depression and want to end it becuase they can not make sense of it.

But with some guidance and even helping them with the expressions, describing how somethign feels (when you have gone through that feeling or experince yourself) that empathy is 100x more effective that sympathy. Allowing them to do some tasks in their own way is as important as what you would guide a child in life with any everyday task.. They may not understand the times table in the way the education system or even you understand it too be, but theres a high chance they may teach you how they understand it in their way. At the end of the day, it should NEVER matter HOW they learn, or do it as long as its been achieved in a safe health enviroment and the goal is achieved.

2. Working effectively with dyslexia

This is continueing on from my last bit from above. For myself it was thanks to computers that enabled me to understand maths, english, comunication. yes COMMUNICATION. we are always told that children on computers miss out and dont gain the important communication and socia I am proof that its BECUASE of the computer and even tv programes that i am who I am today.

part of my dyslexia, is the processes in the brain that has a disabiling efect when reading, writing. part of the reading is the way the words and read and processed in the brain (its hard to explain short so if you look at the write up its there)

same with writing, but in short, the brain is the cpu of a computer, if a message is delayed or currupted in the chain of commands, the person doing the writing will have issues from miss spelling, or simply not being able to move their hand to write what they are thinking. and thats the same with speaking and listening (again the write up explains in detail what some experince)

If a person has difficulty taking in whats being read , said or happenign aroudn them, i for one have found over the recent years that i have major issues getting past the first 2 pages of a book. Yet i have found when i watch a tv shoe, documentary or isual guides in video format, my brain soaks the information up.

I have become a massive fan of shows like

Dr Phil

The mentalist

Lie to me

Friends

perception

alphas

Highlander (tv not the film)

celebrity rehab

human target

myth busters

films with martialarts like bruce lee, jvcd and steven seagal

la ink/ nyink /miami ink

american choppers

ncis

the unit

the gadgetshow

top gear

and becuase of these shows, i have become more knwoledgable in life. I have learnt emotions and ways to behavve through these shows and understanding health issues from lie to me, dr phil.

Highlander, helped me understand, pride,intelligence,honour,defeat,courage,anger,fighting,hurt,pain,love,dignity,hunour, sarcasm, how to dress well and keeping composed and how to handle yourself in public and towards others in private towards others. basically the things people take for granted as the basics in life i only learnt between the age of 17-21 with hiaghlander and friends.

shows like the mentalist, lie to me and others, helped me understand how we think and talk with our braisn, to our body language. SO much more than any situaiton away from these shows.

the idea of not learnign or experincing real life, if somebody is stuck behind a computer screen or watching tv, is just an old tale from how those have experinced life the way they were brought up, and by "experts" from the days when dyslexia wasnt known or even to this day when still some experts dont believe in dyslexia.

3. Dyslexia and exam technique

I may not be answer your "specifics" but all i can say is that, repetition and gaining a rythm can help the memory to learn new things, but dont forget, children may be dealign with a level that cuases them to not re much, and even to a point where what they do remmber is in the sub consious memory (the bit where it was for me around 90% the part of me communicating with others whilst the bits i do remmber is the consious)

use alternative methods, the shcoll education system is completely outdated, dyslexia was first noted back inearly to mid 80's, yet in 2012 the education system is still dumbfounded by it, and how to deal with itres a specific system they can do to deal with it in a whole.

if the student gains more knowledge from visuals, like a video, then go that path. if it means createing videos yourself or gainign help to do them, create that path of difference. Just becuase there are not visuals done, doe not mean it cant be done and achieved.

Keep things "short" and to the point, if like any class ive been too, are long winded and dont get to the point or show the end results and how to get there, theres a high chance that person will "switch off" and its not thei as their brain simply has had enough.

as the saying goes "lights are on but nobody is home" theres a lot of truth in that, but doesnt mean this person is thick, lazy etc.

4. Dyslexia for Parents and Teachers

i dont really know how to answer this, except up. but theres only so much that can be writen compared to what can be said at times. just like dyslexia, somebody could do a level work via speaking and bodily expressions to explain something, compared to if they did the same explanation via writting.

JamesPorter profile image
JamesPorter

Hi Mathew,

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us about your experience of dyslexia. You make some really interesting points that we will definitely take on board for the series.

For your information, the webinars will be presented by two dyslexics, Patrick Wilson who runs The Tutor Crowd, and Steven Milner who runs the dyslexia blog dyslexiawayofthinking.co.uk, so I think it will be extremely insightful whatever end of the dyslexia spectrum you are on.

Both Patrick and Steven have worked hard throughout their lives to become effective, by understanding and working with their dyslexia. I really hope that you come along and take part in the series.

James

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