Sight words

Sight words will cause a dyslexic problems because these words can not be translated into visual pictures. Now I realise this. So I thought how can we fix this problem using technology?

Idea: In Computer Lab time, Eric can use paint to design his own sight words! I will read him the word and he needs to use Paint to create  a picture and we can put it up in the classroom for everyone!

It’s going to be tricky with the ‘where’, ‘on’, ‘when’ words. Any suggestions?

(Made available by Creative Commons, 2.0) http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uniqueteachingresources.com/images/dolchpicturenouns.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uniqueteachingresources.com/dolch-sight-words.html&usg=__loXwbVzRkH-hA1_rNP4g-4YarVI=&h=337&w=512&sz=52&hl=en&start=53&zoom=1&tbnid=hhhY2Sdvjwx3oM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=218&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsight%2Bwords%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4RNTN_enAU354AU355%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D506%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=142&ei=HBizTIa4HYHGcKv6iMEN&oei=ABizTPmqC4WrcZbE-JIN&esq=5&page=4&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:53&tx=138&ty=102

What do Jamie Oliver, Keira Knightley, Richard Branson, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein have in common?

They are all internationally recognised for their chosen field…and guess what..they are all DYSLEXIC!

Activity Idea

I thought it would be inspirational for Eric to build a poster with famous people who have Dyslexia. This may boost his self esteem as I have observed that he has withdrawn a little since we have started the remediation program. He notices that he is ‘different’. His peers are very supportive in group work and we talk openly about Eric having to sit closer to the board or taking longer to do tasks.

I will ask what Eric would like to become when he is older and find an appropriate role model that we can research together as a mini project.

What do you think?

DID YOU KNOW these actors are Dyslexic?

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Hope you have all been well!

Eric has been settling into a new literacy program well. We organised a reading remediation program with him and ask him for feedback and how he feels about his learning pace, so we get to reflect and monitor on our progress together!

Have you heard about the Davis Program? I have just recently been exposed to it. It contradicts the teachingof Phonics and interested me. If Eric responds to these strategies, anything is possible! We need to remember that Dyslexia is a learning development . We need to explore and use alternative methods in order to enhance the students abilities!!

The Davis method does not rely on instruction based phonics. They understand that Dyslexic students think in pictures and have difficulty thinking with sounds of words. So they use visual and meaning based approaches to learn and use. For example The David method does not rely on physical devices such as coloured overlays or large print books which contradicts the research we have talked about using coloured keyboards to help reocgnise and sight alphabet words.

I believe, as a teacher I will try and use a few different strategies that are suited to Eric.

So what to do?

Davis Dyslexia Association International. (2009). David Dyslexia Correction. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from http://www.dyslexia.com/program.htm

Made available Creative Commons, 2010

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Take a look at this article! There is National recognition of Dyslexia as a disability. The Federal Government is recognising the need to address this disability and recognises that further training and profresional development for us, teacher is important! Definetely a plus for us!

Due to the lack of support, research has found that 10% of people struggle to cope with Dyslexia. 

The president of the Australian Education Union, Gavrielatos has stated that special education has been neglected by the government and is in need for more resources. Well, hopefully they do something about this!

It’d be great to receive funding for Eric and have some more approriate resources and assistive technologies in the classroom to enhance his reading.

I found this captivating article. As I was googling along to see how else I can make my classroom a even more language rich environment, I came across this Dyslexia Australia Articles website. It reminds me that I am still learning. reading this article keep me in tact with my current classroom and Dyslexic student.

Take a peek @ the Article. There is also a link to his radio interview where he expressed his theory about global state Dyslexia.  

The author, Langston explains how he interprets Dyslexia and links it to our current generation. He has segregated Dyslexia awareness into three different phases.

Phase 1: The Age of Ignorance :

Phase 2: Age of Awareness

Phase 3: Age of Consciousness

This article highlights that Education is the catalyst for change. I agree with Langston that there is a need for a shift in global consciousness surrounding dyslexia. Together as teachers lets aim to suceed in a more holistic approach to meet Dyslexic students needs raise awareness!

