Advice For Dyslexic DS age 7

[ShesAStar]

I have a 7 yr old DS who is dyslexic, he is progressing slowly but has no interest in learning to read and write so any progress is a very hard slog for whoever is teaching him.

I believe the reason he has no interest in learning is because he finds it very hard and boring - he responds well to learning games. His teachers last year made me feel he was unteachable - it's as though they have never taught someone who is dyslexic before, he seems such a mystery to them.

I come from a family full of dyslexics and know how ordinary their lives are and how they have managed to get on well in life without Dyslexia being an issue, the school talk of him as though he is some sort of tragic case and tell me proudly of the dyslexic child they taught who went on to do A-level English Literature. I find it all so frustrating - I believe he can and will achieve anything he wants - dyslexic brains are amazing not tragic!

Next year he is being assessed by the EP, then he can have an official diagnosis but I worry that he will never have a support system in school that can get him fluently reading and writing, last year he was taught by the TA who is lovely but the teacher knew very little about him.

Would anyone be able to tell me if this is normal and also does the school tend to take more of an interest once children have seen the EP? I am so worried because it feels like the school view him as a problem and a chore - which possibly he is to them, but obviously to me he is amazing and I don't want his spirit and confidence to be crushed.

Sorry for the great long post but one last thing I was wondering is would he get a better support system in a private school? he sees a tutor every Saturday for extra help. Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Is the tutor a specialist dyslexia teacher? I am. My mother, brother, son and grandson are dyslexic. I suspect that your son has problems with auditory processing and cannot access phonics which is why the teachers said he was unteachable. He needs a programme which is intensive but delivered in short bursts daily using multi sensory techniques and a language approach. My son found it very helpful to listen to story tapes at night. I would suggest things that are at least a couple of years older than 7yrs as I suspect he's bored by simplicity.
Personally I have not come across a private school (in 43 years of teaching) which has anything to offer dyslexics beyond a smaller class size apart from specialist dyslexic schools of which there are very few. You would be better using your money on a specialist dyslexic tutor ad possible a private dyslexia assessment. I don't suppose you live near Somerset? I could offer some free support. PM me if you like.

Thank you so much for your advise, the tutor is a specialist in dyslexia - she is amazing and is going to do his assessment but wanted to wait until she read the EPs report. She also wanted him to reach 7 which only happened 2 weeks ago.

I wish I lived in Somerset, unfortunately not - nowhere so beautiful!

Do you think the EP will pick up on the problems with auditory processing? Funny you mention audio books - he listens to a few chapters every night. Everything you have said makes sense - he loves to watch films about the battle of Waterloo or the battle of Trafalgar but the teachers give him such simplistic tasks - even in maths which he seems capable in.

You have given me some insight and some new subjects to google! If you have any idea where I can access the sort of programme that can help him I would be very grateful.
Many thanks

An EP will pick up the issue especially if s/he is asked to look at this issue. In my experience (43 years teaching) dyslexic issues are rarely supported well in schools. Good schools may well make allowances but lack the expertise to teach dyslexic pupils especially if they don't benefit from phonics. Phonics is an excellent teaching method for 99% of pupils but not all.
A language based approach to learning might be a way forward but do ask your tutor for her opinion and suggestions she could offer. If you still want me to suggest programmes to support please PM me. Best wishes.

Gosh, your son sounds exactly like mine op. He's doing ok in maths but seriously behind in reading/writing, he's 7 in August.

I spoke to the HT at the end of the summer term and she is putting him forward to be assessed in yr3. I have always thought he could be dyslexic and brought it up previously with teachers but always told no. We'll see after he's had the assessment.

Tissie, what you've said about the phonics rings so true, ds has failed two phonics screening tests despite him having extra tuition and support. Do you know of any good resources for me to read up on it? Or shall I just wait for a definite diagnoses and be led by them? Sorry to pick your brains- say no if you want to. The poor kid has so much against him - August born, left handed and now possibly dyslexic :(

Sorry for the hijack op

Tissie - thanks so much, I will ask his tutor what she thinks but she is mainly trying to support him through the work the school are doing with him. I think she doesn't want to confuse him. I will have a chat with her and PM you if that's okay, many thanks again.

Hi Birnamwood, it's so tricky when your DC has a problem that baffles the professionals isn't it. With children that are dyslexic schools have to fund any extra help they provide. I think this means schools drag their feet because they don't have the funding to provide the support. It's very frustrating! My son is born in July and is the youngest in his class by a few months - your DS must be the youngest by far.

The thing I try to focus on is that these problems are all things that can be overcome - they won't effect their adult lives adversely. Also I am left handed and although it seems to pain some right handed people to watch me write it has never has any bad effect on me - but I know it must feel like one more problem for your DS to overcome.

Hi
I didn't want to tread on anyone's toes but from what you say your tutor is not directy trying to teach your son reading. The link I've put below is about teaching reading through a whole language approach and incorporates elements of phonics and look and say. It also means you don't have to use first level phonics books which are very boring to someone like your son. At the bottom of the first paragraph is a blue box with Free Reading Workshop in it. Click on this and it takes you to exactly that. My personal email is [email protected] if you want to use it. Best wishes.

www.readinghorizons.com/blog/post/2010/09/23/what-is-the-whole-languagee-approach-to-teaching-reading.aspx