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MichelleW
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Anyone else dealing with this? At the High School level? I need some help.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Kathryn
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Have you been to the Heart of Reading yahoo group?
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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MichelleW
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No, I've never heard of it. How do I find them? Do you have any experience with them?
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Michelle
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Kathryn
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I'm not sure how I found them to be honest. Could have been someone from here or just all my searching on the web!  I joined a few months back and found it quite helpful. You should be able to go here to read about it and see if it fits your needs and join up.
Yahoo Heart of Reading Group
I also just went to this site LearningAbledKids this evening as well but haven't done a lot of reading as I'm growing bleary-eyed this time of night now.
Hope you find some resources there. I know how exhausting it is.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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knowloveserve
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This might interest you:
The Dyslexic Advantage
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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montessori_lori
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We've recently discovered that my 7-year-old daughter is dyslexic. I've been reading everything I can find and scouring the internet for resources.
On one website, I saw a recommendation for an online software reading program called Easyread. We tried the sample lesson and loved it, so we signed up and my daughter has been doing it for about a month. Her progress has been amazing.
While the program is geared for younger child (under 10), it can still be used successfully by older kids as well.
It is very focused on phonics and having the child really "get inside" words and decode them fluently. I don't know what we'd be doing without Easyread, since the Montessori materials that I used so successfully with my son were not working at all for my daughter.
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Kathryn
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I found another great website with tools to implement as well as more understanding. There's even a neat poem about half way down that really opens my eyes to just how difficult a struggle this can be:
Prescription for Success
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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montessori_lori
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Kathryn, that site is interesting. There's good information about what dyslexia is, and its history, but the suggestions for working with dyslexics are outdated. They're all about coping with or "working around" the problem rather than dealing with it head on.
Today, there are programs that can re-wire the dyslexic child's brain so that they can read fluently. When that is accomplished, there's no need for coping mechanisms. That site mentions that the brain can be re-wired, yet still gives suggestions that would only be necessary if the brain didn't re-wire itself. It's confusing.
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Kathryn
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I think that might be a philosophical difference there. From everything I've ever read, dyslexia cannot be "cured". The brain cannot be "rewired" to change a dyslexics brain to think like non-dyslexics therefore coping mechanisms are still needed. I do agree there are plenty of programs that address making new pathways but as soon as an error is made, that new pathway can be "erased" so to speak.
I suppose much of this can be applied depending on the severity of dyslexia any given person has as well as their own iq level, memory bank and attention issues. When adding in some of these other factors that co-exist quite frequently with dyslexia, I cannot discount much of what the site offers esp. since it's agreeable with most of the other information I have read.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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MichelleW
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I am definitely looking for "work around" options. We having been working diligently on this for 8 years, it is time for "work around" solutions.
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Michelle
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lapazfarm
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The book that Ellie linked, The Dyslexic Advantage, has by far the very best, most helpful and encouraging information I've read on dyslexia. It discusses the actual brain differences that lead to both struggles and advantages of dyslexic thinking. Plus, it gives numerous insightful strategies to not only cope with the struggles, but to take advantage of the exceptional gifts many dyslexics possess. I found it very encouraging.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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MichelleW
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I am in the middle of "The Dyslexic Advantage." I think I would have found it more encouraging years ago, but I will continue to work through it.
Here is my scenario: last year (in 7th grade) he was tested through the public school system. They found that while he had a significant weakness in every area (we are working with a 30 point learning disability-6 points is severe), he tested *at grade level in every subject.* That is because I didn't want him to fall behind in the subjects I knew he could do. I read history, science and math to him. I took dictation so that he could practice composing in his head. He excels in grammar if the question is asked orally. He has an amazing vocabulary, he remembers everything I've ever read to him, and he can solve math problems in his head.
Suddenly, this year (and looking ahead) the material is significantly more wordy. The burden on me has increased exponentially. I can't read everything to him and still pay attention to my other children and Life. Trying to find the books we need on tape has proven difficult. I spend hours trying to find other texts that can be substituted that *are* on tape. And all this while, I realize I have done him a disservice. He leans on me too much. When I read to him, he interrupts and we discuss. When he listens to books on tape he cannot ask clarifying questions. He struggles to make connections.
Math now has too many steps for even he to hold in his head. Writing is so hard for him and yet, he needs to write in order to solve math at his current level. Right now we are standing still in this subject.
Even though science is intuitive for him, we have not figured out how to navigate it successfully this year. There is so much new vocabulary for him to hold in his head. When I buddy him with his siblings for labs (so that they can read and write for him), he is so bored with their slow pace (during the experimental phase) that he "drops out" and then can't follow when we come to the debriefing part.
He is an amazing artist, but such a perfectionist that he hates art. It is too open-ended for him. I finally found someone who can teach him metal arts. She is a silversmith. He can walk to her house and goes about twice a week. He loves that and remembers everything she says.
