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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Original poster

Dyslexia resources please ( finally have a diagnosis for DS!)

13 replies

MrsHBaby3 · 13/01/2013 18:23

My ds is 11 and his secondary school have been fab after I requested an assessment for dyslexia. Not surprising to me, it has come back as definite.
I am pleased because now we can finally work towards helping him. I have known something has been 'different' since age 4/5? He struggles with reading, writing, maths, concentration, etc. He is better on the computer though.
I am wondering if anyone has any particularly good websites or groups or resources that they have found to be useful please?
Thanks!

OP posts:
Sleepysand · 14/01/2013 12:42

I did lots of tactile stuff making clay models of high frequency words (so a Morph type figure scratching his head for "how") and then the letters out of clay too. I also used "Toe by Toe" and found it marvellous. Voice recognition software and learning to touch type as well.

Sleepysand · 14/01/2013 12:44

Oh, and if you possibly can, get him a mentor who has been there. My son did this for younger students (he is at Uni now). Self esteem is a huge issue and this really helps.

Original poster
MrsHBaby3 · 14/01/2013 16:21

what age is toe to toe aimed at? my ds is 11

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsHBaby3 · 14/01/2013 16:23

the school have recommended A parents survival guide Christine Ostler, anyone know if its any good? its quite old but perhaps thats a good sign?

OP posts:
Sleepysand · 14/01/2013 17:53

Toe by toe is ages 7 to adult though younger.ones may find it dull.. I liked The Gift of Dyslexia.

grants1000 · 22/01/2013 00:53

I agree with Sleepysand, Toe by Toe is hideously dull and hard work and will probably put anyone off literacy for good! The Gift of Dylsexia is the must read book, I felt so happy, assured and uplifted when I read it. My DS1 aged 10 is dyslexic, he has tution for 2 hours a week at primary school from dyslexia teaching specialist, got via individual pupil funding. What are school going to do? How you thought about private tuition at somehwer like Dyslexia Action? Is he primary or secondary school?

Original poster
MrsHBaby3 · 29/01/2013 16:19

He is in year 7, and changing schools has definitely dented his confidence as it is, but it breaks my heart when he comes home saying he feels stupid. sometimes i think he can be lazy which doesn't help, but often I think he finds even simple things quite difficult.

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grants1000 · 31/01/2013 13:28

Are school supportive? Have you had a meeting with the SENCO and head of year? I often think frustration can be taken as lazyness by some, just the extra effort their brains have to go through at school is tough. I find with my DS who is in the last year of primary, he can use it as an excuse when he genuinely can't be arsed and it's a balance between pushing him a bit and leaving it alone, which we don't always get right. He had to write a 300 word biography on one of his parents, but he can type his, or I can be his scribe, where he has to tell me what to say, puntuation and all. So he gets all his ideas out and what he wants to say without the lengthy ballache of having to write it ALL down. Last night he did his literace homework all by himself as it was shorter and he was in the right frame of mind.

Mine goes to high school next year and I think he will struggle with organisation, did your son?

Original poster
MrsHBaby3 · 08/02/2013 12:10

Yes, organisation is a huge prob, and we tried to prepare him for ages in advance. I made lots of copies of his timetable.
However, Just this week he has had 2detentions as he has not written down his homework,then of course forgotten to do it. He is so easily distracted!

OP posts:
EmilyAda · 11/03/2013 08:47

Hello
RE: organisation - have you tried different colours on time table?
Also get back onto the school and ask teachers to print out homework on blue paper just for them see if this helps
You might know this, but lots of repeat work and fun games like playing pairs with number and word cards(with pictures) lots of encouragement with frequent breaks
find a topic they like and investigagte it making a scrap book this really helped my boy - he liked bearded dragons at the time we started.
I also suggest asking SENCO at the school for help & resources they have loads at hand & internet senco resources is worth investigating & don't forget the blue paper it does work
Good Luck Smile

zazas · 25/04/2013 10:26

Hi my DS is 11 and in his first year at secondary school and also was only recently assessed for dyslexia which came back as a definite. He doesn't struggle so much with reading or maths (although he dies have a unique approach to these subjects) but all the other things - concentration, writing and co-ordination. He now uses an iPad exclusively in school and it has transformed his learning experience. He writes all his notes on it, takes photos of handout sheets or whiteboard notes (transfers them to text using an App) and can even draw and add diagrams. At first not all the teachers were on board but now after a term they have seen his confidence soar and his results reflect his ability they are really delighted with its use. He emails them his work and visa-versa and I can only see it becoming more seamless as he goes through school. He is now the 'spokesperson' for the use of this sort of technology for the IT and Special Needs departments! There are also loads of great apps that helps with his specific dyslexic challenges - mind maps / reminders / language helpers etc. He also finds that he really uses the 'speak back to him' function so he can hear the mistakes that he has made in his writing - i.e. over for other. It has definitely worked for him.

lisacol · 28/04/2013 07:07

What specific apps zazas? That would be great to know. Our dd is dyslexic. top recommendations are : I would take him to a specialist opticians as often there are sight issues. Also colour filters can really help (optician can test for them) - it stops the words jumping on the page as much as it reduces the contrast - we have just bought coloured glasses which have made a huge difference. Specialist 121 tuition works really well. I liked the art of dyslexia too.

MellyMunster · 04/05/2013 08:06

I see that a thread I started this week advising parents about a trial of a dyslexic writing system was removed. A company based in Hitchin, Start-Bee Writing, are asking for parents of Dyslexic children between the ages of 7 to 12 to trial their Dyslexic writing product and method for one month. They are looking for three students in the Hitchin/North Herts area. I saw their notice on Twitter and went and looked at their Facebook page and forwarded this on.

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