Reading is an essential life skill, don’t wait!
Can you imagine what future life would be like for your child, if they don’t learn to be a proficient reader? Are you expecting the school to provide the solution to your child’s struggles in reading, writing and spelling? For many children this is just not realistic.
I wrote this blog post a few years ago and it continues to remain extremely relevant for many families who are trusting in today’s education system. The recognition and awareness of dyslexia in the majority of our schools remains vague and misunderstood. Opening our new Sunshine Coast coaching centre and head office has made me reflect on the importance of this article and how students in Queensland schools need the support they deserve to thrive. Working one on one, in person, using the evidence based methodologies, continues to be the gold standard for student success.
Why wait until the school catches up?
Learning to read, write and spell is urgent for the learners who have been at school for 2 or more years and have made very little progress. We cannot wait until the school catches up and realises that your child does not have the basic skills required for literacy learning.
Many teachers are proactive in reading through the files that are given about each student in their class at the start of the new school year, however, if the information about your child’s learning difficulty has not been passed on and nothing change, another term and then another year is sure to go by without the appropriate support.
Term one is now a distant memory and I am guessing that for many children with learning difficulties, the honeymoon of the first few weeks in their new classroom is over. The work is becoming more difficult and they are reminded each day how much further they are falling behind. The struggle for them can feel insurmountable!
Why wait until another term passes, why wait until their self esteem falls lower and why wait until someone at the school learns about dyslexia and has an understanding of what your child needs.
This is urgent! A child with dyslexia needs multisensory, explicit instruction, phonic based, with the sound structure of our language (Orton /Gillingham principles). This needs to be delivered one on one with evidence based, well researched methodologies and repetition daily to support memory.
So, parents and teachers, get yourselves some knowledge about dyslexia, inform each other and get your child started on an intensive program today, don’t wait for this to happen in the classroom. Time is precious in every stage of your child’s learning journey and seeing them grow up without the basic skills in reading, writing and spelling is just not an option!