Today we will look at the types of Dyslexia.
The primary and most common type of Dyslexia is hereditary. As the name suggests it runs in families and is most common among boys. While it seems that science is not certain to the percentage of inheritance among family members (25-60%, Hinton, n.d.), it is known that children who show signs of Dyslexia may have had a family member (usually a parent) that also had reading difficulty in school.
Secondary Dyslexia is the result of hormonal development of a fetus. This type of Dyslexia may decrease with age. It, too, is more common in boys.
A third and very rare form of Dyslexia is acquired through brain damage. Trauma, stress, and other factors may lead to a deficiency in reading ability.
As promised we will examine the symptoms and techniques to overcome this disorder in the following weeks. Strive to help your students achieve their potentials!
Hinton, C.D. (n.d.) Dyslexia Primer. Primer on Dyslexia. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/document/51/0,3343,en_2649_35845581_35149043_1_1_1_1,00.html.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Dyslexia: What is it?
I am starting my blog off by discussing some things that new teachers - or even experienced teachers - may not have a lot of familiarity with: Dyslexia. I chose this disorder because my 10-yr-old twins were watching an episode of Disney Channel's "Shake it Up." YouTube Part 1 Part 2 (part 2 contains the part about Dyslexia.) While the laugh-track, characters, and dialogue are typical cheesy Disney inanity, this episode reveals that one of the main characters has Dyslexia and has hidden it from her best friend for years. The character goes on to explain that she doesn't see things the way other people do and that words and letters sometimes get "jumbled up inside her head." She also confesses that it affects her dancing and she fears she will never be as good as the other dancers. Her friend is very sympathetic and understanding.
Before we go any further, allow me to note that I am not a medical professional, I have no specialized training in the area of dyslexia, and all content you read is the result of research performed online or through written articles. Do not use this information to diagnose or remediate in the area of Dyslexia. If you feel that your student/child may have Dyslexia, consult a medical professional.
One of my girls asked me what Dyslexia is. I have an uncle that has this disorder, so it runs in my family. The typical response is that, "people see letters and numbers backwards." That is not entirely accurate, though. Dyslexia is like many other disorders in that it varies from person to person, from mild to severe, and takes on many different faces.
So what is Dyslexia and how does it affect students? Dyslexia is a disorder in the language processing area of the brain (A.D.A.M., Inc, 2011,) It is not a sight disorder. The three main causes of this disorder are heredity, trauma, and hormonal development. Problems in the area of visual, auditory, and writing are sometimes associated with this disorder. There is no cure, but there are remedial ways of treating this disorder.
Dyslexia affects students in a variety of ways. Reading is the most commonly affected area. But because reading is such an essential part of communication, other areas in the classroom are affected. Even areas of math and physical education may subject the student to failure because of their disorder. Students sometimes become withdrawn, show behavioral problems, have low self-esteem, and have trouble with peers because they do not understand their disorder, do not know about it, or are not being addressed effectively. Problems can continue into adulthood if not addressed early in life.
Over the course of the next few posts we will break down this disorder and look into it and its application in the classroom. Please join me and share in the discussion. If you would like to take a 3-hour break and watch a great video about this disorder, you can find it at this site. (You may have to allow it through your pop-up blocker.)
References:
A.D.A.M., Inc.. (2011). Developmental Reading Disorder. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002379/
Before we go any further, allow me to note that I am not a medical professional, I have no specialized training in the area of dyslexia, and all content you read is the result of research performed online or through written articles. Do not use this information to diagnose or remediate in the area of Dyslexia. If you feel that your student/child may have Dyslexia, consult a medical professional.
One of my girls asked me what Dyslexia is. I have an uncle that has this disorder, so it runs in my family. The typical response is that, "people see letters and numbers backwards." That is not entirely accurate, though. Dyslexia is like many other disorders in that it varies from person to person, from mild to severe, and takes on many different faces.
