Dyslexia

 

Do you know what Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg and Albert Einstein have in common?

You, or you may child, may also be in the same group.

They had Dyslexia.

 

Dyslexia is a lifelong and inherited condition that has a neurological cause and affects 10-15% of our population. A much as educators try to use ‘tried and true’ methods to help a child learn to read, those who are afflicted with it will still struggle.

Dyslexia IS NOT an intellectual disability. In fact, many of those affected with it are gifted.

It is not just about writing words or letters backwards. Dyslexics have significant trouble in writing, reading and spelling.

Although Dyslexia cannot be cured, it CAN be treated.

It is sad that there are some ‘experts’ who don’t believe that dyslexia exists. Poor teaching, disruptive behaviour in students, laziness, have all been used as reasons for why some children have difficulty in reading, writing and spelling.

Primary symptoms of Dyslexia can include:

     * a lack of fluency when reading

     * Poor spelling

     * Reading slowly with many mistakes

     * difficulty in reading single words (think flash cards/spelling lists)

     * Difficulty learning the letter sounds for reading and spelling

BUT, some individuals with Dyslexia may display the following strengths:

     * Insightful thinking

     * Both creative and analytical thinking processes

     * Being able to see the big picture

     * Able to discover different strategies

     * an inquiring mind

     * Able to comprehend new ideas

     * 3-D construction

Dyslexia is normally noticed during the early years of schooling, when despite having all the skills, they are still displaying an unexplained difficulty in reading.

Of course, when I was at school (some decades ago) those children were probably considered ‘naughty’ or ‘slow’. Nowadays, the teachers have a lot more information and support strategies to be able to work with parents and schools to identify dyslexia and put in place correct strategies.

Many children with dyslexia have to work much harder to remember things they have learnt in the classroom. In today’s class, it is hard enough for the children to remember and process what we expect them to already, without being impended by a learning difference.

If a child is not identified early enough, other effects can include low self esteem, attentional difficulties, frustration and a loss of motivation for learning.

What do you do as a parent? Trust your gut instincts. Don’t listen to someone say they’ll grow out of it, or they just aren’t paying attention. If you genuinely feel there is a concern, speak up. And don’t stop speaking up about it until you find the answer.

And, if someone wants to charge you for screening your child for dyslexia, may I suggest you speak to your school first. The Australia Dyslexia Association provides screening for a small cost, and there are certain organisations which provide a free on line screening test.

I am not in any way affiliated with any organisation and I won’t be recommending any either as I have not used them myself. However, your school, the school counsellor, and your medical doctor all have avenues open to them to organise testing. This may not be widely advertised, but as a teacher, I know these are available.

If your child is in secondary school and either in, or heading towards their senior years, I would suggest talking to the school about what special accommodations can be made for your child. Senior school and external exams are hard enough without placing additional burdens on those with dyslexia.

I had my left leg in plaster when I did the HSC a million years ago, I didn’t receive any extra marks or anything and I didn’t expect them. But I was given 10 minutes extra so that I could ensure I was comfortable whilst sitting my exams.

And if your child who has dyslexia  is showing extraordinary signs of stress with upcoming exams or added senior school pressures, I would also gently suggest an Educational Psychologist MAY help. Again, ask your school for help – they have a duty of care to ensure ALL needs of ALL students are met.

For further information, you may like to visit:

http://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/

http://dyslexiasupportservices.com.au/

http://www.dyslexia-australia.com.au/

Dyslexia is NOT a disability.

Dyslexia is a specific learning difference.

Parents as Partners Part 2

If you missed Part 1, click here!

I wrote Part 1 last weekend and was then very interested to read another article elsewhere on Monday morning basically remonstrating schools and how much they ask parents to be involved.

After initially getting my ‘back up’ about it, I realised that this was written by a parent of a six year old, who has only just started school. I felt, and this is only my point of view, that the article was unfair. I’m sure they would disagree with mine, that’s ok as that’s their point of view.

Anyway, Part 1 was probably a bit more directed towards the early and primary years of schooling where parents are probably encouraged/invited/welcomed more into the school. In Part 2, my focus will be more on High School but of course take whatever you want from it for any part of the schooling process.

My two children are both now in high school. I remember when my daughter started in Year 7 a parent said to me that I would never enter the school and that my years as an ‘involved’ parent were over.

This has always stayed in my head and I have thought a lot about it. I am still an involved parent. As I said in Part 1, I have high expectations of my children, but I also have high expectations of those involved in their education process (and yes, I have high expectations of myself too!).

