dysTalk Flip - Worried Next Step - General Advice Other - Forum - dysTalk

I teach over twenty students with learning difficulties. When they first come to me, they almost without exception press hard on their pencils -- it is just their way of letting you know they are struggling. No matter what age my students are, I use dot patterns, teach reading by using decoding, and teach math as a system.

Check out the TeachAllKids website.

LInda.

16/03/2009 03:56:05
TAKlinda (Member)

I have two profoundly dyslexic sons i.e they have SEN statements. Their primary school asked the Educational pschologist(Ed Psych) to see the eldest but they had to see a learning support teacher(LSAT) first. I mention this because the LSAT was unsure if he should see the Ed Psych, and left the decision to us. Strange because we went ahead & the Ed Psych said ''this child needs a Statement and quickly''. my point is insist on seeing the LEA LSAT & then the Ed Psych. He was then allowed a scribe.

Both my children had excellent support in primary school and both got level 5 in science at KS2 because they had a scribe.

Keyboards are no help to them - they compound the mix up of letters.

Do not force the reading issue - keep it very simple.

Do join listening books - the book people do CD's of Roald Dahl and Alex Rider.

Beware Daniels & Dyak (choose from 3 words to fill in sentence) reading test the secondary school were giving him reading age score of 13 when it was only 7.5yrs according to an Ed Pyhc test 5 months later.

Try & get the BDA Learnng access suite, Dragon naturally speaking does work. My eldest son also dyspraxic presses to hard with pencil. Ask school to get it too. it amazingly quite easy to set up and you don't need absolute quiet to work in class.

The Secondary school were absolutely useless, despite an Ed Psych report & level 5 science, they hadn't a clue how to support Jack and insisted he had comprehension problems. When with a scribe he came fourth/200 pupils in the science KS3 test he was catapulted from bottom set to top!!

When I asked the IT department why the langauge bar- allowing text to seech- was switched off on computers they said because children would mes about with it the problems the children (in the bottom sets)were messing about already.

Why when IT core subject, is it not be used to full potential?

Using speech to text allows children to practice spelling & writing under their own steam, it allows much more ''healthy'' reinforcement than traditional methods.

Is their not a right to have an Child seen by an Ed Psych under the specials needs act?

If the school can't arrange it ask your LEA, they are responsible for making sure children with speacila needs are looked after properly.

Is there an inclusion dept? They might help.

Bean - The LSAT should be deciding if they need help in exams, have they tested your daughter? Although over the years the ED Psych tests following the LSAT test have often resulted in lower scores. Has your D. been seen by an Ed Psych since going to secondary school I'm sure good practice reccommends this, if it not a right.

Listening books and Audible books (£7 per month) have eng lit audio guides on CD.

12/01/2009 11:03:25
sarah nelmes

A lot of the postings here seem to be focussing on possible visual problem and it may not be that at all. There is a danger or getting too far down a path without having done a full ed psych assessment. Ask at his school about this. Certainly he sounds as if he has some signs of dyspraxia and that getting him onto a laptop in class and for homework would help. You can't get permission to use a laptop without an ed psych asssessment saying it is required and then if it is it is something which he may be able to take advantage of all the way through to end of university and beyond so it is well worth shelling out the huge ed psych fee now and acting fast. Have you enrolled in Listening Books who send out tape and CDs. The range is enormous and you could get him listening to the books he is missing out on by not wanting to read. he could do this before you get in from work and then if you are in time you can talk to him about the book he has listened to rather than you doing the reading.

27/11/2008 07:50:35
A

Hi, I have a 14yr old daughter who was tested in primary school for Dyslexia. We were told she had mild dyslexia/moderate learning difficulties. She struggled with reading, imagination and poor short term memory.This problem has'nt left but we or should i say my daughter has learnt to cope with this. I have found her education and school support a constant battle, fighting for extra help! She has only ever been on school action and now school action plus- Basically the school decides how much they want to help. I constantly hear 'She is not high priority as we have children who can't read and write'. And although i understand this i am only concerned about my daughters struggle. She is clever and talented and all i want is for someone to acknowledge that she needs help through her G.C.S.E's. She was given a reader and scribe in her SAT's and managed to finish her exam papers. She has now moved up to top set english where she is coping (just)but is frightened to death of her exams as the school has said she does not need any help. My daughter has a history of incomplete exam papers, below average/average scores. Has a very low reading age. I feel like we are being let down by the education system and at the moment would really appreciate any advice on what to do next...! I am not a pushy parent, i only want what i think she is entitled to, and for her to finish her last 2yrs of secondary with her head held high knowing she tried her best and had the necessary support.

