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