Please help me – can you tell me more about Dyslexia?
January 24th, 2007
The author of this website, Dawn Matthews, invites you to read the above paragraph and give some thought to:
- The skills you used to decode it.
- The frequency and types of error you made in reading it.
- How much of the content you understood in the first reading.
- If you found the reading of this paragraph tiring or a strain.
Imagine a life where you had to read extensive information and even whole books written like the above passage. Think about how tired you would be and how easily distracted. Imagine that the rest of the world could easily read passages like this one. Imagine how stupid you would feel and how frustrated.
Dawn Matthews invites you to:
- Try to copy some of the passage out into note form, backwards, as it is written.
- Try to check your backwards writing for mistakes.
- Try to write your own sentence in backwards writing.
- Imagine you had to copy this passage while it was being written on a class blackboard.
Students who cannot remember the “look” of words and who cannot “scan” a page of written material have to “work out” what each written word says as they come to it much as you had to in the above passage. Some people have to read like this all their lives.
Learning Differences
Dyslexics think and learn differently to other people, their brains develop in a slightly different way and, therefore, they need to learn in a slightly different way. Dyslexia is not caused by brain damage but by brain difference.
Specific Learning Difficulties
Each dyslexic is an individual and will display different forms and characteristics of dyslexia. Dyslexics look the same as other people; they have no physical attributes that mark them as dyslexic. But if you know what to look for, using assessments such as those available in Dawn’s book ‘Dyslexia: How to Win‘, you can recognize dyslexia quite easily. We all know the stereotype – can’t read, can’t spell. Although these are often significant markers there is so much more to dyslexia than this.
Dyslexia can be called “Specific Learning Difficulty”, “Specific Learning Disability”, or “Specific Learning Difference”. The cause of dyslexia is still a matter of debate but it is thought that genetics play a role.
Short Term Memory
Dyslexics have poor short term visual memory and/or short term auditory memory problems. This means that they cannot remember the look of words. They, therefore, have to be taught how to work out every word as they come to it in order to decode each word in a written text.
Dyslexics excel in visual and spatial activities. They are often very good at drawing, designing and sport.
Although perfect spelling, reading and writing is not the most important part of life it is an aspect of life that has to be addressed. Dawn has invented and uses a numerous strategies and games to teach these aspects of education to dyslexic children. She believes that any dyslexic can be turned around and be happy and fulfill their ambition. It is important to take things one step at a time and teach a dyslexic in a way in which they learn.
Give a dyslexic plenty of confidence and you’ll be amazed at what s/he can do.
Concentration
Dawn Matthews says
“At school my reports were strewn with the phrases, ‘poor concentration’, ‘should pay better attention’ and ‘should try harder’. I see these same phrases on the school reports of the children I teach. If you care to read the biographies of famous dyslexics you will also see that these same phrases were used over and over again as descriptions of them as children. But these people went on to achieve greatness and many have moved the world forward. Albert Einstein in particular was noted for his lack of concentration during his university life, but as it turned out he was concentrating very well. It is just that he was concentrating upon higher and more important things.
Dyslexics seem to be what I call “super alert”. We are like wild animals and are taking it everything all the time. We notice every sound, every movement and every action the teacher makes. Our brains are like glass houses where everything in the outside world is seen and heard. The rest of you live in one room, or part of your brain, at a time and can decide what you want to concentrate on. And many of you have the audacity to try to and make us like you. We are happy to be like us and we frequently grow up to be the higher achievers.”
Below is diagram to show this concept and a list of ideas to help taken from “Dyslexia How to Win” by Dawn Matthews.
Taken from “Dyslexia – how to win” by Dawn Matthews
Tips to Help in Teaching a Super-alert Mind
- Involve the students in what you are doing.
- Stop and ask questions as often as possible.
- Present contextual or verbal information in small chunks.
- Pay attention to how text is laid out and avoid any complete pages of plain text.
- Demonstrate ideas and concepts using materials and analogies.
- Never give a correct and incorrect answer at the same time; For example, do not say, “the answer is two not three”.
- Intersperse dictation or note taking with talking and pictures or objects.
- Provide a quiet distraction-free environment, but remember that these students need stimulation all the time. Sometimes background music helps as long as it does not contain words.
- Keep the attention on you by telling jokes or acting or making deliberate mistakes for your students to notice.
