YOUR LETTERS

How can I become a classroom assistant?
I am currently studying Health and Social Care. I am in my second year now and was supposed to be going to university in September but can't seem to make up my mind what course Iwant to study. I know I want to work with children so I am going to take a year out and try to become a classroom assistant, but I don't know how to become one. I was wondering if you can give me some advice on how to become one. (K.T., UK)
>>> Most people look for job adverts in their local paper and make a direct application to the school. It will be helpful to be able to say that you have some experience of working with children, perhaps in a voluntary capacity or child minding. It might also help to take the Dyslexia Certificate course, as many classroom assistants are attached to children who are often dyslexic. This would be regarded as an appropriate, but not essential, qualification.

I am often a sounding board for frustrated teachers!
As a Special Education Assistant of 15 years, I am often the "sounding board" for frustrated teachers. Most often, children with learning disabilities are labeled as lazy and unmotivated. I often come to the defense of students who are criticized for turning their notebook paper the wrong way. Teachers say that "anyone can see which side to begin writing on, if they will just look." Another remark often made is "XX can do, but he/she doesn't want to." Not true! Fear of repeated failure keeps some students from attempting to try the assignment. The all time, all purpose comment is:" He/she doesn't try." When a student asked to move to a desk where he could more easily copy from the whiteboard, the teacher commented that he could move, but she knew that he wouldn't finish his work there either! (C.D., Tennessee, USA)

Pokemon helped!
I believe that Pokemon helped our son improve his reading by one grade level in less then a year. He has slowed down, however, the interest in Harry Potter is growing. Our son is in 5th grade. (Val, USA)

Dyslexia undiagnosed in girls?
The latest research indicates that dyslexia is as common in girls as it is in boys. I think that the reason for the apparent increased frequency in boys is that dyslexia is under diagnosed in girls, as it was with my daughter.

Dyslexic, but no problem writing?
Is it possible to have a reading and spelling problem, without a writing problem and still be dyslexic if you have all the other classic symptoms? (Stacey, UK)
Response from John Bradford: Yes, it is. Dyslexia is a general term covering a whole range of difficulties in dealing with words and text, and different people are affected differently. Many dyslexic people are able to read, but have difficulties with spelling; others experience difficulties with reading comprehension, and others with speech. If you were lucky, you were taught to write in a cursive handwriting style, which makes things much easier all round.

Distinguishing left from right on the piano
I teach children music and have a child who has great difficulty in distinguishing Right from Left, and also confuses finger numbers 2 and 4. I draw a picture of the hand he is supposed to use in each section and circle the correct finger, but this does not seem to help much. Once he has done the song correctly enough times, he is fine - I guess that is the sense of touch helping him out?
I found your information very useful, and would love to hear from any other teachers of music (in particular piano) that have helped their students with dyslexia read music. I guess the best way for a child with these factors is to concentrate on learning through touch, sound, sight and give lots of encouragement. (Kaja, USA)

Resource support
Is there something wrong with the system in my school district? I see children every day who are clearly dyslexic and yet they get no support from the school at all. If you see a bright kid in your class and they cannot write or spell, there must be something wrong. The resource specialist is part-time and only seems to be seeing about three or four children. I think you have to be in a wheelchair to get to see her! It just seems really unfair - and I'm the one who has to spend extra time each day helping these dyslexic kids complete their work. It makes me really angry. (JJ., Texas, USA)

I couldn't agree more, JJ. I seem to spend my evenings making materials and equipment that the school should have purchased if they placed any real value on resource teaching. (Rod, Birmingham, UK)

Yes, there is something wrong with the school system. I used to work for Howard County Public Schools in Maryland. We - the teachers - were instructed to hide problems from parents. Teachers are in trouble if they cost the school system money. Seems like the school board prefers to fund promotions so people don't have to work with kids anymore. (Kristine, Columbia, Maryland, USA)

There are limits to a school's budget. (Hilary, Washington, USA)

