What Is Dyslexia? Dyslexia means difficulty with words. People who have dyslexia often have a specific learning difficulty with reading, writing and spelling. Sometimes, they have difficulty with numbers too. There is likely to be at least one child with dyslexia in each class but the specific problems and the degree of difficulty will vary. There are different ideas about the causes of dyslexia but the reasons appear to lie in the way the brain functions which is slightly different in dyslexic people, who are often creative, artistic and good at problem-solving. Many are high achievers - from Einstein to Keira Knightley.

What do we do in school? · If we have concerns about a child, we use the Dyslexia Screening Test

to identify which areas present the most problems. Parents are given written feedback.

· Teachers use a multi-sensory style of teaching which benefits all learners. Work is differentiated to suit the needs of the children.

· Teaching assistants provide extra support.

· There are specific resources which might be helpful, such as coloured overlays or spelling aids. We can make suggestions for activities to do at home.

· The child could be placed on our record of need and an individual education plan created for them, with parents‘ involvement.

· We might seek help from an educational psychologist, dyslexia adviser or

other outside agency. You will be involved in the process.

What can parents and families do?

* Be patient. Dyslexic children often take longer to do things.

* Help the child to organise him or herself. Routines are important.

* Help the child find strategies to deal with problems. Older children can successfully manage their dyslexia.

* Homework can present a big problem. Talk to your child's teacher about expectations and ways to help.

* Praise and encouragement are important. Although a child may have problems, there will be plenty of positives too.

* Share your ideas and anxieties with us. We want to work with you.

Other information and Contacts - Joher Anjari is the Special Educational Needs

Co-ordinator. He can also give you further information about dyslexia if you would like a greater understanding of the subject.

- The Dyslexia Service Adviser for this area is …. - The Cornwall Dyslexia Association has helpful advice Tel: 01872 274827 (www.cornwalldyslexia.org.uk )

- www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

- www.beingdyslexic.co.uk

- www.dyslexia.uk.com - Family Information Service Tel 0845 6017837 - Chris Lucas is our parent support adviser, based at Penryn

Junior School Tel 01326 372438 (christine.lucas@penrynprimary.org)

Dyslexia Supporting students with dyslexia

Strategies for parents/carers

Helston Community College

Helston Community College

Supporting students with dyslexia

Strategies for parents/carers

This booklet has been put together to give you an insight into how dyslexia is supported at HCC.

We hope this will help to support your child’s learning at home.

If you would like any more information on any of the strategies and techniques discussed please contact Mrs C Bloor – Dyslexia Champion or any member of the LDT.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects the way the learner processes and manipulates language.

Dyslexia is typically recognised as a discrepancy of skills – a mixture of strengths and weaknesses.

Common characteristics of dyslexia include:

• Slow processing of instructions • Difficulties in structuring written work • Inaccurate spelling • Lack of reading fluency • Difficulty with mental maths • Difficulty with concepts such as time • Problems with organisation

Although all of these highlight areas where a dyslexic may struggle at school - dyslexic learners can also demonstrate great strengths – the more creative nature of their brain allows them to see things from different points of view. Many dyslexics have great ‘M reasoning’ (material reasoning) – the ability to see in 3D -it is this fact that has meant GCHQ actively seek to employ dyslexic spies.

This booklet will give you some tips and strategies that some dyslexic learners find beneficial.

The College aims to support all students to break down barriers to learning.

These techniques will be useful for you to help your child at home with homework and revision.

Your child’s success will be greatly increased if he or she feels confident

Remind them that everybody is good at something.

Let them know that you believe in them.

Reading

Young people can be conscious that they read more slowly than their peers or find it really difficult to choose a suitable book.

Our librarians Mrs Lawford and Mrs Rogers are really helpful and knowledgeable, they are always happy to help.

Audio books can be great – it will take the pressure off the decoding and place the emphasis firmly on the comprehension.

Text to speak apps such as vBookz Reader or reading eBooks on a kindle or ibooks can also encourage young people to pick up a book.

We use our knowledge of grammar when we are reading. Sometimes reminding children to check what they have read makes sense.

• Draw attention to grammatical errors. • Paired reading can be really helpful – read together at the same

time. The young person then does not feel worried about making a mistake as there is someone else speaking.

• Coloured overlays and filters can be helpful for some.