So what is Dyslexia and how does it affect students? Dyslexia is a disorder in the language processing area of the brain (A.D.A.M., Inc, 2011,) It is not a sight disorder. The three main causes of this disorder are heredity, trauma, and hormonal development. Problems in the area of visual, auditory, and writing are sometimes associated with this disorder. There is no cure, but there are remedial ways of treating this disorder.
Dyslexia affects students in a variety of ways. Reading is the most commonly affected area. But because reading is such an essential part of communication, other areas in the classroom are affected. Even areas of math and physical education may subject the student to failure because of their disorder. Students sometimes become withdrawn, show behavioral problems, have low self-esteem, and have trouble with peers because they do not understand their disorder, do not know about it, or are not being addressed effectively. Problems can continue into adulthood if not addressed early in life.
Over the course of the next few posts we will break down this disorder and look into it and its application in the classroom. Please join me and share in the discussion. If you would like to take a 3-hour break and watch a great video about this disorder, you can find it at this site. (You may have to allow it through your pop-up blocker.)
References:
A.D.A.M., Inc.. (2011). Developmental Reading Disorder. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002379/
Friday, July 15, 2011
Introductions
Every class year begins with introductions, so that is where I will start. My name is Tammy and I recently graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master's in Education. I have not yet secured a position in a school, but that does not mean I have given up hope! I am viewing this as a chance to prepare myself with further research in the educational fields and to create lesson plans for use in the future. I have dreamed of being an educator since I was in elementary school. I know it is not the most high-paying career choice, but it is a choice that I put off for far too long. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a child "get it" for the first time.
As a student teacher I felt very connected to the students. When my 12 weeks were over the students still had a few weeks of school left. I went back to see their kindergarten graduation and was moved to tears when they came running to me at the end. One little boy that had given me numerous headaches and heartaches actually left the stage to tell his mom that I was there. He gave me a hug afterward. Those are the moments teachers live for and the rest of the time they instill knowledge and give inspiration.
I am currently volunteering in Sunday School classes for students in my local church. I will take what I learn from them and bring it to you. This is a tough bunch of kids! Don't let the whole church thing fool you. These kids come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, with learning difficulties and advancements just like you would find anywhere else. The subject matter is different, but the process remains the same.
My philosophy is that EVERY child CAN learn, regardless of demographics, background, or previous school experiences. I think people are far too eager to give up and label students because they have not had a chance to show what they really know. I will not always have the best chance at unlocking that potential, but I would like to know that I did my best to help a child understand they are special, they have potential, they are good at something, and someday they will be able to show that.
This blog is dedicated to research, lesson plans, and other insights I discover along the way. I hope you enjoy it and find something interesting in it. If you quote something from me, please let me know! I freely offer quotes and will post a properly formatted reference for you to use in your papers. Please leave comments and let me know what you think.
As a student teacher I felt very connected to the students. When my 12 weeks were over the students still had a few weeks of school left. I went back to see their kindergarten graduation and was moved to tears when they came running to me at the end. One little boy that had given me numerous headaches and heartaches actually left the stage to tell his mom that I was there. He gave me a hug afterward. Those are the moments teachers live for and the rest of the time they instill knowledge and give inspiration.
I am currently volunteering in Sunday School classes for students in my local church. I will take what I learn from them and bring it to you. This is a tough bunch of kids! Don't let the whole church thing fool you. These kids come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, with learning difficulties and advancements just like you would find anywhere else. The subject matter is different, but the process remains the same.
My philosophy is that EVERY child CAN learn, regardless of demographics, background, or previous school experiences. I think people are far too eager to give up and label students because they have not had a chance to show what they really know. I will not always have the best chance at unlocking that potential, but I would like to know that I did my best to help a child understand they are special, they have potential, they are good at something, and someday they will be able to show that.
This blog is dedicated to research, lesson plans, and other insights I discover along the way. I hope you enjoy it and find something interesting in it. If you quote something from me, please let me know! I freely offer quotes and will post a properly formatted reference for you to use in your papers. Please leave comments and let me know what you think.
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