- Keep the teaching as multi sensory as possible. Videos and DVDs are great because they are both visual and auditory.
- Getting pupils to move about in the teaching environment is useful as it brings the mind back to the present situation.
- Present new information in as exciting a way as possible.
- Never tell a dyslexic or ADD pupilto stop fiddling. This will only make him/her concentrate completely on not fiddling.
- I allow dyslexic and ADD pupils to draw at the same time as class discussions. This activity distracts a lot of the brain while not competing with what I was saying or demonstrating.
- Tell your pupil to pay attention when you are giving them the most important information rather than all the time.
Entry Filed under: Dyslexia
18 Comments Add your own
1. Private | February 6th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Hi there
Our son started yr 2 this year but has basically struggled with every facet of learning throughout his short schooling life. He participated in the reading recovery program for the last 6months of yr 1 as well as private tutoring that focussed on phonics and starting at 2 and 3 letter words. He is now reading but it does not come easy.
He has shared with us that maths is hard and handwriting letters and sentences are difficult as he writes things back to front and doesn’t leave spaces. Teachers have also reported that he doesn’t stay on task and more often then not drifts off in class. They have also stated that he is a very pleasant student and is very quiet in class.
My husband and I feel our son is struggling but we feel like we are going around in circles.
We were wondering if you may be able to help us and give us some direction in how we go about finding some help for him.
He was also assessed by the School Counsellor in Kindy and the testing conducted showed that everything was within normal range. We have also seen a behavioural optometrist.
We look forward to hearing from you.
2. Dawn Matthews | February 6th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Thank you for your email to my site.
It does sound as though your son might be dyslexic.
Have you done the tick box screening test for young dyslexics – on this site? That will give you a better idea. My other suggestion is that you get the book ,”Dyslexia – a guide for parents” as this tells you more about what to look for. i wrote these books and built this site for people like you who did not know where to turn and I have tried to keep the books as cheap as possible. Icannot, i have found, teach every child and help every parent, individually because there a are millions of you around the world. If you son is dyslexic then when you read my boolet it should be just like reading purely about your son.
If, when you read this booklet, you think he is dyslexic, then everything you need to know about helping him is in plain english in the manual “Dyslexia – how to win.” with that you should be able to help him yourself as well as print out copies for his teachers.
if, having done the tick box test and read the booklet you do not think he is dyslexic then do the dyspraxia (DMD) tick box test and if you are still wondering then do , please get back to me. best of luck, Dawn
3. Michelle Overend | May 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Hi, we have a son in Yr 2 and he is struggling with his english and literacy, We have just started him at Kumon at tutoring and when she first tested him she things he might have a sight case of dyslexia. I spoke to his teacher and she said there propably was something there and would speak to someone at the school, I have spoken to her the last 3 weeks and she said she was still waiting for someone else at the school to contact her. I am starting to get a bit worried . We did the tick test and he is over half way ,I have called child health to see if they can direct me they said I have to go through the school. How do I get him tested we live in Gladstone Central Qld. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
4. Janice Brown | June 29th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hi, we have a daughterin Yr 7 she has been struggling with spelling english and maths for aquite a number of years earlier this year she was diagnosed as dyalexic but no one has told as how we can help or what we could do to help her. we live in wollongong where can i get some help
Any help would be appreciated .Thankyou
5. Jane Brown | July 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Hi my son has dyspraxia – not dyslexia but he struggles with reading and writing and maths – actually all school!! The school he goes to does not have a Reading Recovery program – what do you suggest – we live in Gladstone. He wears a FM listening system at school but still he is struggling.We have does Listening Program as recommended from his OT which has helped with his co-ordination but short term memory etc isn’t just there yet.
Thanks
Jane Brown
6. BRIONY BOOTS | September 16th, 2007 at 4:37 am
HEY . .MY STEPSON IS HAVING LOTS OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS . .HE IS NEARLY 5 AND CAN’T READ OR WRITE . . HE DOES HIS B’S AND D’S BACK TO FRONT . . THAT IS A COMMON SIDE OF DYSLEXIA , ISN’T IT . . THE OTHER THING IS HE IS PARTIALLY DEAF IN BOTH EARS , WHICH IS MORE ON TOP OF THAT . .HE IS GETTING HEARING AIDS ON 27TH SEPT 2007 WHICH WILL BE FANTASTIC FOR HIM AND HIS DAD AND I . . HE COPES QUITE WELL WITH ALL OF THIS BUT IS QUITE WITHDRAWN AND DOESN’T HAVE MANY FRIENDS , WHICH IS SAD FOR MY LITTLE DARLING . . IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME WITH SOME TIPS OR ADVICE , THAT WOULD BE GREAT . . BRIONY
7. Donna Tunga | September 17th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Could you please let me know if there is anywhere in Wollongong that I could get my 13 yr old granddaughter tested for Dyslexia. Her teacher says she has Dyslexia and to just get her a Dictionary!!!!!!
