The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child

Since making the announcement that I was ordering and starting with Barton for my son I wanted to read something interesting about dyslexia.  I am forever looking for new books.  You all know how it is when you go to the bookstore, right?  You walk in with an idea of different subjects that you would like to learn about.  Well, I've been reading about dyslexia.  I walked through Barnes and Noble and it was teachers appreciation week.  Yippee, 25% off that weekend!  We don't have a B&N in my town but we were in Wichita, Kansas visiting family and I can't ever leave there without going to the bookstore especially when it's teacher appreciation week.  

I found this book called The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child by Robert Frank.  I have a couple more pages to read before I am on chapter 6.  Wow, is all I can say about this book.  If your child is dyslexic or you just want to know about how a child with dyslexia feels then you have to read this book.  If you know of a child or older person with dyslexia then you have to read this book.  

Dyslexia is not just letter reversals or not being able to read.  It can involve many aspects of life and it does in many people from math, reading, writing and given directions for a project and they just can't remember what was told to them.  There is much more to it than that.  

I hope to be done with this book soon but so far it is two thumbs up. 

Frustrations

Dyslexia is a fact of our lives.  Not being able to read or write like others can be very frustrating.  No one makes fun or laughs but my son who has dyslexia tries and tries but the problem still exists.  Frustration is part of his daily life.  Everything out there for teaching children with dyslexia is extremely expensive.   When I say expensive I really mean expensive.


Up till now I've had to do without anything, but I was given the green light by hubby and just ordered a program for dyslexia.  I ordered Barton Reading System.  Now waiting for it to come so we can start.  I wonder if it will help?  Wonder if all this money I'm spending will be money well spent?  

I guess time will tell......starting on Level 1 soon.

Spelling is Easy

I've looked and read through lots of language arts books.  Especially lots of books that deal with dyslexia.  I have one son with dyslexia and it has and still is a challenge to get him to read.  Every person with dyslexia is different in how they deal with reading and mine rushes through his reading that he often says a wrong word for what is actually on the page.  He will say a word with the same first letter or about the same length but it will be a wrong word.  His spelling, he still leaves off letters or puts one letter in the wrong place.  He has gotten better at not flipping letters but still does occasionally.  

So what programs have I looked at for him?  There is one called A Reading Program for Overcoming Dyslexia and although I think it is a good book, I think it would be a book for older students that have been through several other curriculums.   

I've seen Spell to Write and Read and I have it and took a class.  After taking the class I still felt like I just didn't get it on how to teach.  There are so many marks to make on words and so many rules to learn even before starting to teach.  Spelling Power is not for my son with dyslexia either.   

I have and read the book the Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis.  This was a very helpful book to read and understand what your child is going through.  This man has a week long class that is priced way over my head, but I would love to do it one day.  

Then there are a few other Orton-Gillingham principled programs out there.  All the rest I have looked at while attending a homeschool convention.  It is always better to touch and see with your own eyes a program to see if it will work for your family.  

I did find one program that I absolutely love and it's All About Spelling.  I loved it so much that so far I have all levels they make even though we are still working on level 2.  As soon as level 6 comes out I'm ordering it. 


So what do I like about it?  It's easy, first of all.  I totally get what I am supposed to do for each lesson.  It is scripted, and shows what different games to play.  I call them games because that is what my boys call them.  It is actually magnetic tiles that they get to play with.  

All About Spelling has on their site a section that lets you know what are they symptoms of dyslexia.  If you want to know what dyslexia is then you must read this.  You can also sign up for their dyslexia newsletter.  

This program is not just for kiddos with dyslexia.  I use it with my youngest who loves to read and finds it easy to read.  Another thing I love about it is that it is inexpensive and you can use it with the whole family.  It's a spelling program but that goes right along with reading.  Do I sound like a commercial?  I truly think this program is the easiest most inexpensive program out there.  I can't wait to get into the next level.  I can see their progress in just the first book and a half.

I've decided to post more about our spelling adventures and this program so check back often to see what we are up to.

A Proud Dyslexic Moment

Have you ever wondered what a dyslexic sees or how they write? Do you think they are not being taught right? Maybe mom isn't doing her job. Do you teach phonics to them or do you teach them differently? How, how, how?

Last year ended my feelings of not knowing what was wrong. "What was I doing wrong?" That was my thinking. I always asked myself that question. A friend who happened to be a public school teacher at the time offered to test him. The diagnosis of dyslexia and Irlen syndrome was a relief. Now we know what is wrong and can work to deal with it in a way that is best for him. Till then he would not write. He felt embarrassed. He felt dumb. His handwriting was bad and his math was not that great either. This is one smart guy though. He can hear a story read to him and tell you all about it.

I've done lots of reading on dyslexia and Irlen in order to try to figure out the best way to teach him. I'm in the process of finishing up the book The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis. I'm still reading the books called The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Dyslexia by Abigail Marshall and Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen. The last two books basically tell me what I already know so far. I guess, that is why it is taking me so long to finish them. So far I am liking the book The Gift of Dyslexia. There is still lots to learn on how to help him.

So what is this all about? Well, my son came to me and gave this story to us to read. He did a great job! What is she thinking???? you may ask. Well, this is the first time he has written me a story. His handwriting is better. I can actually read it, even though it is not spelled right.

I am sharing this story because this is an accomplishment. This is a great thing. This may help those that don't understand what or how a child writes that has dyslexia to actually see it. The struggles are huge but we learn to deal with them as best as we can.
This story is about a chicken on a stick at KFC. Don't ask. It's something the boys talk about all the time. Chicken on a stick! Chicken on a stick! There is only one made up word in this story and it's deestinu, which is de-sticked. Even though the spelling is atrocious I understood it. He was very proud of his work and so were we.

Busy, busy

So what is up with us that we haven't been on here in a while? Well, I've been busy going over this new program with my 10yr old. We just started and since the beginning it has been easy because we have used other programs and also let him learn at his own pace.

When I saw someone talk about this book I thought I would get it and see if we would like it and so far it's a thumbs up for it. This reading program has a total of 55 lessons long and each lesson should take between 20-40 mins to complete. It is based on the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching.
If you go to their website it has lots of extra information. Information about dyslexia and about reading and writing. This is the first book I got that seems easy enough to stay with. So I'll give updates on our progress soon enough.