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Dyslexia

8 replies

loopygoose · 01/07/2016 09:37

Dyslexia: Getting the life you want and not the life you get.
My daughter has dyslexia. I’ve known there was something amiss since she was 5 but her school took the policy that “We don’t test until they’re seven”
Here's a mum's personal account of what works.

loopygoosedarling.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/hello-world/

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gingercat123 · 06/07/2016 11:56

Hello - thanks for sharing strategies that worked with your daughter. My DS is finishing year 5 and I'm really worried about him. He has dyslexia. I want to try to help him catch up (or not fall behind further!!!) over the summer hols, but he's just so reluctant. Helping him is so frustrating for BOTH of us (usually lots of tears and then lots of chocolate biscuits). Is "spelling tutor" fun? Do you think it would be suitable for him? Thanks so much!!!

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loopygoose · 06/07/2016 17:21

Hello Gingercat,
What you're experiencing is common and perfectly understandable. My daughter and I have fought many times over learning but I have got through it by a mixture of love (isn't it awful that you have a mother who loves you enough to force you to grow) and praise (excellent, look how far you've come, I'm so impressed with your determination) If you don't mind my asking is spelling his key problem or are there other issues?
If you have that relationship with your son it may be best to focus, at first, on a key area and build from that once he realises that you're being kind and fair.

As for spellingtutor it isn't fun but it is very effective in my experience. I would stress to him that he only needs to do 10 minutes each day and he'll see a real difference. Bribe him with something really fun as a result and praise him ceaselessly for any efforts he makes. It takes a couple of weeks to become clear that he's learnt some words because he needs to be able to spell the word correctly 7 times for it to go onto the learnt list.
The good news is that he can do it pretty independently as long as he is honest with himself about what he can and can't spell. You could sell it to him on that basis.
Let me know what you think.

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gingercat123 · 06/07/2016 19:24

Thanks. That's really good advice. I like the way he could do it by himself. I will definitely be using bribes!!! I'm trying really hard to use lots of praise and praise his effort.
It's hard to decide what he's weakest at. His reading is ok, but he often looses his place or skips words.
Thanks

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loopygoose · 06/07/2016 19:53

Ah, that's interesting. Have you checked his eyesight for tracking problems and convergence? That could well be something to tackle as well. That is engagingeyes, which is fun. There are four games to do but he would need red/blue glasses which you can buy from Amazon. They're both by the same organisation but I'm a big fan.

I am making my daughter do math whizz, spelling tutor and egagingeyes every day. That's 30 minutes, which really isn't much when you consider that they are on holiday! I also insist that she goes to bed 30 minutes before lights out and reads. I don't care what she's reading but I want her to be praising that skill so that it becomes easier.
Hope that helps.

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loopygoose · 06/07/2016 19:56

I meant practising! Actually, I like online programmes specifically because they do give more freedom and the child will have the chance for more autonomy.

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gingercat123 · 06/07/2016 20:13

Yeah I think my DS would respond well to "autonomy" and it would help me feel like I could praise him not nag him.
I haven't heard of "engaging eyes" before. I hadn't really thought of getting his eyes tested.
Thanks for all you help, it can all feel so frustrating.

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loopygoose · 06/07/2016 20:13

I've just looked at her stats and she's actually doing 30 minutes of maths whizz a day. That's one exercise and one test.

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loopygoose · 06/07/2016 20:46

Well the problem with eyes is that optometrists only sell you glasses and check for health problems. They don't check for functional behaviour of eyes which is a rather different matter. Use the finger test I mention in my blog and see if his eyes jump when he's trying to follow the finger moving left to right. Also see if he can converge or cross his eyes. It can be a real impediment to being able to read smoothly if he can't do one or either and it's a VERY common problem in Dyslexics.