Interesting article by Abigail Marshall which explains that programmes based on comprehension strategies are much more effective than those which only focus on phonics. She looked at a recent meta-analysis by British researchers, Dominic Wyse and Alice Bradbury and concluded that“These researchers … recommend that phonics teaching should be “carefully connected with the reading of…
Category: Dyslexia
“I didn’t order the special of the day”
October is almost over and it is a good moment to reflect back over Dyslexia Awareness Week. I used it to explore my clients’, often extraordinary, ability to use visual thought. This may be a strong spatial awareness or the ability see the connections between object or concepts. It can result in creative thinking and…
Developing Writing Skills in Adults with Dyslexia
I have just qualified in Developing Writing Skills in Adults with Dyslexia (Level 5) with Dyslexia Action. It was particularly interesting to explore how people typically acquire and develop writing skills, and why this is more difficult for a dyslexic adult. It was also useful to pick up some new ideas for support strategies, and…
‘Rare to see this progress’
In the early summer I was contacted by a mother who had been told by the school that that her daughter, Jessie aged 7,was two years behind in her reading and playing up. So we embarked on the Davis Reading Programme for Young Learners, a learning enhancement programme which builds confidence with the alphabet and…
Master of Arts (Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support)
I am thrilled to have been awarded my Master of Arts degree with distinction from London South Bank University My dissertation examined the link between perceptual talent and dyslexia. It proved to be a fascinating research area as I delved into the different thinking styles between people with dyslexia and people who are not dyslexic.…
Claymation interviews
I love this short animated, claymation film which features interviews with some very famous (and entertaining) characters! It was produced by art students in Sydney with the support of Marianne Mullally, a Davis facilitator.
UK Davis Dyslexia Programme bursary fund
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Klaire de Lys’s bursary campaign. Once the campaign reached £5000, she fulfilled her pledge and shaved her head. There is an incredibly moving 2-minute video on her blog.
Mandatory phonics test
You will be familiar with recent discussions in the news about the Government’s plans to introduce a mandatory phonics test for all six-year-olds. These plans were the subject of a ‘phone-in on BBC Radio 4’s consumer affairs programme “You and Yours” on 10 April. Six and a half minutes (6:21) into the programme, there is an…
‘Dyslexia Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’
Donna Flagg, author of Surviving Dreaded Conversations, has written a moving account of her experiences at school and how her success (she now owns and runs two businesses) ‘is directly tied to my ostensible failures of the past, not because of the scars, but because of what I had to learn in order to survive…
Post Graduate Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support
I was pleased to hear that I have been awarded my Pg Diploma in Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying this section and hope to be able to progress to the MA. However, with the LLU+ unit closing because of the cutbacks, I will need to wait until the next academic year to…