There’s been a great deal of challenging weather around the country this winter. I feel lucky and grateful to live in Southern California, where we are blessed with lovely weather year round. I’ve been consciously sending warming energy and thoughts from the West coast to the East coast. Hopefully nationwide, we soon see signs of spring everywhere.
In addition to enjoying our warm weather, I’ve been in the process of doing some research on the latest developments in learning disabilities and I found a lovely article on Dyslexia. It does a nice job of explaining this particular learning disability, and in addition provides some reference links that allow you to read and learn more about the brain and neurology. If you’d like more information on the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), please be sure to click on the link within the article, or simply click here IDA. This association is an excellent resource for cutting edge information.
Of particular interest to me was the discussion on the three main types of dyslexia, each with its own symptoms and causes (found by clicking on the link entitled ‘Wernicke’s Area’). I work with many students who manifest symptoms in similar ways, yet they are always surprising me. These types of students bring me me much joy, as they require me to be my most creative. While I am trained in many programs, Lindamood-Bell and Wilson, for example, and have a wide array of tools within my teaching tool belt, there are still times when I need to create a entirely different approach, so as to reach a particular student who struggles with the reading and writing processes.
As the author of the article mentions, there are many famous people who have been diagnosed (or are thought to be) dyslexic. Famous or not, the road through the educational process can be a windy and steep one for those viewing the world through this lens. I happen to believe that these types of learners are some of our greatest minds and it would behoove us to think outside the box when it comes to designing out educational environments. Allowing all types of learners (traditional or not) access to a quality education is one of the cornerstones of our country. When we start designing our classrooms with all types of learners in mind, we will have an even better shot at solving the larger problems that face us. As our world becomes more complex, it is imperative that we employ creative thinking and innovative problem solving skills to help our world solve challenges like hunger, terrorism and global warming. If we start early in the classroom and design a way for all to access the curriculum, we have a better chance of engaging more minds in these processes and potentially improving the state of affairs worldwide. (I’m now stepping down from my soapbox.)