One way I am involved is that I always attend parent teacher interviews. At the high school mine attend, we have parent teacher interviews three times a year. After term 1 when an interim report comes out, at the start of term 3 when the mid year report is received and at the end of the year. Often, there is a note as to whether the teacher’s request an interview or not but I make appointments anyway. We are only given a 5 minute slot, but it is amazing what can be discussed in five minutes. If I need to have longer, I can make an alternative appointment to see this teacher.

I have had both parents and even their teachers ask me why I go to these if I haven’t received a request to attend. Because I want to be involved, and I want my kids to know I am involved in their learning and I want their teachers to know I am an involved and concerned parent.

As mentioned, I have high expectations of those around me and I have high expectations of those involved in my children’s education. I admit, the time when I sat through a 5 minute interview listening to a teacher talk about someone who obviously wasn’t my son (even though he was sitting there) did cause me great concern and I would not have known that if I didn’t attend.

Teachers do need to be held accountable, as do parents and do students. I find that the teachers who discuss ways that my children can improve or extend themselves are the ones who welcome parent involvement. So it took two hours on a cold miserable night last week for me to attend parent teacher interviews as a parent. But I now know where they are up to, I can ask them about certain parts of their schooling, and their teachers know I am involved in the education process.

 

Again, email is a perfectly feasible form of communication. I can easily email the teachers if I am concerned about anything. My children often email their teachers with a question or a query about part of their learning – this is an excellent process and encourages positive communication.

I have also been involved in committees and helped run fetes. This does take an inordinate amount of work, but with the right people (and a glass of wine) we pulled it off. Successfully. Now I know not everyone has the inclination to do this – that’s fine. But go to a function or an event. Even if it’s for 10 minutes. Put yourselves out there when you can. One size doesn’t fit all.

And continue your own education. No, I don’t mean that you have to enrol in university and complete a PHD unless you really want to. Learn anything. Hell, I learnt how to create a blog! Myself (still got a long way to go!).

Help your children learn – ensure they get enough sleep, enough exercise, time away from studies, nutritious food, and time to socialise with friends.

Learning is a lifelong process. It doesn’t stop when we leave the physical confines of an educational institution. It continues throughout our life. In various forms.

Embrace it. Welcome it. Enjoy it.

If your children see you enjoying it, they may just realise that their school days are some of their best days.

And be involved!

 

Are you involved in your child’s education?

Parents as Partners Part 1

 

Just about every parent I have ever met, as a teacher or as a parent myself, want the best for their children.

And by the ‘best’ I also mean the best education.

And by the best education, I don’t mean you have to send them to the most expensive school, nor provide them with the latest and greatest in technology, but rather it means by being involved.

And by being involved, it doesn’t mean being in the classroom every day. Of every week. Of every month.

I am a working parent. I have also been a single working parent since my daughter was half way through Year 1 and my son had not even started ‘big school’ yet. And in that time, I haven’t always worked as a teacher (my kids are now in Years 10 and 8, so I have been doing it on my own for a while now).

I know just how difficult it is to ‘be involved’ in your child’s schooling on a physical level. In my years in the classroom as a teacher, and as a parent, there are always going to be the parent’s who can come in and listen to the reading, run the P and C, organise the school concert, run the canteen, and many more important things that schools really rely on parental involvement to ensure those needs are met.

Confession – I have never done canteen duty. I was once rostered on on a rare day off, my son got sick and I couldn’t do it. I have never been able to since as I have always worked.

But I am not talking about that today. I am talking about being ‘involved’ in what your kids are doing.

Children perform better in school and life when there is some type of parental involvement. And this starts from before they even get to school.

 

By reading to them, having puzzles, lego (this is an absolute winner and will be written about in more detail soon), art and craft supplies (no, I don’t mean spending a fortune – go to the $2 shop, or save toilet paper rolls, egg cartons etc), lots of books, and interaction with adults as well as other kids can help to set our little ones up for life long learning.

Visit the library, spend time on the computer exploring topics of interest (this will be explained in more detail soon for some ideal sites), go to the zoo, the beach, the park, the supermarket (not when either of you are tired or hungry though!). All these places provide opportunities for learning.

Once your little darling’s are in school, support them. I know it can be hard with young ones, who might come home tired, you might have been at work or have toddlers/babies or worse – teenagers – but by talking to your children about their day, you are involved. My son rarely used to tell me anything about his school day. I would ask different questions when I picked him up form after school care, but he just didn’t respond. But, when I was cooking dinner, or in his younger years when I would read him a story at night, he would then open up about what he had done. Even now as a high schooler, I don’t badger him. I always ask him how his day was, and I find that sitting eating dinner is when he feels most comfortable to share his day (or when I am about to climb into bed exhausted – then he shares!).

