3 ingredients that make dyslexics successful

Who are those people who have dyslexia AND a really sunny outlook on life?  According to Doctor Michael Ryan, who has over 20 years of experience helping people with dyslexia, 3 things make all the difference.

• As a child, someone was supportive and encouraging to you.
• As a young dyslexic you found an area in which you could succeed.
• You have a commitment to helping others.
•  

To read the article, in LD Online, click here. 

Little words cause dyslexics big problems

Was or saw; on or no; dog or god? -When you have dyslexia the little words can hurt most.

Someone with dyslexia is often able to spell long words, like revolution and combustion only to get hopelessly caught out by words like cheese and oranges  -Inability to spell small words is one of the classic signs of dyslexia.  So I suppose the message in this might be -Expect it and go with the flow, or maybe, don’t sweat the small stuff.  

For a bit more  on this, check out misadventuresinspelling, which is the blog of a young author who’s dyslexic but not letting it hold her back in the least.

Bruce Jenner -Dyslexia is gold

Those Kardashians are SO famous.  But in this post it’s not Kim or Chloe or Courtney, or any of the lead players I want to mention, but the quieter, supportive minor-player, Bruce Jenner. 

Not strictly speaking a Kardashian, not a headline-maker either, Bruce Jenner is nevertheless an Olympic medalist.  That’s right, Olympic medalist! In 1976, in Montreal, he took gold in the decathlon.  Maybe you already knew that though.  -But did you know that Bruce has dyslexia?  If you’re thinking how hard dyslexia is to live with, take a look at how he sees it:

‘If I wasn’t dyslexic, I probably wouldn’t have won the Games.  I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is through hard work.’

Ozzie Osbourne's Severe Dyslexia

   

Ozzie Osbourne has some bleak things to say about his dyslexia.  But on a lot of levels, and after a notoriously self-destructive start, he has  achieved enormous success both on and off stage.

Ozzie’s had a “one of a kind life,” which nearly killed him, but still, this man is worth a mint,  and, according to the documentary God Bless Ozzie Osbourne, is now, after his many years of notorious hell-raising (and hurting those he loved), sober, living  a happy family life, and working out every day!  Here is Ozzie's take on his severe dyslexia:

 "The only good thing about having dyslexia is that dyslexics are usually very creative people, or so I’ve been told. We think in unusual ways. But it’s a very bad stigma to have, not being able to read like normal people can. To this day I wish I’d had a proper education. I think books are great, I do. To be able to lose yourself in a book is f**king phenomenal. Everyone should be able to do it. But I’ve been able to get through an entire book only a few times in my life. Every blue moon this thing in my head will release, and I’ll try to read as many books as I can, because when it closes up it goes straight back to the way it was, and I end up just sitting there, staring at Chinese.”

The Simple Ruler (or Rule) Rules, OK!

The plain old-fashioned ruler, or a bookmark, or a piece of blank paper, or anything else that serves the grand purpose of helping you keep your place on a page of text, is GRRREAT!    

-Losing your place on a page is one of the biggest problems dyslexics face.  -So carry a ruler.   Oh, and an erasable pen.  -And a highlighter for marking key words so you don’t have to re-read the whole thing.   Sound too high-tech?  I know. I sometimes get ahead of myself.  

-And if the cost is prohibitive, maybe you can ask for some of the above for Xmas!!

Beware of Rip-Off Dyslexia Assessments

I am about to give you what I think could be a time and money and stress saving tip.  Why the note of hesitance, nay, nervous caution?  -Because a lot of people will argue I’m oversimplifying.  Well, maybe, but here’s the thing.  I just read an article about assessing for dyslexia.  It looked good.  It was persuasive. The writer boasted all kinds of qualifications and experience and kept me happily clicking my way through a couple of screens.  And then, that writer’s advice went something like this:  Read this, try that, and if you’re not crash-hot with this stuff then you need to do my fabulous, cheap at the price, you’re an idiot if you don’t take advantage of this, program of a mere fifty or so lessons.  Pay here.

