FORUM; QUESTIONS FROM PARENTS/TEACHERS

As from today (20.5.09) selected questions and answers will be posted for general information. Names will be changed for obvious reasons.


1. Beth writes that she visited her son's classroom and found it to be total chaos.
Chaos creates nightmares for 'dyslexic' children. In the first place there is too much going on for them to cope with. Then there is no continuity in all the chaos, so he cannot get any track, any sense, of what is happening. This also means that he cannot predict what is going to happen next, so he is not able to calculate how to fit in. On top of this he will be aware that some adult (teacher) is going to want something from him in all of this shambles - work output, participation of some sort - and so his anxiety levels will be huge. All he wants to do is fit in, do the right thing and succeed - and chaos will prevent all of this, and create frustration and tension - a nightmare situation for him. this child is likely to refuse school, and to have nightmares.

This teacher needs to use structures to give predictability and sequence in her classroom - a predictable routine, a visual daily time-line across the top of the whiteboard, clear, consistent verbal instruction.


2. Amy writes that she is going to have to go away for a weekend - leaving her 'dyslexic' 7 yr old behind - and he is already starting to pine!
'Dyslexic' children typically have no concept of time - and mum going away is forever! They also tend to cling to a parent who is consistent and predictable, and loss of this parent for a period is really frightening.

Suggestion; Cut a strip of corrugated cardboard and mark it into 7 sections - one for each day of the week. Make the school days one colour, and the week-end days a different colour. Now put a highliter outline around the days mum will be away, and indicate the departure and the return days. Post this on the wall, with a drawing pin in the day you are up to now. Shift this pin into the next day each morning so as to help the child see the passing of the time.

As mum leaves home on that weekend, take off your used T-shirt and give it to the child to wear to bed or to use as a cuddly, until mum arrives home again. Not only will the T-shirt smell l;ike you, but it will be embued with your energy, which will be very comforting to the child.

This works equally with pets who miss you when you are away. I talk about these ideas in my parenting book, WITH, NOT AGAINST.