 Langston, R. (2010). Welcome to the Age of Dyslexia. Retrieved September 27, 2010, from

http://www.dyslexia-australia.com.au/pdfs/Welcome%20To%20The%20Age%20Of%20Dyslexia%20Awareness.pdf

An electronic dictionary! It has a phonetic word correction and pronounces the words out!

Check it out! Electronic Dictionary

I have planned for Eric to use the Electronic dictionary when he knows a new term. First he must ‘have a go’ and look it up in the dictionary by trying to spell it. Then he will find the accurate word, then he can write it. I know this may be alonger process, but it is definetely more beneficial, do you agree? He will be able to recognise more of the letters and consolidate this learning by writing it, thus with more practice he will slowly rely less on the dictionary eventually.

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“Dyslexia is a medical problem with an educational solution.”

(Dyslexia Foundation, 2010)

So, as teachers we must do our best!!

I found out that the test for Eric included the following:

• Screening to rule out hearing difficulties or loss of vision

• Medical evaluation to rule out secondary implications

• Psychological evaluation, with a battery of tests to obtain a good assessment (Tests should measure; expressive oral & written language, receptive oral & written language, intellectual functioning, and cognitive processing.)

After visiting this Dyslexia Foundation website  (which I highly recommend) I gained more of an insight about how dyslexia works and also that I should not only focus mainly on Literacy strategies but his social skills in the classroom with other students to assist Eric.

Because Eric needs a lot of visual stimulation, I looked  up a few assistive technologies. Tell me what you think! Also, any good lessons that you can share with me so I can enhance Eric’s learning?

Thanks!

Check this out! It’s a keyboard that has different lights to assist Dyslexic students!

The main aim of this keyboard is to help students identify letters accurately and efficiently. The keyboard has 4 controls. First control is for brightness and the other 3 are for different colours! Apparently it can make up to 1.6 million colours. Do you think it is a good idea to purchase one for Eric to enhance his writing skills?

(Creative Commons, 2010)

I’m experiencing difficulty in communicating with my students parents. There is a language barrier as the students background is from Phillipines and the parents do not speak much English. I have recently talked to the mother about her son being tested and she seems supportive and relieved that we are helping as she has seen signs and symptoms of her son not being able to read and understand from a young age but was unsure and uneducated about this special need.

We have diagnosed the student (Eric) with dyslexia and I am beginning to use strategies to aid him in the classroom. For example:

- Eric’s seating arrangement is close to board and facing forward.

- New terms are written on the white board

- After instructing students to do a task, I repeat instructions slowly to him. But I find this quite difficult especially managing 25 other students in the classroom.

- I have printed out pictures and labelled them with words for classroom routine and are visible on the board.

Click here to have a look at the Routine.

Any other strategies?

Iginame fi  WDROS LKOoDe KiLE htis to yUO VeEryYad

Imagine if words looked like that everyday and you can not process any of it!

Watch the following YouTube clip to gain insight on how it is to be dyslexic.

I am currently teaching at a Primary School and am experiencing difficulty with an undiagnosed dyslexic student. I have been observing this student as they have just joined my Primary School. The family has recently moved into the area and I seldom see them, as the student goes to after school care 5 days a week. I am seeing symptoms such as:  

• Difficulty in expressing oneself

• Difficulty in learning tasks such as tying shoes and telling time

• Inattentiveness; distractibility

• Inability to follow directions

• Left-right confusion

• Poor social skills

• Difficulty learning to read

• Mixing the order of letters or numbers while writing

 I am teaching in a lower socioeconomic school and the school does not provide enough funding to meet the needs of all special need students. I am currently teaching a Stage 1 class (Year 2). I have been researching online and looking at journals for educational literature but am unsure. I have raised this issue with other school teachers and have scheduled for a test for the student.My student experiences difficulty in writing the alphabet letters correctly, has limited  phonological and phonemic awareness. I am currently in my first year of teaching and am unaware of good teaching practices. I’ve been researching online and looking into books. 

Any suggestions?