[senco-forum] In response to Message 1, Senco-forum Digest, Vol 51, Issue 6

On the question of dyslexia remaining undetected as Suzanne rightly draws attention too?-- and having?visual and kinaesthetic styles of learning. I?am advising parents concerning a?constant stream of pupils transfering from primary to secondary -- where dyslexia?/ SpLD and related difficulites have been undetected. Or hidden / denied by schools / LAs in response to parents continuous?concerns and where their children?have been?floundering and failing to acheive even a reading age of 6 yrs old at Year 6/7 (bright / able children aged nearly 11? -- and over 5 years below average -- virtually unable to read, write or express or carry out very basic numerical operations). It remains a running scandal of immense proportions.

?

I have just come across a severely dyslexic young person who is in severe deficit in both auditory and visual skills. But is very bright and a terrific 'natural discovery learner' -- i.e., has a kinaesthetic learning style. But no programmes?were specified in the young persons statement or strategiesoutlined in past?IEPs to accomodate this style of learning -- although?this learning style?had been identified by school and psychologist -- ?and indicated in the statement.

?

Do schools aim to accomodate kinaesthetic learning styles -- other than minimal basic inclusion in 'multisensory' strategies??These adaptations had not been been made to this young persons tuition for?basic skills -- and the same approaches as for non-dyslexic pupils had been repeated and forced on this child -- despite repeated failure in front of the whole class of?the young persons peers for over 5 yers -- leading to such despair and low self-esteem that suicidal tendencies and complete school refusal has become the situation for this tortured? young person. What's going on here -- any advice for these parents????

-----Original Message-----

From: Suzanne Mallabone 

To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk

Sent: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 11:31 pm

Subject: [senco-forum] In response to Message 1, Senco-forum Digest, Vol 51, Issue 6

Barbara,    I just wanted to add that you are completely right in  thinking Dyslexia and other specific learning  difficulties are still being undetected in schools,  and even Universities.    I know this from my own personal experience. I  undertook my Law Degree and managed to obtain a 2.1,  but had to do enormous amount of work far greater than  my peers to achieve this. I only discovered i was  dyslexic in my last month of my time at my second  university undertaking the Bar Vocational Course, when  i failed an exam as i was studying for it using my  auditory memory, which is very poor compared to my  Visual and Kinethetic, which fortunately are  excellent. I did not know this at the time.    I believe i may have created my own coping strategies  without even realising.    There was always a huge difference in my results from  coursework or exams throughout my school life. This  maybe something to look out for. When i say huge, an  example is achieving a 1st in Coursework and 3rds in  exams!    I achieved good marks academically 2 A*s, 7 Bs and C  at GCSE. I felt overwhelmed at GCSE level doing 10  subjects, i guess from 'seeing the bigger picture' and  felt i achieved far less than my potential, i even  cried on results day! I got very distracted in my  English Exam by an invigilator walking up and down  behind me, and failed it as a result, but because i  got A*s for speaking and my coursework i averaged a B  overall. I did tell my English teacher this at the  time, but it fell on deaf ears.    I obtained 3 A grades at A-level, but it came at a  cost. I by no means had a healthy work life balance. I  used to come straight home from school sleep and then  do homework until 9 - 10 at night and always worked at  the weekends. I got ill a lot as a result of my hard  work, and still do to this day (I am now 25). I guess  i was just naturally driven and my parents never had  to tell me to do my homework and never helped me.    I always remember repeatedly trying to communicate  with my teachers that something was wrong, but nobody  would listen as i was doing well academically. I would  tell them, .'..but you don't understand i am having to  work so hard to achieve these results'. I was not  heard.    I never had time for many extra-curricular activities.  I hated PE, i think i am also dyspraxic.    I actually believe i have dyscalculia, not dyslexia,  but after being given the diagnosis of Dyslexia i did  not have an opportunity to speak to anyone about the  report. I did not want to go back to Uni to discuss it  with them as they had already told me that if i had  dyslexia this would undermine my confidence! I  retorted that it make me understand my strengths and  weaknesses and play to my strengths.     Am I right in thinking there is not a recognised  Dycalculia test?    I guess i am writing this because Teachers need to be  aware that people like me are common, and although i  doubt i would have needed that much extra support at  school, i never understood why i was different, and  really would have appreciated support with studying,  using my strengths my visual and kinesthetic memory. I  appreciate teaching is difficult, but please try and  listen when students tell you they think they have a  problem, even if their performance indicates to the  contrary.    My best friend who is a journalist, similarly has only  recently discovered she is dyslexic too, she is also  25 and went to Uni.    I have set up the Nottingham Dyslexia Support Group  and i am actively involved with the Nottingham  Dyslexia Association. They are currently supporting  quite a few University students who only recently  discovered they are dyslexic.    This forum has been extremely helpful. My mum is quite  badly dyslexic and it has provided me with ideas of  ways i can teach her in the future. It is now my  intention to re-train as a teacher and then become a  SENCO.    I hope this is useful and relevant to your  discussions.    Thank you.    Suzanne Mallabone    Suzanne Mallabone    http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com" title="Xtraordinary People">http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com/media/banners/XP-large-banner.jpg"   alt="Xtraordinary People" />            __________________________________________________________  Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com      

________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever.  Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003