dyslexia PENNY BRIDGE CE ACADEMY Look SMART Work and Play SMART Be SMART

What is Dyslexia? Specific Learning Difficulty The most common special educational need found in schools. It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, as there are no clear cut off points. 10% of the population show some aspects of dyslexia.

Definition of Dyslexia BDA Dyslexia is a learning difference which can occur at any level of intellectual ability. It can cause difficulties in one or more of the following areas: spoken language reading writing maths

Characteristics often seen are: weaknesses in auditory perception skills weaknesses in visual perception skills slower speed of processing poor working memory problems with personal organisation difficulty with sequencing .

Strengths of Dyslexic People Creative Thinking Musical Dramatic Good at sport Imaginative Artistic Sociable Good at Design Talkative Good at making things

Let us know what your child is good at. If a pupil finds literacy challenging it’s really important that we know about their strengths and interests.

Famous Dyslexics

What are we like? Clumsy ‘I can trip over my own feet’. Disorganised Easily distracted Hard to concentrate Hard to do more than one thing at a time I get confused Forgetful

Why are some people dyslexic? .

Biological Differences - genetic The Brain Working Memory Prefrontal lobe Cerebellum The cerebellum affects the speed of information processing and the ability to reflect on the sounds in words. Biological Differences - genetic Chromosomes 1 6 15

LEFT BRAIN RIGHT BRAIN Patterns, pictures and graphs Words and symbols Rhythm Learning from whole to parts Difficulty concentrating Lateral/divergent thinker Good imagination Colour Daydream Words and symbols Numbers Sequence Learn from part to whole Analyse Able to concentrate Like lists LEFT BRAIN RIGHT BRAIN

Visual Difficulties: ‘Sometimes my eyes go funny and I can’t see them – it looks like they are going wavy and they get mixed up and small words look like black things with white in between’. ‘The words are like bumper cars’.

‘My mind is like spaghetti junction’. ‘I wish people were like robots and you could plug a printer in your head so you can print out what’s in your head.’

How do we feel? Embarrassed Cross Frustrated Dumb Slow Everybody else is better than you Embarrassed Anxious Cross Frustrated Dumb Slow A

Then what happens? Take it out on my friends and family Chew pen Have a go at everyone Just want to sit there don’t want to do nothing I’m stubborn Shout and misbehave Bite my nails

Memory We Remember: 10% of what we read 20% of what we hear 30% of what we see 50% of what we see and hear 70% of what we discuss with others 80% of personal experience – what we do 90% of what we TEACH someone else Get your children to teach you what they have learnt.

What can you do to support your child ?

Organising and Sequencing Have week by week calendar on wall – shade in school holidays and weekends in colour – cross days off one at a time – plot when Home Learning has to be handed in etc. Have school timetable on wall. Colour code PE lessons etc so they know when they have to have kit etc

Have box at home for any school books (which are colour coded) and equipment Have tick list on wall of all equipment – glasses, pens etc, organiser, PE equipment. If possible, have a computer or i-pad

Play Memory Games eg Kim’s game (things on a tray) My Grandma went shopping Brain Box Trump Cards Play Spelling Games I spy Alphabet games Phonic Games …

Syllable Recognition and Counting. PHONIC GAMES Syllable Recognition and Counting. How many syllables in……. Names, superheroes ? Clapping; jumping (kinaesthetic) Robot talk (oral) Lotto (visual) Syllable rhythms (music) Hand under chin (mouth opens each time vowel sounded)

Graphemes & The Shape of Words right

Mnemonics Support your child in finding funny ways to remember how to spell words. Use pictures and rhymes. Build up a pack of mnemonic cards.

Learning Spellings Roll the die – if it lands on: Think of a picture to represent the word. Draw a mnemonic to help spell the word. Spell out word using letter names. Write word in air with finger. Write word down on paper. Close eyes and imagine the word in your head.

Fed up with reading? Play games phonic games Read to younger siblings. Read factual books (often have lots of pictures about something really interested in). Make own books using word processing. Read comics, magazines, newspapers, internet Look up what’s on TV in a magazine or newspaper. Play literacy games on the computer. Read text found throughout the home – instructions on food boxes etc. Listen to books on CDs.

If possible your child should have access to a computer or I pad Using technology If possible your child should have access to a computer or I pad Develop their literacy skills Free games & aps available on line Bug Club & Maths Club Developing key board skills is vital Nessy fingers Sebran

HELPING TO BUILD INDEPENDENCE Key word lists Key word place mat Mnemonic cards Word books Give it a Try pads Spell checkers Ace Dictionary Word processing Dyslexia Pack

Maths Support Ensure your child has access to objects and maths equipment to handle when doing Maths Home Learning eg Bead strings; objects for counting; 2d & 3D shapes; number facts flip book; number lines; 100 square Help your child to learn to use a blank number line.

Use the same sequence to learn all number facts… LEARNING NUMBER FACTS Use the same sequence to learn all number facts…

DON’T ALLOW IT TO BECOME A BATTLE! Home Learning Ensure it is readable and understood by your son or daughter. Let us know if it is too easy or too hard for your son or daughter. Allow them to record it in different ways eg word-processing, drawing, you scribing. Find out how long your child should be spending on their home learning; Indicate when they have completed the set time for home learning. DON’T ALLOW IT TO BECOME A BATTLE!

Parent Champions Empowering Parents and Carers The Parent Champion Initiative is a National project created by the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust. It aims to empower and inform parents and carers so that they have the confidence to make the best choices for their children. Parent Champions is a network of parents and carers of children and young people with dyslexia, who are passionate about helping others in their local community with dyslexia. They are supported by the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust in accessing reliable information and resources. Why not become a Parent Champion for Dyslexia? Log on to http://www.parentchampions.org.uk/about-us/parent-champions-partners/

Who can You go to for help? Jill Armstrong – Assistant Head Teacher SEND Coordinator / Dyslexia Advisor Serene Yusuf – STA / Dyslexia issues Jane Thedham – Teacher ……..? British Dyslexia Association www.bdadyslexia.org.uk 0118 966 8271 Action Dyslexia www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk 01784 222300 www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk http://www.parentchampions.org.uk/about-us/parent-champions-partners/