Have started a thread in Education but posting here for traffic because its Saturday and dd is upset and bloody school did this yesterday and I have no answers for her.
Dd is very bright, in year 10. Consistently working at level 8 in Maths and French, level 7 in science, history, RE and level 6/7 in English and Drama. She is in top stream for everything apart from English and Science.
She has always struggled with essay based exams, or those that involve lots of writing. Not with the questions but with actually completing the assessments in time. She has beautiful, neat handwriting though its either very small or I need reading glasses.
Getting enough down on paper has always been an issue, but the only issue she has had. Her maths and french teachers both said at parents evening she will get at least an 8 if she carries on. Absolutely never been in trouble, works very hard, good group of friends, just started her D of E.
Yesterday she was taken from a history lesson and tested by someone she has never met before. She had to read out loud some nonsense words. The person that did the testing said she was surprised she hasn't been diagnosed before, that she will get a reader and extra time in exams. She hasn't told dd what she was testing for or what she has been diagnosed with, just that a letter will be sent home.
Poor Dd is really upset. I have obviously reassured her that whatever it is we will deal with it, extra time is good especially as we know she would do much better with extra time etc etc. But it is such a shock.
Have always been told she lacks confidence but exam and timing technique will come, they are working on it. We were going to get a tutor next year to help her with exam technique, but I suspect that she has dyslexia and has masked it all through her education.
She didn't struggle learning to read, or spell. Got a 6s in her Sats, always been top of her primary for reading and was a free reader before anyone else. Always got 10/10 in spelling.
Am pretty pissed off with the way school has handled it. They should have contacted me before doing the test and certainly before giving dd an unofficial diagnosis without me being present. I now have an upset, worried 14 year old and no one to discuss it with until Monday.
Have obviously reassured her it's nothing to worry about but she is worried and upset. DH is dyslexic (not her bio father) and my dsis is as well so she knows and understands what it is and what it means, but it's still a bit of a shock. Especially as she does so well in French which she didn't start learning until year 7. I suspect she does well as there isn't a lot of writing, like she does in Maths.
Feel so sad for her, not that she has dyslexia but because she has done so well without any additional help for so long. Poor bugger must have been working so hard to do as well as she has done. And she is so hard in herself and gets so frustrated when she can't complete exams.
Does anyone with experience of dyslexia think she would be better using a laptop rather than writing? Her handwriting is beautiful but am thinking if I get her competently typing she might do better. Just don't know how best to support her.