Beware.  If you struggle with reading and writing do you really need a batch of expensive tests/programs to tell you, hey yes, you really do?  Sure, if you need the psychologist’s or audiologist’s report to help you get support in your workplace or at college, but otherwise, know this. –The most accepted, proven technique for dealing with dyslexia is (in a nutshell, and let’s not quibble)

...to study a phonics–heavy reading and writing program in a systematic, multisensory (hands on, engaging) way, and, to get savvy with helpful technology. 

Ta da!  –And be wary of flourishing your wallet without giving it due thought.

Auditory processing – have you heard the news?

 

If you’ve heard talk about auditory processing being at the root of dyslexia you may have heard right. Research published in the journal Neuron finds that a glitch in the processing of auditory signals (this is not deafness) causes the main symptoms of dyslexia, and the trouble starts in the left auditory cortex.  What does it mean?  It means if you’re dyslexic you most likely have trouble:

·      Following spoken directions.

·      Remembering what you were told.

·      Paying attention.

In your first years at school, sounding out words was probably very hard for you so you fell further and further behind when it came to learning new words. 

Children with learning and reading disabilities are now more often being referred to the audiologist for a hearing and auditory processing test. And some audiologists make a distinction between phonologic dyslexics (whose problems are mostly to do with speech sounds) and comprehension dyslexics (whose problems are mostly with irregular words that don’t fit customary categories).

Software to read your book aloud

If you're thinking of buying text-to-voice software, here's a rundown of 3 of the many products you will find.

1.  Kurzweil  - Kurzweil 3000 (Mac or Windows compatible) will reproduce scanned text on screen, with pictures, as it appears on paper, and highlights the line and word as it reads it  to you, helping you read along. Extra tools include bookmarks, sticky notes, and options to have the text read in English, French, German, Spanish or Italian. The cost seems to hover around $900 US (for the 1000 version) so it's pricey for individuals.  

2. Natural Readers -  Mac and Windows compatible, this product seems to do much the same as Kurzweil with prices ranging from $50 to $300.

3. Speak It - An app for your iPad, costs $1.99 and gets good reviews. Worth a look. 

Dyslexia and The Blur Effect

Black is black.  But to help a dyslexic reader, should it be a little bit gray? 

You’ve probably heard the idea that pink paper is a good color to print on because it seems to help a lot of dyslexics read better, now teachers are saying there are other really easy and really helpful things we can do on our print ups and computer screens.

Make your font an off-black and your background an off-white.  -Shades of gray may make a big improvement to the blur effect a lot of dyslexics experience.

Click here for the full article and other easy tips.

Dyslexia breakthrough - a matter of balance

 

Exercise can make a dramatic difference to dyslexia.  That’s what a bunch of scientists in Exeter University (UK) say. 

If you do the right kind, which means balancing-type exercises done regularly, you stand a good chance of improving your reading and writing no end.  

The article is in the Guardian.

Got dyslexia, got stacks of money!

Dyslexics are over-represented among the super-rich!  So says a study of entrepreneurial millionaires.  Why’s that?  Because people with dyslexia

• Are good lateral and strategic thinkers.
• Know how to handle struggle and how to cope with being out of the mainstream.
• Are OK with making mistakes.  -They fall and get right back up.
• Work fast.
• Are optimistic.

…Of course!

What to do about that b/d problem

There are a few tricks that can help you remember which way around these two problematic letters face, here’s one of them:

d comes after c in the alphabet so, ta da, first write c and then add the stick to get d.

d = c with a stick (I) stuck on after it

3 best study strategies

Top 3 strategies for effective studying:

1.    Teacher provides an outline of what’s coming and also a review of what came.

2.    Student keeps color-coded files with labeled dividers.

3.    Student has a study buddy to call after hours.

What are your best tips?  Do you keep a scrupulously updated calendar, do you program your phone to give you alarms/reminders, do you have a friend proof read anything you commit to the keyboard?

For a nice article on classroom strategies (in school but mostly still useful for college), click over to the Davis Dyslexia Association.

