I’ve been following the ongoing phonics debate in Australia with interest. Many parents are calling for the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check (PSC) and state Education Ministers are opposing it. Is phonics a panacea? Introduced in 2012, can we categorically say the PSC has been a success? Children are still failing to learn to […]
Is reading like riding a bike? Read More »
It’s the time of year when thoughts turn to transition and if you have an effective transition in your school, you’ve probably been thinking about it for a while. I’m talking here about the move to…BIG SCHOOL. Pupils with dyslexia often find this even more daunting than your average student. How to ease transition
Movin on up: transition Read More »
What does the title quote tell us about handwriting and the act of writing? The quote, from Orlando (Virginia Woolf), goes on: ‘The nerve which controls the pen winds itself about every fibre of our being, threads the heart, pierces the liver’. The act of writing is both emotional and physical and is THE
Handwriting: ‘we write not with the fingers but with the whole person’. Read More »
IEP stands for Individualised Education Plan. Does your school use IEP’s? Is there a whole school understanding of their purpose and a rigour around setting and achieving targets? How do teachers feel/think about them? That they are a paperwork exercise and take up too much time? Can IEP’s be used as an effective tool in
To IEP or not to IEP. Why is that in question? Read More »
Dyslexia impacts on the mental health of a child and its carers. The wellbeing of the dyslexic and their family is in the hands of the school, other educational setting, or work. Wield your power mindfully and with compassion. I returned to education a couple of years ago. Whilst being a slow processor, with some
Dyslexia; mental health matters! Read More »
The first academic paper on dyslexia was published in 1896 in the British Medical Journal by William Pringle Morgan. Dyslexia was ‘discovered’ by psychologists, who, when presented with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, found that despite average or above IQ’s, they had an inability to read and write. These children had shared characteristics.
Dyslexia: start a discussion Read More »
How can teachers be better supported in identifying dyslexia in the classroom? Read on for less obvious clues…
Dyslexia: Finding the elephant in the classroom. Read More »
