David Flink’s Thinking Differently (2014) is my favourite “parent/self help” guide to dyslexia and learning disabilities.
And it’s the only book I’ve read that speaks to me both as parent and as a person with dyslexia.
In tone and in content, the book gives a positive, practical and empowering approach to parenting, studying and living with dyslexia and ADHD.
My 12-year-old daughter has a pretty kick-ass attitude about dyslexia. It’s more of a footnote¹ to her life, rather than something that defines or limits her.
Her success is a testament to her hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity–not caused by her learning differences, but by the lack of understanding and support she experienced early on at school. In particular, how the “wait and see” approach (also known as the “failure model“) made school harder than it needed to be for her in the long run.
Given her experience with the education system, what would she like you to know?
“We deserve a chance…not to be defined by what we struggle with and what we are not, but to be seen as whole people with a mix of strengths and weaknesses. We deserve a chance to add to the narrative on dyslexia that historically had been dominated by (albeit well meaning) non-dyslexics.”
Sarah Fearn, editor’s preface, everything is spherical (2014)
I sense a change is coming. Our voices are getting louder. Whether it’s on social media or through storytelling or advocacy work, people with dyslexia want/need to tell their own stories.
This is no small thing.
This is an act of bravery, even defiance, in a world that presumes to tell us who we are and how we feel; that we are broken, where we are broken, and how we can (or can’t) be “fixed.” This comes from the strangest places. Not just from the trolls, but even the people who aim to help. So many labels, but very little real understanding.
The Dyslexic Library is on vacation, and we’re reading:
Relish: My life in the kitchen (2013) – – graphic novel by Lucy Knisley – our number one pick of the summer!!! – tells the story of a woman’s (the author) life, and lessons learned about food, cooking and life – she was raised in a very foodie environment and grew up to take a completely different path – includes recipes – beautiful illustrations and beautiful story – recommended for teenagers and adults – writer has web comic (Review by SH & AMB) Continue reading
In our new series, “Ask an expert,” we talk to the professionals who devote their lives to making the world a better place for children and adults with dyslexia: the educators, tutors, occupational therapists, psychologists, academics, writers, scientists and more, who inform, educate and advocate.
Our first expert is Nancy Young, a Canadian author and educator who specializes in reading, writing and spelling.
“…the alphabetic code is a secret to many people (including many educators), and … not knowing this code prevents many children from learning to read and spell proficiently.” ~Nancy Young, educator and author
I have spent most of my life wondering how to break the code.
I learned to read and spell by memorizing words and just plain old guessing. It was hit and miss, try and try again. Today I’m a good reader, and I work with words for a living, but I still don’t come by it naturally.
Two years ago, my daughter started a structured literacy reading program (Orton Gillingham-based). I heard words like “phenomes” and “sounds and symbols.” I saw her learn how to decode words in a systematic way — not by guessing.
When my copy of Secret Code Actions™ — Parent Edition arrived, it barely fit into my mail box. That’s a good thing. At 370 pages, it’s wonderful weightiness is matched by the depth and breadth of its content — it is the ultimate guide to understanding and deciphering the English alphabetic “code.”
“This much is clear: The mind of the dyslexic is different from the minds of other people. Learning that my problem with processing language wasn’t stupidity seemed to take most of my life.” ~Philip Schultz, My Dyslexia
My Dyslexia (2011) by Philip Schultz is on the top of my reading list for 2017. I’ve already read it a few times, underlining the good bits and reading it out loud to whoever will listen. And I will read it again, and again, and again.
They say knowledge is power, so I’ve got quite the stack of books to read in 2017. I’ve got memoir, psychology, science, self-help and non-fiction. The subject? Mostly about dyslexia and brain science, with a strong serving of inspirational stories. I may not be the woman who changes her brain, but I’m down with right-brainers ruling the future!
Hello I’m a tween and this is one of my favourite books, and no NOT James Bond [but he’s her uncle]. The first book was made by jill marshall in 2006. jane blonde is a book about a girl who lived an ordinary life doing ordinary and boring stuff until… the horror G-MAMMA a grotesque women who seems to be insane! She tells her that her mother is a hostage of Copernicus hench men [Copernicus is an evil guy with a sun mask hmm] and she is a spylet, obviously she does not believe her and walks home. When she gets there her mother’s not home. In summary, in the rest of the series *inhales*, she finds her mom, find her dad, she fights Copernicus and morphs him into a human/squid, save the world more then once and changes the history of the earth DONE *huff puff*.
Age: 4 and up
Rating: 
more info at [tap here]