For another nice article from a teacher who found a lot of ways to cope with the stress of getting her degree, visit this page in The Guardian.

Dyslexia - The door to a big life!

Dyslexia makes you work harder, but after all that slog, and because of the stubborn streak it builds in you, it may help you dream and plan bigger.  -So says a bunch of stars who have dealt with dyslexia so successfully that they now make fabulous and famous livings that largely rely on words. 

"Take this obstacle and make it the reason to have a big life," says Orlando Bloom.

''I drove myself into the ground trying to get over dyslexia and when I finished school I had the top grades," says Keira Knightley

Find this very nice article at:    How 5 Actors Deal with Dyslexia

Dudes with Dyslexia

 

I don’t often recommend other websites.  At the risk of sounding like a picky, somewhat jaded, think-I'm such-a smarty-pants kind of person (which I'm  quite obviously not ;))  I have to say that, when I visit other sites, I don't find that many I'm overly impressed with. But... I recently found the most sincere and uplifting, the most uncluttered,  unpretentious and sweetly helpful site I've seen in yonks and feel compelled to rave about it.  

-If you have a few minutes, if you could use a smile and an all's-well-with -the-world booster, go check out young Harry’s website, Dudes with Dyslexia . I think you’ll be glad you did.

Am I dyslexic?

Number one question I get asked. –“I can’t spell.  When I write, I mix up my letters and usually leave some out.  It takes me ages to read too.  Am I dyslexic?”

Official answer, short version: 

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, specifically in the area of reading.  You need an assessment by a qualified person to tell if you have dyslexia.  It will cost.  It may cost a lot more than you expected.  You may not get any coverage from your health insurance.  If you need to show other people your assessment results be sure, beforehand, that the organization you’re showing the assessment to accepts the assessor’s credentials.

Practical answer, short version: 

An assessment is good if you need it to show to a college or workplace.  Otherwise, you may simply want to explain to people that you have dyslexia (or are a bit dyslexic).  Then people have a better understanding and it’s no big deal.  –Dyslexia is when you have trouble with reading when you don’t have any trouble in other areas of learning. You can have lesser and greater degrees of dyslexia but the trouble is pronounced enough to have made you feel embarrassed at times, and to have stopped you doing as well as you know you are capable of.  The trouble persists.  In school you will have sat next to your friends, same classes for years, and yet been unable to keep up with them -not without working much harder and longer.

Dyslexia is tough.  But it’s not that bad.- Especially with iPads and apps, and voice recognition software and spell checkers.  And you’re a lateral thinker, a many-tasks-at-one-time person, and all the time you’re learning nifty ways to cope better.  

“Hi.  Do you have dyslexia?”

Why Verbalising Helps You Write Better

Today I said something to a student that I say an awful lot.  I think it helps.  Students say it makes sense and feels right.  Here it is:

"As you write your words, say them out loud."  -You can say them softly if you want, in case you worry that onlookers might think you a tad strange, but SAY them.

Multisensory learning -where you use as many senses, simultaneously, as possible when you're trying to learn a thing-  is a proven strategy.  -What it  means for writing and spelling is that it's better to see it, say it, write it rather than just to write it.  -So start talking to yourself!   

Goodbye to the GPS?

Is the GPS already on its way out?  -A friend just raved to me about his latest $2.99 app that does ...all the very same stuff. 

Where To is another nifty app. from Apple.  They give their blurb here. 

Dyslexia in a crowd

When words have wide spacing between their letters  a dyslexic child can read faster and better.  It's true.   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences cites a new study that proves it.

So, a too-easy accommodation teachers and writers can (and ought to) make in a second is to space individual letters further apart.  -Easiest accommodation ev-er!

Apps, Apps, here come Dictation Apps

  

In an earlier post I talked about using Dragon Naturally Speaking on your computer.  Now, in the same Dragon series, here are a couple of FREE apps you might want to check out:

Dragon Go!  - Allows you to speak what you're searching for on the web - Google, Wikipedia, Youtube are defaults. You can also search for maps (using the location function), Twitter, and more. 

