I fortunately stumbled upon new ways to learn and cope with the challenge of learning and achieving with dyslexia.
With regard to my school years, learning support was never as far as I am aware ever discussed. What I do recall is that both my teachers and parents discussing the fact that they thought that I was bright and capable. However if I was to achieve I would need to pay attention and put more effort in to my work.
I still find it annoying when I think back to these confusing and frustrating times. I discovered for myself how I learned, and what resources could help me. After three decades of search and discovery. Which has included teacher training, lecturers and tutorials at FE College and University, I am now confident and compelled to share my thoughts and findings.
Our as task as dyslexics, is to find solutions that can assist with our learning and achievement despite our dyslexia. We need to discover our own learning style and the resources that can help with our dyslexia.
I recall my early school years with fondness. I can remember playing with sand, water, painting and making things from cardboard or wood. In one lesson I made a picture frame using balsa wood and a Christmas card. When complete I painted the frame green.
Whenever I see that particular shade of green, I am taken back to the time when I was making that picture frame. I can vividly see the wood, the picture on the Christmas card and the junior hacksaw that I used to cut the wood. I see the same images whenever I see or use a junior hacksaw.
As the years unfold I have realised that if I need to remember a situation or how a word is spelt. I will visualise the situation. Or in the case of spelling I will use a picture to remind me of how the word is spelt.
My dad is a clever man, in my early years I watched him make and repair all kinds of stuff. I can remember him creating push in towel holders; he made them from wood and a piece of rubber. I can also remember the time when he turned a plastic pudding bowl in to car headlamp shell. I simply wished and strove to be as adaptive as my dad.
Incidentally as far as I am aware no immediate members of my family are dyslexic and neither is my son.
From about the age of eight, my school life began to change and not for the better. I moved from infant to junior school and from almost from setting foot in the place, like most new starters I was bullied by pupils and some of the teachers. In those days to succeed and get on you were either good at sport or you where academic and if you were truly gifted both.
As I did not fit either description as with my classmates who had similar learning difficulties were given the title of “Non Enteritis” by our form teacher.
The title I assume was given because I did not have the coordination to kick or swing a bat towards a ball. And I could not spell or write neatly. I particularly remember struggling with the italic pen. In those days we all had to write using a primitive writing instrument which was always used in conjunction with a piece of blotting paper.
Later I did settle down and began to enjoy school, this when I moved up to a secondary modern school. Most of the teachers at this school seemed to understand me and accept who I was and what I was. I was clearly not stupid as I was excelling in metal work, woodwork, technical drawing and even maths.
My new English teacher suggested that I should print my work instead of trying to write in italics. She further added that she was interested in the content, not the instrument or style of writing that I wrote in. I enjoyed maths because it was practical the teacher related the subject to the work place.
Unfortunately my family then emigrated from South Yorkshire to Nottinghamshire. I know emigrated is an exaggeration. However as far as I was concerned at that time of life (13.5 years old), I had been reluctantly transported to another universe. I hated my new boy’s only school and the teachers with a passion. From day one I was in trouble, and was usually humiliated or received a punishment of some form for being disinterested.
I was labelled as lazy and a daydreamer. I was awarded this title because I did not have the ability to recite the times tables, months of the year or the alphabet. And as a result in the opinion of school was I would never achieve. Strangely most of the school seemed intent on wanting to fight with me, simply because I had started school two years behind my class mates and I originated from Yorkshire. (That was school life in the 1970’s).
At this time my parents were in despair as a result of the school situation.
I at that time was quite the opposite I didn't care what school thought or anyone else for that matter. I had learnt to fight in more ways than one. I had shut off from school and had begun to find my own path. In my world I had a part time job and a few little enterprises going on repairing cars and motor bikes, egg collector and rat sniper, and as and when required tractor driver, and amazingly I was not yet sixteen.
Clearly today education today is very different. As far as I can remember in my school days dyslexia did not exist. The rule was if you did not conform you were simply not trying. If I could live again I would not wish to be different. What I am and who I am and all that I have achieved has been achieved with dyslexia. I know that I think different to others, I know that I can visualise new concepts. And it is these qualities that have helped me succeed in adult life.
The difference today is that, people with a learning barrier such as dyslexia are understood and are treated with respect. Learning support is always available. Teachers consider differentiation within their lesson planning. And as a consequence these understandings together with advanced technology, affords every Learner the opportunity to achieve and succeed.
My life to date has been interesting and varied, from apprentice mechanic through to teacher, having gained a Queens’s commission along the way.
Dyslexia afforded me the opportunity to travel the world. During my travels I have worked and lived through some enjoyable and at times challenging and tough circumstances.
For nearly twenty five years technology has been my constant companion. Despite dyslexia, I have Managed a multi million pound theme park - I have been employed as a technical advisor for a television production company - Run a record label - Mentored celebrities - Became a soldier - Conducted and presented history tours - And I have made and lost a fortune along the way.
Today I am a teacher and I love my work. Ironically I have rarely lifted a pen, other than to sign cheques, contracts and in another life sign autographs.
The following paragraph is a comment that I received regarding an assignment, in which I highlighted negative teacher comments that I had received whilst at school (See my blog 1). The following comment in spite of all that I have achieved is one of the first significant indicators of personal achievement, which I personally recognise.
"Thanks for this insight into your past, it is a salutary lesson about the school system and how individuals such as yourself strive to succeed and become incredibly successful in spite of it".
I remember and will cherish this comment in the same vein as the positive comment I received for the Castleton journey essay that I wrote decades before. It is a positive affirmation, and such affirmations help reduce negative feelings and thoughts with regard to achieving with dyslexia.
(Mum and Dad if you read this blog! hopefully you will feel that I am now back on track)
During the time I have been attending teacher training. I have received nothing but positive feedback and guidance. Teaching and learning has changed so much for the better. (FE College and University - To quote one of my tutors” Is just Big School")
It is such comments and my new understanding of the concept of teaching and learning that has empowered me to share with you my struggles, solutions and aspirations. I hope that this in turn inspires you to strive and seek your own positives that may be hidden within dyslexia.
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia (2009) suggest dyslexics have other gifts and talents such as - artistic, athletic, and mechanical gifts; 3-D visualization ability; musical talent; creative problem solving skills; and intuitive people skills.
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