Edge Learning & Teaching Group Outline project shape – need to agree this is good shape – fix dates today Barriers To Learning

Dyslexia

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Dyspraxia

Aspergers’ Syndrome

ADHD / ADD

Some pupils display more than 1 specific learning disorder – everyone wants Einstein!

Barriers to Learning The barriers to learning faced by pupils differ from individual to individual and often from day to day. Knowledge of their difficulties will help us to appreciate their learning needs. Typical barriers that are recognised are : visual impairment deafness specific learning difficulties health difficulties mobility, dexterity and chronic pain.

What is Dyspraxia? Praxis comes from the Greek word meaning to do. 3 abilities are required for effective praxis: these are the abilities to conceptualise, organise and execute sequences of unfamiliar actions. If one or more of these is impaired then dyspraxia may result. Children dyspraxics are often referred to as having “clumsy child syndrome” because of their tendency to bump into things and they often have trouble with sport. 5 - 10% of the population are affected meaning that there may well be at least 1 dyspraxic pupil in a mainstream class of 30.

Typical Dyspraxic Features Poorly presented work Poor dressing skills / scruffy / grubby but can’t see it Bag full of rubbish Writing is laborious Badly organised Messy eater No books / homework Can’t remember instructions Slow to get changed for / after PE

What is Dyslexia? Lexis refers to language. This can refer to reading, writing, spelling and phonological problems which result in difficulties acquiring new language. Another typical is a discrepancy between intelligence and specific skills such as organisation, short term memory and certain information-processing abilities. Often verbal expression is favoured over written. Possibly 10% of people are dyslexic, of these 6% are mildly or moderately affected, 4% severely so. This may affect 2 or 3 pupils in a class of 30.

What difficulties might a Dyslexic Pupil have? Poorly presented work I may give great verbal answers that show good understanding Poor spellings Writing is laborious / slow to complete work Badly organised No books / homework I may try to hide my embarrassment with bad behaviour Can’t remember words from the board / poor copying skills

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 broad areas of ASD: Communication disorders, social difficulties and obsessions. Students may be very literal (e.g. confused by ‘pull your socks up’); may assume speaker knows because listener knows; may need pictorial clues to manage day/lesson; may speak in monotonous voice and sound rude. Students may struggle to understand social rules and body language and may need plenty of personal space. Pupil may find eye contact very stressful . When Bill Gates first got to try out a computer he immediately became inseparable from it and would stay in the computer room all day and night and he used up the school’s whole year of computer time allocation in just 3 weeks!

Aspergers’ Syndrome I may be very successful academically but lost socially I don’t like noisy, cluttered or brightly lit environments So I need to be taught how to take turns and helped into groups I have difficulty grasping meaning of conversations So please use direct language – I don’t understand hidden meanings So I may need to go out with a TA on occasions to work quietly. Perhaps allow me to express my feelings simply e.g. by using a number scale

ADD/ADHD Key feature of ADD is distractibility for ADHD add hyperactivity. Current understanding is that key chemical pathways are not working – these neurological disorders are linked in current research to smoking, drugs and alcohol use in families as well as excessive TV watching. Disorders treated with Ritalin and nowadays more slow-release drugs. Recommended strategies include: always get the first touch right (smile, positive greeting, warm welcome). Praise for doing the right thing. Give pupils a job (clean board, collect books, take message, etc.)

Thomas Edison inventor "My teachers say I'm addled... my father thought I was stupid, and I almost decided I was a dunce." "I haven't failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Edge Barriers to Learning Thanks to: Baskerville School, Victoria School, Hunters Hill Technology College.