  

Dragon Dictate - Is for taking down memos and short notes. It can make the occasional error when it’s competing with background noise, or if you mumble your words- but still pretty good.  If Dragon Dictate is too inaccurate for your speech, you can add in a Voice Memos app which will just record your note as audio.

Maxims, Pizza, n Other Stuff for Teachers

Tell me and I forget.

Teach me and I learn.

Involve me and I remember.

-Attributed to Benjamin Franklin

And another I think is worth remembering:

There are no difficult students - just students who don't want to do it your way.

-authors Jane Revell and Susan Norman

Is it Time for You Tube?

 

"Silly videos, crass practical jokes, music videos, bloody street fights; you name it, you can probably see it on YouTube. But what many of us (teachers, that is) are finding out is that the site is also rich in serious, professionally made videos that can teach our students a lot."

...I have mentioned Mister Teacher before on this site because he has a lot of fab things to say, and not in a long-winded way, on technology.  Personally, I need to make better use of technology, it's way high on my list of stuff I absolutely, definitely, really must get onto.  If you're in that position too and are interested in using You Tube for teaching, and are on the brink of doing instead of blah blahing, like slouchy me, check this out.

JOKE: The Monk

JOKE: The Monk

1. Read

A man wanted to become a monk so he went to the monastery and talked to the head monk. The head monk said,

"You must take a vow of silence and can only say two words every three years."
The man agreed and after the first 3 years, the head monk came to him and said, "What are your two words?"
"Food cold!" the man replied.
Three more years went by and the head monk came to him and said "What are your two words?"
"Robe dirty!" the man exclaimed.
Three more years went by and the head monk came to him and said, "What are your two words?"
"I quit!" said the man.
"Well, the head monk replied, I am not surprised. You have done nothing but complain ever since you got here!"

2. Underline

5 words made of 2 syllables

3. Write

a. 3 things a person might quit doing

b. 3 words beginning with qu

c. 3 places where people go to worship

d. 3 things that will be different for everyone in 3 years from now

Movie Alert - Go get Percy Jackson!

I’m not exactly renowned for being quick off the mark, so you’ll forgive me, I’m sure, if you knew this decades ago, but…here’s a movie, and a really good one, with a dyslexic hero/main character.  -AND there’s a whole book series, AND it’s family-viewing (though probably not for under 12s), AND …well I can’t think of another AND, but anyway, if you haven’t done so already, you should watch this movie! 

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief

 

Follow the author, Rick Riordan, on his blog

Dyslexia is great -I wouldn't be without it!

Catherine -grainy on my little phone camera, but still captivating

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to Ausssi author and outspoken TV personality (most recently appearing in the ABCs Get Back to Where You Came From) Catherine Deveny who herself has dyslexia or, as she sees it, a different and dynamic way of thinking. 

Dyslexia (trouble with reading and especially with spelling) didn’t slow Catherine down much.  “I managed not to buy into the “You’re-not-trying” myth,” she said. -Her advice for fellow dyslexics.  -“Authority isn’t truth and remembering things isn’t intelligence.” Did you have any dark moments in school?” someone asked.  “No. I’m a pathological optimist,” Catherine said, waving her iPhone. “I remember a teacher saying to me, “You know Catherine, you won’t be able to carry around some kind of magic dictionary that spells for you and gives you your daily schedule…”  

-Catherine likes the app. Speak It. “It lets me record my thoughts and listen to them over and over while I’m doing other things (I like to walk and listen.  You get a kind of motor learning happening so you soak up the information better).  I also use Audio Note which lets me find my place in a recording and add notes.”

 “Dyslexic thinking isn’t linear,” Catherine told me.  “It’s creative and dynamic.  -If you walked into my kitchen at any given time you’d likely find me simultaneously stirring a pot of pasta sauce, answering two or three phone calls and cleaning the shelves, with every cupboard door swinging wide open.”

I was so glad to have met Catherine Deveny -she's a reminder of how dyslexia is just one facet of a person, and maybe a beneficial one they wouldn't part with.

For more: Dyslexics may take a different route but we get there in the end