Thank you
Donna
8. Sara | November 16th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
My daughter is in grade 3 and at the beginning of the year her teacher asked me if I agree to have my daughter assessed by the school psychologised. I agreed, and when they finished the report they told me that my daughter has learning difficulties and said that she is always going to be behind. I also explained that my daughter tends to copy from other students and they said that it was fine because that was her way of coping. I believe the school is giving up on her. Recently they started up a literacy program at her school and did not choose my daughter. My daughter loves to read and is very good at spelling. She finds math’s hard but once it’s explained a few times she understands but tends to forget in a few days. Her motor shills and social skills I believe are not at the standard of a nine year old. Please help me as I am not sure what to do to help her. I have a tutor from LDA once a week come and tutor her but I think she need more help. I am considering home schooling
9. Emma | November 29th, 2007 at 4:18 am
Hi I’m the Mother of two dyslexic children,they are 12 and 9 and they are fantastic both of them are very intelligent the only major problems they have are of course,the school system.Why do teachers want all pupils to be the same,to fit into a little box that somebody else has decided is the right way to learn,spell and think?It’s so frustrating every year at the parent teacher meetings I go through the same conversation,they need to concentrate more,they’re not putting in enough effort,writing is sloppy what amazes me is they’re teachers know they’re dyslexic sowhy as adults do they try to knock my kids confidence when I work so hard at home to build it up.As I tell my kids if ye had spelt the words for the dictionary then you’d have no problems,I love the picture of the two brains and the differant way’s you see things really people who aren’t dyslexic are the one,s who are at a disadvantage it’s like we see life in black and white while you see multicoloured.
10. marymae v condino | January 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
hi,im a mother of 15 year olad son,i have problem of in terms of his behaviour. he dont want to be teach,like doing household,even his personal responsibility,but he likes to go to school,but he dont learn also. he got learning difficulties also.besides he always wants to be alone.he dont even migle with his classmates or makes friends..,i tried to bring him for counseling.but still the same. what shall i do to solved this problem.
11. Belinda | January 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Hi, I am the mother of an 11 year old dyslexic boy.
He struggled to read and write from an early age and I didn’t know where to turn for help. His teachers responded to his difficulties by setting even more homework (an hours homework a night in Year 1!!!!!) and suggested pschyciatrists and OTs. One school pscyche looked at him, saw his low self-esteem, and suggested “his parents should be more positive in the home environment”! He hated school with a passion and I didn’t know how to help him.
My decision two years ago was to start homescooling him so I could tailor a program to meet his needs. It has taken awhile but he is starting to enjoy learning again and is taking some responsibility for his own learning. Our big problem at the moment is the times tables which is an everyday life skill. Any ideas?
I also like to encourage him and your list of famous dyslexics and the different brain pictures are great. He used to think something was ‘wrong with him’ but now he doesn’t and we’re moving forward at his pace with no stress or pressure to perform.
We live in a remote location and I am glad I found this site which has given me even more ideas to compliment his program. Thankyou for a great site that is very positive about dyslexia and doesn’t treat it like an illness. Thankyou,
12. Morgan | April 10th, 2008 at 1:27 am
I am 20 years old and I have always struggled in school. I had no problems reading the top of this page, as I have been mirror writing for years. That’s how I fill out my journals, and jot notes for myself. That is the way writing looks and feels natural to me. The “normal way” things are written is very frustrating because I cannot read a sentence as a whole, I have to concentrate on each individual word to be able to read it, and by the end of the sentence, it doesn’t make sense to me because I couldn’t read it as a whole. Sometimes, I can’t read normally at all. If I’m tired, all the letters seem meaningless, they don’t seem to make words. It’s just letters jumbled together. I wasn’t able to read at all really until grade 8. I don’t read if I’m not forced to because of the difficulty I have in doing so. I dropped out of high school and am now trying to get my upgrading to make something of myself, but I’ve never been diagnosed. I stubled upon dyslexia while researching being left handed for my essay. I couldn’t believe how well I fit into the “symptoms” of dylexia, and why no one has mentioned it to me before, since I’ve had these problems all my life. How do I go about finding out if this is what I really have, and how do I go about leading a normal life. Is that even possible, or am I going to be behind everyone for the rest of my life.