Spelling

Spelling can be a challenge for children with dyslexia or dyslexic tendencies - encourage them to have freedom in their writing and use the following techniques to help them with the key spellings.

• Young people who take part in our DRIVE programme all

receive a key word book – encouraging your child to use this can help them to learn to spell those tricky topic words – they can also add their own words .

• Mnemonics –can work for some people the more absurd the better – eg Does Oliver Eat Sweets? – Does.

• Visual thinking – harness your child’s artistic nature – pictures can be a fantastic memory hook. Look at the word and picture Cover the word Try to see it visualise it Copy Have a break – try it again 10 minutes later Repeat a few hours later

For example

• Syllabification – the practice of dividing words into syllables. This works because you are holding less in your working memory because you have chunked the word –

Clap the word Write it in syllables Responsibility – becomes re spons i bil i ty – cut it up and make the word do it a few times – then check.

Organisation, study skills and homework

Understanding the purpose of homework can help you and your child to plan – is it to:

• Practise a new skill • Finish off work from class • Revise for a test • Find out about a new topic

Organisation at home can make a big difference to your child’s learning

• Decide on a place/box where all schoolwork/ equipment will be kept • Check their planner • Have a checklist for homework - have I got everything I need ? • Books • Pencil • Highlighter • Scrap paper etc

All young people will have their own ways of learning – try some of these out and see which is the most successful.

Text marking

A very focused version of highlighting

Choose three colours

Decide what you are looking for in the text – skim read only looking for specifics using the highlighters.

Ask someone to test you

Visual thinking

Split your page into 8 or 16 make notes with pictures and a few key words – you will be amazed at how much can be remembered/absorbed using this techniques.

Apps

Embrace the technology – there are some fantastic apps out there which

http://adshe.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ipad_apps1.pdf

Useful website and contacts

Dyslexia Champion

Caroline Bloor

cbloor@helston.cornwall.sch.uk

SENCO

Dave Lewis

dlewis@helston.cornwall.sch.uk

dyslexia@cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall Dyslexia Association

helpline@cornwalldyslexia.org.uk

British Dyslexia association

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Dyslexia Group, Tregolls School

From website http://www.tregolls.cornwall.sch.uk/

This group consists of 12 dyslexic KS2 pupils. The group meet together every half term for a Fun Activity Afternoon when they spend time celebrating their successes, sharing strategies they have used which help them and undertaking activities which boost areas such as working memory, spatial or phonological awareness. The group has also been supporting fellow member, Jordan (Y6) with the Book Project.

The Book Project Jordan is writing a book on Cornish Food which is due to be published in July 2014. Jordan is proving to everyone that being dyslexic does not mean that you can not achieve in Literacy. We will be launching Jordan’s book at the Summer Fair where you will be able to purchase a copy for the small sum of £4. A Cornish Tea On Wednesday 21st May, parents and friends of the Dyslexia Group were invited to a Cornish Tea Party. Organised wonderfully by Mrs Rich, we were all treated to a delicious spread of the Cornish food and drink that the Dyslexia Group had learnt about on their trip to Tesco earlier in the month. We were entertained by the Group who read us an extract from Jordan’s book. The extract was the story, written by Jordan, of Max and the Mermaids. It was inspired by the tale of Thomas and the Tinners by Jill Paton Walsh. Many thanks to Mrs Rich, Mrs Lynes and Mrs Rowe as well as the 12 young people who made us so proud.

What is Dyslexia? Please click on the link below to view a powerpoint presentation of the parents’ meeting on Dyslexia at Tregolls Academy:

Parents’ Meeting Jan 2014 – Dyslexia

Information about Dyslexia on Video for Parents and Schools

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-dyslexia-kelli-sandman-hurley (Short presentation which explains clearly dyslexic brain function and celebrates the neurodiversity of the human brain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEpBujdee8M (Nessy video)

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/Edu_dyslexicsinclassroomvideo.html

http://www.truepotentialed.com/videos.html (A variety of videos about dyslexia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnOSc5_IQeA (Advice about homework)

Understanding Dyslexia A Guide for Families

For parents and carers to share with their children (7 – 11 years old)

This booklet can be downloaded from the Parent Champions website:

https://www.parentchampions.org.uk/

There is a similar booklet for older students and their families.