DYSLEXIA NEWSLETTER
January 2016
The Dyslexic Advantage
Did you know over 40% of the world’s billionaire’s are dyslexic? Why is that? The common myth is that people with dyslexia will never learn to read, spell, and will be continually slow to learn. So how is it that they have a higher percentage of raking in the dough!
Studies have shown that people with dyslexia will learn to read, spell, and gradually process information faster with intensive research based interventions. Although certain parts of the dyslexic brain prove troublesome, there are certain advantages to being born dyslexic. In Brock Eide M.D. and Fernette Eide M.D. book The Dyslexic Advantage they outline 4 strengths that work to the advantage of people with dyslexia.
• M-Strengths: Material Reasoning- The ability to mentally create and manipulate three-dimensional spatial perspectives.
• I-Strengths: Interconnected Reasoning- the ability to perceive more distant and unusual connections.
• N- Strengths: Narrative Reasoning- The ability to perceive information as mental “scenes” or episodic memory.
• D-Strengths: Dynamic Reasoning- The ability to accurately reconstruct past events that they didn’t witness or to predict future states.
Studies have shown people with dyslexia thrive in the work place as compared to the classroom setting because they can engage their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. They focus on the results rather than on methods. Due to their poor automaticity skills they are forced to rethink tasks and break them down to their fundamental principles which in turns help them to be great “out of the box” thinkers. This enables them to become big picture thinkers who can see the overall objects and ideas. Jobs that tend to fit individuals with dyslexia will stress problem solving, troubleshooting, fixing things, coming up with new ideas, thinking about what is missing, or not being addressed, and telling stories. Some examples of possible career choices are sales, counseling, coaching, advertising, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
TRY THIS NOT THAT
Dyslexia is not a one size fits all. What works for one student might not work for another. Here are a few accommodations that you might try.
Organization- Some dyslexic students may have difficulty with organization. In order to help them feel successful try limiting the number of folders or binders they must shuffle from class to class, encourage and demonstrate the use of a calendar or planner. Help them make lists of items in order of importance, for things they must do on a daily basis. For younger students a visual calendar or agenda might prove most helpful.
Technology Corner Sites for teachers to explore new apps:
1. appsforclass.com
2. teacherswithapps.com
3. flashcardapps.info
4. funeducationalapps.com
Mrs. Street
Richardson North Junior HIgh
Email: kimberly.street@risd.org
Phone: 469.593.5436