13. sue baker | July 22nd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Hi there, Since leaving school my son has become quite difficult, they said they thought he was dyslexic in his last year of school but not enough to require getting him tested. He is not focused on getting a summer job, has quite bad low self esteem, cant discuss things of difficulty without steaming up and using bad language. He finds it hard to talk to people in shops and has not got very good social skills at all. Then he is getting in trouble with the police, he has lost his licence on his moped after making silly decisions that at them time seems okay. He always says sorry and knows how wrong the decision was as soon as he has done it. I think he may have dyslexia, he acts the goat and has no self discipline, just follows the crowd. he will get picked up for being in a crowd doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. He is smoking cannabis like alot of 16 year olds and i have been putting alot of this down to that. When he ws filling out a form the other day he seriously looked at me and said “am i male or female?” when I asked him why he said this later on in the day he said that he meant it, that it always confuses him and he wasnt jokng. (When ever he writes things which is very rare, he did not do well at school as he couldnt produce a piece of writing more than a word or two) hiswriting is not good, spelling is quite bad. He did very well at sport, top of the year and cooking was another skill of his, what do you think? he cant be bothered to read any forms or fill them in either, lack of confidence and he has got used to not botering. How can I get him tested for dyslexia without if costing me the earth, it would make me feel better and him I am sure. He is going to college in september, would they be able to get him tested??
Kind Regards
Sue Baker
14. Dawn Matthews | July 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
hi,
i have come across countless kids just like him during my career. its very sad and one the reasons i am now setting up dyslexic centre australia in order to run camps and teaching courses etc to help kids right across Australia.
first you must carry out the tick box tests on this site. he certainly has a specific learning difficulty of some sort. if his reading and writing is as you describe, but from what you say he could be either dyslexic or dyspraxic, so download and do the tick box tests for the oldest group on both of these and get back to me.
there are more tests in the book dyslexic – how to win which i am sending you for free as you really need this book. whatever he turns out to be you have to read the last two chapters to him, starting with the last one on the gift of dyslexia. i am also sending you the 101 famous dyslexics.
its about time he realized that dyslexics are the smart people. Sir Richard Branson left school bottom of each class as well but now hes a world famous billionaire who has set up an international committee for wold peace,
oh and he’s not confused as to whether he’s female or male – he’s just confused about the words o labels. i can remember confusing them also when i was younger.
you have to pick up his self esteem before he goes to college.
get back to me on these tests.
if your from the uk. there are dyslexic centres in most areas. try contacting them and getting more info . you don’t necessarily have to have him officially tested except college may ask for a report.
what’s important at this stage is that he knows what the problem is and that he’s not lazy and stupid.
15. mona samy | August 4th, 2008 at 12:15 am
My son is 5.He is learning English as a 2nd language.He writes some of letters and numbersbackwards ex;(d)as(b).He began to read three letters words in school but most of the time backward ex;(cat)as(tac).Is he dyslexa? what shall i do?I live in Egypt Africa Where nobody is conserned with dyslexia.
16. ashley | June 5th, 2009 at 8:53 am
hi im ash and im 22 im at uni at the mo and if anything need help . i know that sonds abit over the top but there isnt anything more i can do i am just comeing upto the end of my 1st year at uni and i think its sady going to be my last. the work i am set
i can not do and the tuters cant help me coz the r sick to deth of me always needing help and never handing essasy in on time . im doing my BA in fashion i never new that my byslexia woud be this bad in someting i thort to be arty and lets ace it… safe! but finding ths web sit has only maed me want to fight them more i like the way i am but and im sorry to them that must put up wth me and is there a way that i can show them im not thick ?
thank you
ashley
17. ashley | June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 am
sorry rong email
ashley
18. How To Ace Any Test: The &hellip | November 15th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
[...] Testing or No Testing? | Montessori Madness » Please help me – can you tell me more about Dyslexia? [...]
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