We are, of course, still working on reading. However, we have reached this crisis point. I live in a constant state of panic that I can't help him. He is so frustrated that his behavior is disrespectful and truly horrendous.
Blind people become productive and independent members of society. There has to be a way for him to function, NO I want Life for him. There has to be a way for him to Live a Beautiful Life.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Kathryn
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Michelle,
I don't have any real advice per se but your post caused me to think of how babies and toddlers (and older kids to) "regress" and become more clingy when they're about to leap forward into something new. I think in some way with the kids that need this extra care, it's more pronounced. Maybe that's the point you and he are. Could it be that the material is such a leap from his previous level that he's really struggling to find his place and make it all work therefore he's regressing and clinging to you like a life preserver/his safety net? Could he be lashing out because he hasn't found this new comfort zone yet? Do you see a cycle like this in his behavior where when things are moving more smoothly and the work is clicking, he's calmer?
My DS is 3 years younger and I have some of the same thoughts as you (saw your prayer post) so I think I know the depth of struggles you face and your concerns and worries for the future. This year I've stopped that. I'm focusing on RIGHT NOW. We are doing a new reading program and making modifications that are working. I am now ok that he's working at HIS level. Don't get me wrong...I do push but it's a very fine line when I allow the expecations of where he's SUPPOSED to be based on his chronological age and where, in my heart, I know he can actually work. The intense frustration from us both has diminished greatly.
Lots of prayer. I hope the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart to help your son.
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Kathryn in TX
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Kathryn
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And for another blog site someone referred to recently. Her child isn't as old I don't think but he sounds very bright like your son but learns audibly:
Counter Cultural School
And a website she set up for audio content learning for him. Lots of freebies or only $15/year for all the audios. Just like you, she realized at this level she couldn't read everything to him. The Audio School
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Kathryn in TX
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lapazfarm
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MichelleW wrote:
Blind people become productive and independent members of society. There has to be a way for him to function, NO I want Life for him. There has to be a way for him to Live a Beautiful Life. |
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I hear you. I look at my daughter and I often wonder the same thing. We just have to keep plugging along, doing what we can, and trusting that God has a plan for these beautiful children, and it is a perfect plan, whatever it may be.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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montessori_lori
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Michelle, what you've shared is heartbreaking. I really feel for you. You have obviously helped your son in every way possible.
It is true that "Once dyslexic, always dyslexic". I won't dispute that, and I understand that this is something that my daughter will live with her whole life.
However...(and this is a big however), there is more known now about dyslexia and the brain than ever before. There are programs, like Orton-Gillingham and the computer program my daughter is using, Easyread, that do re-wire the dyslexic child's brain (obviously, the younger they start, the better) to the point where they are reading at grade level and do not need work-arounds like audio books, extra time for tests, etc.
This field is changing so rapidly that even a website a few years old will have outdated info. So it is very necessary to make sure you're getting the best info from the best places.
Michelle, I recommend you start here: Bright Solutions. On Monday night, I attended a seminar by the woman, Susan Barton, who runs this site. It was mind-blowing. She knows so much about dyslexia. Her site has videos, links, helpful articles, etc. and it is all current and science-based.
If you have already tried an Orton-Gillingham based program (that's what Susan specializes in) and did not find it to work, I urge you to check out Easyread. They have a free lesson to try online; just have your son try it. This program is working miracles for kids like your son and my daughter.
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elynnmom
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Hi Michelle,
I know this post is from a while ago, but I just came across it from a site search for something else and wanted to add a note about where to look in the Brightsolutions.us website for accomodations, and most importantly technology tools designed especially for people with dyslexia, in case your still looking for assistance with this. So, on the website, go to the "How to Get Help" tab, then "Classroom Accomodations," and "Technology tools." AMong the tools, I've heard good things about DragonNaturallySpeaking and Learning Ally, but don't have any experience with them personally.
-Elynn
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elynnmom
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Another small thing, regarding writing math problems, I've found dry erase boards to be helpful for students who don't like to write - smoother and less pressure needed.
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danivdp
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Have you looked into Bookshare? It's a text to speech program that is free for disabled people. I've been playing with it for my son, who is 9yo and dyslexic and having a hard time reading. I'm not totally sold, but I was looking more for a Librivox/audiobooks type thing that had copyrighted titles.
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mom3aut1not
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Michelle,
One thing that helped one of my disabled (autistic) kids was using dvd courses from The Great Courses (I think that's what they are called now). She could listen to the lectures as often as needed, and it required no reading. She did have reading to do elsewhere as well as hands on materials, but theses courses were a real blessing. I only wish I had used some of them sooner. Fwiw, she did not read fluently until 6th grade and continued to have trouble for some years after. Another thing that helped her was reading on the computer -- higher contrast helps her read more easily. She still prefers reading on the computer to actual books.
HTH.
In Christ,
Deborah
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Deborah
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4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: Severe/Profound Dyslexia