Stay in touch with the teacher. Please don’t hassle them on the way into the classroom but in these modern days most teachers would happily supply an email for you to make contact with the. I have done it as a teacher and do it as a parent – but make it meaningful communication – email is a feasible method of communication but not as a ‘weapon’!

Talk to your children about their homework. I still remember doing my homework at the kitchen table while Mum was cooking dinner when I was in primary school. Take an interest. Homework can be a hot topic but if your child is given it, find out what they are doing.

Make sure your children get to school on time. This is working as partners with your school. I have taught so many children who consistently arrive 10-20-30 minutes late a few days a week. It all adds up and by the end of the year, you will be shocked at how much time they have missed. Valuable time. I know that there are exceptions, every one understands this, but instill in your children the importance of being on time.

 

Have high and realistic expectations for your children and talk to them about this. Ok, not everyone is going to grow up and become a doctor, or a nuclear physicist, or an astronaut, but don’t ‘dumb don’ what your kids can achieve. I have high expectations for my children. That doesn’t mean I expect them to achieve 100% in every piece of work in every subject, but I know what they are capable of. To me, it’s about effort. And I am exactly the same with any children I teach. Only recently I had a little girl in a class constantly tell me she was dumb and she couldn’t do anything. No matter what we were doing, she would always tell me she couldn’t do it. So, we sat down and I told her she wasn’t allowed to say those words to me any more. That she now had to tell me if she ‘didn’t understand’ something, or if she was ‘having trouble with something’. And that is exactly what she now says to me. But she also has a bit more of a ‘go’ with things now. And that is a win win in my eyes.

The majority of the tips here are for younger or primary aged students. Some of the tips are just as appropriate for high school and senior students, but in Part 2, I will focus more on the high school’s and how parents can remain involved.

 

How are you involved in your children’s education?

 

Exam Preparation

Senior School students are soon to be preparing for major exams.  These exams can be a source of unease, anxiousness and a whole lot of other adjectives.

 

However, it doesn’t have to be the scary ride many believe it is.

With some gentle routines put in place, and lots of support, our young adults CAN get through this and come out relatively unscathed.

So, in the interest of family harmony  here are some tips which may help:

1. Enough sleep – if your child has left it to the night before the exam to start studying, it is pretty much too late. Ensure they get enough sleep each and every night. A tired brain cannot function.

2. Good nutrition – although this is important in every day living, this is one of those times that we really need to discourage those late night Macca’s runs! Having nutritious wholesome meals, with fresh fruit and vegies and plenty of protein and carbohydrates, will help them maintain the pace needed. And lots of water!

3. Reduce stress– I know – easier said than done. But, we need to ensure our kids are getting some physical activity EACH day – go for a run/walk/swim/bike ride/gym – anything. And personally, I believe being outside in the sun doing this helps even more. If the physical activity is inside, make sure they also get out in the sun each and every day.

4. Socialise – no, I don’t mean they go out to party every night. But neither should they be stuck inside 24/7 studying. Encourage them to catch up with friends every now and again, and try not to talk too much about studies whilst socialising.

 

 

 

5. Keep other interests – again, this doesn’t mean lose focus on study but by also keeping their other interests alive – be it music, art, cultural, sporting – gives them a good balance.

6. Part Time Work – I know plenty of parents who discourage part time work for senior students. This is obviously an individual decision. Personally, my kids will be encouraged to continue with their part time jobs, but probably no more than 10 hours a week during this time. All work and no play……..

7. The End IS In Sight – Even I remember counting down. Days, hours, minutes. There IS life after senior exams.

8. Stay in contact with the school – many schools hold sessions for parents of senior school students about to enter this period. If you or your child are unsure about ANYTHING, contact the school/teacher/counsellor. Just because it is the countdown to the end of school life, doesn’t mean the school wipes its hands of your child. The school and its staff have a responsibility to your student – 99% of schools and staff want the best for your child. But they can’t help if they aren’t asked.

9 – PARENT/CARER PATIENCE – yes, this is a big one! Parents need lots of patience during this time (remember those toddler years – now triple it!). Parents can help by:

i.  Don’t panic – you know there is life after exams, don’t panic your kids

ii. Quiet area – provide a quiet, comfortable area for study, with good ventilation, good lighting, an adequate study table space, and free of distractions including television, mobile      phones, noise, younger siblings.

iii. Be supportive – they will explode over the little things. Help them overcome any overwhelming situations they may feel – leaving home or moving cities for work or tertiary study, feeling like they will fail, help them be realistic – not everyone wants/needs to go to university or tertiary education, encourage them to seek help from their teachers, encourage confidence, and don’t stress over the little things (dirty towels on the bathroom floor are the killer for me – I can put up with this in the short term!).