01/11/2008 19:13:51
Bean (Member)

Hi

My 2 sons are dyslexic and one has problems with visual stress (sometimes called Irlen syndrome) which causes him problems such as missing words and losing his place when reading, words appear to move and he does not like bright light. A vision test showed normal eye sight, he was given a colour overlay which helped a little but soon became bent and marked in his bag, He had several assessments at specialist centres and tried Irlen lenses but he didn't feel they were providing enough help. I am a special needs teacher and after 4yrs of searching for a solution finally discovered filtered lenses. The improvement has been dramatic. His reading comprehension has increased by 2 1/2 yrs in the 8mths he has been wearing the glasses. He now at last enjoys reading and his writing skills are improving I live in the north west and visit children at home/sch to provide assessments and glasses if you wish to contact a local practitioner let me know emorgan2@sky.com

17/10/2008 14:25:41
eileen

The Dyslexia association will have a list of Educational psychologists near you. I rang the five nearest to me and only one had an appointment free within 3 months so that was where we went.

The test that was done was a set of various timed exercises; these are well established standard tests which give factual results. The results are compared to what would be expected from a ''normal'' child of the same age. We were given a summary in layman terms and list of complicated results that other experts can interpret. I found a book in the library that explained the tests and the vocabulary used.

It is alot of money but for me it was the best investment I have ever made. That report changed everything. We then had the power of the disability law behind us so the school had to provide help, not much help but it was a start. I no longer felt like an over anxious Mum and had a list of positive things to do.

I would go for a high street free eye test to start with, tell them your concerns and see what they say. There are specialist optometrists, who may be worth contacting but I would wait until you see an educational psychologist. We were referred to a lady in Oxford doing research on using coloured lenses for dyslexic children.

03/10/2008 10:10:48
Catherine

This is so so kind of you, Catherine.

I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner; I checked back for a day or two, then left it till a few days ago. I understand dysTalk is pretty new?

I work and am sometimes home after bedtime. I like the idea of reading to him every night but the reality is that other things keep on cropping up. However your post has really shaken me up:- I've got to get more pro - active on this.

I looked up the local dyslexia association and they're sending me some material. The lady there also repeated your point about acting fast.

I have two questions but please don't feel you have to answer. Where do I find a good educational psychologist? From asking at the association, it seems an awful amount of money to pay if there not up to it. And do I need a specifically dyslexia-friendly eye check, or can it just be done at Boots?

Once again thank you so much for your help,

D

26/09/2008 20:06:50
Dimple

Have you had his eyes professionally tested. You can not rely on a school test.

Read to him to encourage a love of books, I would stick to books with pictures, Pokemon books (heavy going when you are tired), Tin tin - do lots of accents etc.

When he reads if he doesn't know a word just read it for him. Don't make him spell it out just keep the flow going.

Do not rely on the school sorting him out. See his teacher and discuss your worries ask for him to be assessed for special needs. If the school have already assessed him don't put all your trust in those findings. Trust your instincts, you know him best.

Don't let the worry of looking like an over anxious parent put you off getting to the bottom of his problem.

If you go on the dyslexia association website you may find a contact locally to speak to who may be able to give you good advice. You need to decide whether or not to have him privately assessed by an educational psychologist. It is going to hurt your pocket but will be money well spent. Your local library will also have useful books on dyslexia.

At 10 if he has a learning difficulty you can nip lots of potential problems in the bud. Leave it much later and he may just switch off to school and become very despondent. Maybe that has already started to happen. You say he hates school and has put on weight. Sounds to me like he is struggling and you are worrying, take action and you will feel better.

Good luck

C

12/09/2008 13:42:06
Catherine

My ten-yr old son has a learning difficulty I think. He seems to have been left behind by his class, he HATES reading, and he doesn't enjoy school any more - probably as a result.

When he writes, he pushes down on his pencil so hard that it hurts and his hand goes red, and he sometimes cries when asked to write. This is the reason why I think he might have a learning difficulty.

He's also put on a bit of weight recently, he doesn't enjoy sports.

Does anyone have any ideas about where to go next? Is it just a motivation problem, do you think - do I need to fire him up a bit? Or are there people I can see? He's only 10, maybe his school will sort him out, but I'm really worried about him.

Thanks for any help at all,

D

05/09/2008 01:20:50
Dimple