A dyslexic’s journey - why early intervention is key.

I first taught S when he was struggling with all aspects of learning, full of anxiety about getting things wrong.

There was dyslexia in the family so his difficulties came as no surprise and as a specialist teacher I knew how to support him and help him to build his skills. Together we worked on different aspects of learning and built up his skills in a logical way, regularly revisiting what he had already learnt. 

Reading was great challenge and with his bright and curious mind he was frustrated with himself.  He was having difficulty with visual function because the muscles in his eyes weren’t working as well as they might.  This meant that staying focused on words to stop them blurring and tracking where he was on a line was really hard for him.  S was determined to help himself as much as he could and I worked with him and his parents to make sure that he did his exercises every day and as the weeks passed S could literally see the changes.  

Reading will never be easy for him but he has a tool kit of strategies and he now uses technology to help. His hunger for information and his determination kept him trying.

With some dyspraxia difficulties as well writing was a challenge but using a laptop changed all of this and by the time he left for his senior school to start Year 9 he was typing instead of handwriting and knew how to proof read and spellcheck his work.

As well as helping S to build his skills the support and understanding that he had from the brilliant teachers in the school made a difference. I worked with them on how to adapt their teaching and tasks so that they were accessible to S and allowed him to show his knowledge and enjoy learning. Communication of a child’s difficulties with practical way to help is the support that teachers often need.

S has now completed his school education and achieved great A level results and is currently working in a school and deciding on what career path he wants. Whatever he ends up doing he will be a success as in addition to his determination, resilience he has a growth mindset and an understanding of himself, valuing his strengths and not frightened of the challenges his dyslexia may bring.

His story is an example of the right intervention at the right stage in education not only making a difference to skills, but to mindset too. Helping children to build that growth mindset is one of my passions. Children who find learning difficult for whatever reason typically have a resilience that others would envy. Helping them to understand themselves and have the confidence to tell those around them what they need is empowering. 

This is what S had to say to me:

One of the strongest memories of learning support is when you once explained to me why I find reading and writing difficult. This as a child made me feel in a way that I was able to trust you, feel comfortable and not ashamed of my learning struggles and that you understood my challenge. And so it didn't feel like I was reading or doing writing practice with just another adult. I was doing it with someone who understood how I felt and doing it with someone who was actually able to help. In addition to this the constant motivation to help me keep going.

I still don't know how to spell many words and I still often put the wrong type of word or even after proof reading I still say the wrong thing but I am now able to find ways around it but still coming out with the same outcome. 

I feel privileged to have been able to help him and I am looking forward to following his journey.

Photo by Bryan Rodriguez on Unsplash