Dyslexia is an issue that is surfacing more and more in schools across the nation. Students that often fall through the cracks of high performing and at risk students sometimes have a debilitating learning disability and up until modern research was thought to only be a reading issue. Modern research has found that dyslexia is a much more complex disability that often causes issues in learning from all angles, not just seeing letters backwards. It is critically important for teachers to be aware of this complex issue that only effects a small number of students. As a teacher, I firmly believe that it is my job and my calling to reach every child. In my experience with my own family, it is a very difficult issue to deal with, as the signs and symptoms can sometimes be misinterpreted as lazy or stubbornness.
In education, the study of dyslexia is just surfacing and much of the educational community and the social community have not been able to conceptualize the practical applications that such a learning disability can have on a personal attitude, performance and ability; especially gone undiagnosed. It is incredibly important to know, look for and recognize the different signs and symptoms associated with dyslexia. More important, once identified teachers should have a playbook of methods to use to help assist a child struggling with dyslexia.
In my family, my husband and my child have dealt with these issues. I have seen the positive impact that intervention that can have on my son, as we have caught his issue early in life and have taken steps to help him master it. On the contrary, my husband still does not have a clinical diagnoses, but lived his entire life in and out of special education classes, struggling to read and fit in his entire life. And no one could ever tell him what was wrong, until recently. With our child’s diagnoses, and their aligning symptoms, It has become clear that he struggled with the very same things that his child is struggling with.
Some critical factors that will affect my focus in this study will be the impact of intervention on my child’s achievement. Starting this semester, his teacher has implemented a new routine to help rectify and master his challenges. I will study the specific prompts that he is assigned and make anecdotal notes regarding his progress. His progress will be measure both in school and out of school. The measures of his progress will be critical to this study to determine whether or not the intervention provided by my child’s school will be an effective means of meeting the challenges of dyslexia.