10. Hugs – don’t underestimate the importance of a hug. Telling them you love them, are proud of them, or a hug can do amazing things for them. For all of us!

 

 

So, to all students out there sitting the HSC, VCE, QCST, NTCE, SACE, TASCE, WACE – good luck.

 

And remember, breathe!

Exam Preparation

Senior School students are soon to be preparing for major exams.  These exams can be a source of unease, anxiousness and a whole lot of other adjectives.

 

However, it doesn’t have to be the scary ride many believe it is.

With some gentle routines put in place, and lots of support, our young adults CAN get through this and come out relatively unscathed.

So, in the interest of family harmony  here are some tips which may help:

1. Enough sleep – if your child has left it to the night before the exam to start studying, it is pretty much too late. Ensure they get enough sleep each and every night. A tired brain cannot function.

2. Good nutrition – although this is important in every day living, this is one of those times that we really need to discourage those late night Macca’s runs! Having nutritious wholesome meals, with fresh fruit and vegies and plenty of protein and carbohydrates, will help them maintain the pace needed. And lots of water!

3. Reduce stress– I know – easier said than done. But, we need to ensure our kids are getting some physical activity EACH day – go for a run/walk/swim/bike ride/gym – anything. And personally, I believe being outside in the sun doing this helps even more. If the physical activity is inside, make sure they also get out in the sun each and every day.

4. Socialise – no, I don’t mean they go out to party every night. But neither should they be stuck inside 24/7 studying. Encourage them to catch up with friends every now and again, and try not to talk too much about studies whilst socialising.

 

 

 

5. Keep other interests – again, this doesn’t mean lose focus on study but by also keeping their other interests alive – be it music, art, cultural, sporting – gives them a good balance.

6. Part Time Work – I know plenty of parents who discourage part time work for senior students. This is obviously an individual decision. Personally, my kids will be encouraged to continue with their part time jobs, but probably no more than 10 hours a week during this time. All work and no play……..

7. The End IS In Sight – Even I remember counting down. Days, hours, minutes. There IS life after senior exams.

8. Stay in contact with the school – many schools hold sessions for parents of senior school students about to enter this period. If you or your child are unsure about ANYTHING, contact the school/teacher/counsellor. Just because it is the countdown to the end of school life, doesn’t mean the school wipes its hands of your child. The school and its staff have a responsibility to your student – 99% of schools and staff want the best for your child. But they can’t help if they aren’t asked.

9 – PARENT/CARER PATIENCE – yes, this is a big one! Parents need lots of patience during this time (remember those toddler years – now triple it!). Parents can help by:

i.  Don’t panic – you know there is life after exams, don’t panic your kids

ii. Quiet area – provide a quiet, comfortable area for study, with good ventilation, good lighting, an adequate study table space, and free of distractions including television, mobile      phones, noise, younger siblings.

iii. Be supportive – they will explode over the little things. Help them overcome any overwhelming situations they may feel – leaving home or moving cities for work or tertiary study, feeling like they will fail, help them be realistic – not everyone wants/needs to go to university or tertiary education, encourage them to seek help from their teachers, encourage confidence, and don’t stress over the little things (dirty towels on the bathroom floor are the killer for me – I can put up with this in the short term!).

10. Hugs – don’t underestimate the importance of a hug. Telling them you love them, are proud of them, or a hug can do amazing things for them. For all of us!

 

 

So, to all students out there sitting the HSC, VCE, QCST, NTCE, SACE, TASCE, WACE – good luck.

 

And remember, breathe!

Road Safety Awareness

There was further distressing news overnight that yet another youngster has died after being hit by a car whilst running across the road in NSW.

Since the start of this year alone, seven children have died after being hit by some type of vehicle whilst running across the road.

And usually, this is through absolutely no fault of the driver. I know how fast little ones can run, and they are also incredibly impulsive.

If they see a friend across the street, or their ball flies out onto the road, or in the case of yesterday the little one was so keen to get to their after school activity they ran right across the road and in front of a car that was not speeding at all.

We all need a reminder. I don’t think we can remind our little ones (and our big ones) enough of the road rules.
The following information is from the Road Safety Transport NSW Government website. The information is relevant to everyone everywhere in every state.

‘Keep a careful watch

Children’s desire to explore can lead them into danger. Children are more likely to be injured close to home, often in their own street or driveway. Adults need to talk to children about road safety in ways they will understand, keeping messages simple and clear. Even at home, parents and carers need to watch young children carefully, as they can move quickly, especially when left unsupervised.

