Y7 just been diagnosed with dyslexia - ant tips for how to help?

[reup]

I posters this on the SEN boards but go no response - so 3rd time lucky!

Its writing, handwriting, working memory that are the issues. His reading is OK. The EP said he was top 5% verbally but bottom 5% working memory. I couldn't take in all the EP had to say but he recommended a laptop for all his lessons - he just has it for English now.

Has anyone provided their own laptop? How did the work get to the teachers? He is currently doing a TTRS Touch typing course.

He has done a Lucida screening at school but only was below average for reading comp speed but everything else was very near to the bottom of the average band.

Any ideas for websites, books, strategies to help? The EP talked about doing things visually - mind maps etc. We haven't got the full report yet.

I don't really know where to start - am a bit overwhelmed.

[TeenAndTween]

DD is dyspraxic, only confirmed y11. This is what I've learned with DD, it may or may not help for you!

DD has had own laptop since y10. To get work to teachers she bungs it on a memory stick and prints it out either at home or at school.
You need to get one with fast boot up time, long battery life, and light enough to carry around.

DD's notes are more or less useless to learn from. We find revision books essential.

Mind maps are useless for DD but you just need to try them and see.

Stress that everything needs to be written in his planner. No saying 'I thought I'd remember' regarding messages, homework details etc.

Some things he may never get very good at (times tables?) but you'll have to live with that.

What's general organisation like? He may need more help / scaffolding for longer homeworks. I guess he may also need more help if given 'research' topics to do as skimming through to find relevant bits may be hard. You the teacher directing him to appropriate websites may help.

hth

[reup]

Thanks for that. He uses a laptop for english but I think it must be on a network as the teacher seemed to access it without printing. They charge the pupils for printing stuff so am not sure how that will work.

He's getting much better with organisation since starting secondary.

The school have been really unhelpful and defensive so am worried that when I give them the private ed psych report they won't be interested.

[BlackandGold]

Just thinking ahead so that you will know that he can request extra time for GCSEs and A levels because of his EP report. Possibly for other exams too.

He will also need a post 16 top up assessment if he carries on to Higher Education, as things currently stand.

[reup]

I think thats the one thing the school are doing - he did a lucida screening test and although they said only one are was below another was on these line and the other areas were at the bottom of the average band.

[reup]

One area

[canny1234]

My ds1 has also been recently diagnosed with Dyslexia so I feel your pain.The first thing I did was hand a copy of the report to the school.If your Ds is in a state school you should be eligible for extra help.Can you ask for a meeting?
I've also arranged for my ds to have tuition with a specialist dyslexia tutor .My ds's main problem is spelling and writing hence the tutor is concentrating on the problem categories first.
There are some aspects of treating Dyslexia that are controversial Too much dependence on a laptop is thought to be a bad thing.The act of writing notes helps you learn apparently.What's also shocked me is that some teachers still don't believe in Dyslexia but think its a middle-class excuse for thick children.

[reup]

Thanks - yes I'm worried about that. My son has the same issues. He had a SPag intervention at school but his sats levels weren't bad enough for any other support, except a laptop for English. ( which is often not there for him to use) I got quite an aggressive and petty email from the HOY after I asked the Sendco if there was anything else they could do. Hopefully there will be a nicer one in Y8 but am generally dreading a meeting as they seem to just want to justify what they do rather than look for solutions.

I wondered that about the note taking,typing but the EP was keen for him to try and remember things visually and in a multi senosory way. Will wait for the full report. I feel exhausted at the prospect of it all!

[canny1234]

Science Daily is very good on the latest research on Dyslexia.
A really easy to read Dyslexia book without Jargon I'm reading at the moment is 'How dyslexics learn,grasping the mettle' by Dr Kate Saunders and Annie White ( published by Saunders and White).I will pass on more information as I find it!

[reup]

Thanks. My dh ordered a couple of books the ed psych recommended - they are pretty old though.

[OrchardDweller]

My DD (20) is dyslexic and my DS (16) dyspraxic. He has used a laptop since Y7 and the first thing I did when he was diagnosed was to make sure that he was proficient at touch typing. He was a bit reluctant to use his laptop when he went to senior school in Y9 (not wanting to be different). However we had so many complaints about his handwriting in school report and we were then surprised about how many of his teachers were unaware that he could use a laptop for GCSEs. They have been very supportive since we informed them. Don't presume that any SEN needs have been passed onto teaching staff and stand your ground if you get fobbed off. University though has been very supportive.

Both of mine are terribly disorganised and we have worked hard to make sure that things are in place so that they don't forget so much. They have become disciplined about writing things down and to be honest three is the maximum number of things I'll ask them to do - after that they'll forget. Also, perhaps ask teachers to write down homework rather than just talking about it otherwise they'll forget most of what they're meant to do.

As for mind maps - both of mine hate them .... they have different learning styles and my daughter is very keen on the coloured card system of revising for exams.

[AYearofMinorMiracles]

Dragondictate? Awesome piece of kit - means they can get down what they can verbalise without struggling with the spelling, and any handwriting issues. It frees up cognition to then, allow for organising and editing.

Mindmaps normally work with people with dyslexia. And there are the most amazing aps for them - inspiration mindmaps. Tony Buzan produces some great books - and is also on Youtube.

EP trumps Lucid - EP assessments are indepth - Lucid is a screener i.e. flags up issues. When you have the report, ask for a meeting with the SENCO to discuss it.

The working memory difficulty needs to be shared with staff because it often creates problems in the class room and will explain the need for clarification and deconstruction of tasks. There are loads of strategies for working round it. Look up Kara Tointon and dyslexia on Youtube.

Your son may well be so bright that he is coping - this does not mean he doesn't need support because with the right help, he will attain his potential, whereas without, there will probably be a disparity between what he is capable of and what he achieves academically.