Assessment
Could someone tell me how you assess a child for dyslexia? Are there any simple criteria you can use as a rough guide, or do you really have to have a psychologist come in for each child? Our school district seems to short on funds - as usual - and we never seem to see a psychologist in the building. I work as a Resource Specialist, and I really feel I need more guidance on individual children's particular difficulties. (Rosemary, Vancouver, Canada)

I've worked with dyslexic children for years now, and, whilst you obviously need a proper assessment for each child, I'm beginning to get a feel for the signs of dyslexia. They have a lot of confusions with left and right. If you say to them 'Point to my left foot with your right hand', they find it very hard. They also have great difficulty sequencing, for example saying the days of the week backwards or counting backwards. You also notice the joy in physical co-ordination - they love all kinds of outdoor games - basketball, softball, football, and so on. There don't seem to be one set of criteria that all dyslexic children fit, however, and you have to be careful. But these seem to be fairly common. (Kathleen, Yorkshire, England)

I'm disgusted at my school's attitude to dyslexic students. They refuse to say that any student is dyslexic - in case it should cost them any extra money - and one parent told me that the psychologist went to sleep during a conference about her son last year. (Disappointed, USA)

I'm really sorry to hear that 'Disappointed' is having such a hard time. I hope that you've got some support outside of your school. I work as a Resource Specialist, and our psychologist is really excellent. He always includes my opinions in any assessments, and says that a child is dyslexic - or has a specific learning difficulty - if he thinks it. He makes a point of coming to see me after each conference, and I really feel I can always ask for advice. He's a real gem! (Flora, Minnesota, USA)

Group size
How many pupils do other people take in their resource group? I have over six in most of my groups now and I find it impossible to give individual attention. I just don't feel that the children are benefiting from the attention I give them because so many of them need one-to-one help. (Ken, Texas, USA)

I couldn't agree more, Ken. I think two or three is quite enough if you want to see any improvement. (John Gardner, South-West Australia)

Maybe I'm lucky, but I only ever take one child at a time. Our school is fee-paying, so I guess that makes the difference. (Mary, Bristol. UK)

I don't think group size matters so much as the method you use. Unless you teach the dyslexic children phonemic awareness in a multi-sensory way you're banging your head against the wall! (LL., Maryland, USA)

Resource support
How many pupils do other people take in their resource group? I have over six in most of my groups now and I find it impossible to give individual attention. I just don't feel that the children are benefiting from the attention I give them because so many of them need one-to-one help. (Ken, Texas, USA)

Dyslexia identifiable in 3 to 4 year olds?
Are there any possible signs of dyslexia in children as young as three or four and how early can it be determined? I have a parent whose dyslexia was not noticed until high school and she is very worried about her young daughter. (Mel C, USA)
Reply: It's extremely difficult to diagnose dyslexia before the age of 7. Also, you have to be careful that any anxiety about whether the child might be dyslexic or not isn't picked up by the child. The best recommendation is to try to do all the right things for developing early literacy and numeracy - stories at bedtime, counting the forks and spoons, etc. - and be very supportive of all the school work once she starts. If she's noticeably below the rest of her age-group at 7, then have an assessment. Remember that, whilst dyslexia is an inherited characteristic, there are huge numbers of dyslexic adults whose children have not inherited it in the least.
Reply: I'm also concerned about my 3 year old grand-daughter being dyslexic. She writes from right to left and draws her letters backwards. If she is dyslexic, I would like to give her the learning tools now so she can learn in our public school system when the time comes. I don't want her to fall into the cracks that sometimes exists in public schools. Can we help now? Are there things we can do that will aid our children and their teachers later? (Mona S., Oklahoma)

Congratulations
Congratulations on your valuable new web-site. I had spent nearly an hour going through it last night before I realized what the time was! (Ken, Yorkshire, UK)

What a brilliant web-site - much overdue. (Lucy, Georgia, US)