Whenever children are in a car, they should be safely buckled-up in child car seats that are correct for each child’s age and size. Authorised Restraint Fitting Stations offer expert help on fitting and adjusting child car seats.

While driving, adults can explain how child car seats and seatbelts keep us safe, why it is best to use the Safety Door (rear door closest to the kerb, footpath or gutter and away from the road) to get in and out of the car and other passenger safety messages. By holding their hands when walking and teaching them safe behaviour, you can protect them from danger and help them become safer pedestrians.

Setting family rules about playing safely, away from footpaths and driveways can help keep them out of harm. Songs and Rhymes For Young Children uses music to deliver road safety messages.

Adults need to make sure children hold a grown-up’s hand, wear a bike helmet, or wear a seatbelt, even though they may resist.

Kids & Traffic has more information on childhood road safety.For road safety activities in your local community, contact the road safety officer at your local council.’

Another great website is https://www.safetytown.com.au/ There is some great information on this website for both adults and kids. It is targeted towards kids, wit some interactive activities as well.

And PLEASE, let’s keep our kids safe. I would much prefer to have an argument with an eight year old about holding my hand when we are near a road, than what yet another poor family is going through today.

http://www.teachstarter.com/teaching-resource/road-safety-poster-stop-look-listen/

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent Teacher Meetings…

Can put the fear of God into the parent, the teacher, and the student!

 

Happy Parent Teacher Interview

I have actually been involved in parent teacher meetings for over 20 years, either as a parent or as a teacher (and before that, as a rather nervous student!).

 

Honest Parent Teacher Interview

These can prove to be very helpful, useful and definitely worth your while or they can be time wasters.  From both sides.

I have always attended parent teacher interviews as a parent. It appears in primary school, it is almost expected that parents attend the school and talk to the teacher.

But once my kids hit high school, it didn’t seem the case. We are only given a 5 minute time slot to discuss the reports, how the students are/are not achieving, and where they should be headed.

I like to attend as many of these as I can, as a parent. I like their teachers to know that I am a very interested and committed parent and that I want to ensure that both my child and the teacher are doing their best to further my child’s knowledge.

So in the interest of smooth parent teacher meetings, here are my tips.

1.  Book a time with the teacher – I think this mostly happens in primary school that the parent may spot the teacher on playground duty or walking through the school and want to have a ‘quick five minute chat’.

This is not fair on anyone. It isn’t fair on the teacher who almost feels ambushed by the parent. Teachers want to be prepared and have as much information on hand to discuss your angel and are more often than not trying to get things sorted for the day, are on playground duty and have a duty of care to concentrate on watching all the kids, or quite possibly are in the midst of a ‘situation’.

It is also not fair on the parent as the teacher cannot fully provide all accurate information if they are ‘ambushed’ and then the parent may start to think the wrong things about the child, because not enough time was given for a proper meeting.

And it’s not fair on your kids to not get the complete report on them, rather than just a few sentences here and there.

 

 

2.  Be prepared – I find that sometimes, some (and I stress some) teachers may not say as much as you might want to hear. Some of the best teachers I have worked with are actually quite shy when it comes to adults. So I always have a list of questions that I want to ask their teachers such as are they participating in class discussions, in what way can they work to achieve a higher grade, what are your expectations in the classroom/for homework/for your subject?

 

3.  Don’t walk away unhappy – this might sound odd but if you don’t feel happy with what happened in the interview, find out more. Perhaps book another appointment where you have more time and can delve further into any concerns/problems/issues.

 

4.  Be on time – usually you will be booked in at a particular time, with appointments before and after you. Again, if you don’t feel you have had enough time, suggest that a further meeting time be held, when you don’t have the next parents outside the door, anxiously waiting because you have gone over your allotted time.

 

5.  Stay focused – yes, it’s great to hear about your weekend/latest trip/favourite restaurant but this time has to be focussed on your child and their development.

 

6.  Don’t ‘bitch’ – this may seem odd but I have conducted many a parent interview as a teacher where a parent has wanted to whinge and whine about other kid’s in the class. If there are issues, again book another time and advise the teacher what the meeting will be about. A parent teacher meeting should be about your child’s progress, not what Mary did to Sally!

 

There are many more suggestions that can be made here, but many are dependant on you and your child. As a parent, I expect a lot from my kid’s teachers. And as a teacher, I expect a lot from my student’s parents!

 

It works both ways.

 

But it works best, when parents and teachers work together!!!

Do you have any tips or stories from parent teacher interviews? I’d love to hear them. Remember, sharing IS caring!