01/19/2023
🌈The difference colour makes!
Can you see the difference?
I had an Irlen client the other day. He is 7 years old and a nonreader. I knew he was Irlen from the assessment I had already done but had difficulty finding the correct colour for him due to his lack of understanding of the concept. I wanted to find a colour so he could interact with reading lessons better.
So I tried this.
I got him to write his name on multiple coloured papers to see if it would help.
The light and dark green pages did the trick! Doesn't it look like he wrote his name with much less effort on the green pages? The dark green he wrote the letter A correctly and the light green he stayed on the line!I then pulled out my light green overlay to make sure it helped him equally as much. And it did! His body language calmed, and his focus became better.
Did you realize Irlen was that... Simple? Well, the solution is anyway 😉
11/24/2022
Think about it. Put yourself in their shoes.
A child that can't read or reads at a slow rate is not a product of laziness.
Please ... Read that again!
I've seen/heard this time and time again. Teachers (mostly) and parents say, "he's too lazy, thats why he can't read."
When you hear a kid read aloud and they take literal minutes PER word, that's HARD work!!!!!!!!!!!! Why does that come across as laziness?
I often wonder if it's due to a lack of resources and knowledge. Having the time to do research or even lack of empathy.
If you're a parent and have thought about this! You're not alone! If you're a teacher that says this. Please stop.
We need to change the language we use for those struggling academically.
Let's start by educating ourselves or even just imagining what it may be like to be sitting in their seat in that classroom.
What are your honest thoughts?
10/05/2022
❓Is your child or student in grade 3 and behind 2 reading levels?
🚩Not reading at grade level by grade 3 is a big waving red flag.
✔Advoate for your child or student. Don't stop till you find answers and the correct rehabilitation.
📕 I've seen it happen over and over in the past 6 years of working with struggling readers- reading level won't improve after grade 3 without intervention.
💔 It breaks my heart to say I've had a HANDFUL of students at grade 3 to high school age not able to read at PRESCHOOL level?!?!!!!!!!!! How is our Manitoba system failing our kids THIS bad?!
📰 The good news? The students I mentioned above ⬆ have improved significantly in their reading. Enough to be at grade 3 (huge milestone from beginning at an illiterate level) and up for reading levels. Enough for them to CONTINUE to improve.
🧠 Thanks to the malleable brain 🧠 we can rewire and teach a dyslexic brain to read.
📣 Awareness is everything.
If you know of someone who is feeling left without answers for their child, please share with them my email. I can't teach any students right now (maternity leave) but I have other resources and colleagues that can help. Or I can simply educate and support any questions you may have.
[email protected]
10/01/2022
Do you know how optical illusions play tricks on your brain? Pages look like they start to wiggle or the image begins to move. Well, that's due to the high contrast of colours. It's how your 🧠 brain perceives light waves. That is exactly how Irlen affects you! Specific lightwaves enter the brain, causing the brain to work too hard, which in return causes symptoms of distortions or even pain. Every person with Irlen experiences different light waves and different combinations of symptoms.
Who can help?
✔A certified Irlen Screener such as myself.
✖Not your doctor.
✖Not the optometrist.
✖Not a psychologist.
*** those listed above does not mean they are not aware. It is not common that they know about Irlen, though more and more people do!
Did you learn something new? If you did, click the 🖤!
09/27/2022
❗The amount of children slipping through the cracks is damaging.
❗The number of parents forced to look outside the school system and FIGHT for their children is irresponsible.
❗The lack of support and understanding on this topic needs to change.
Do you agree? Comment below or share how/if you relate.
04/28/2022
🙌Drilling down: Why Dyslexia and NOT a learning disability.
🧠As I read the second edition of Sally's new book of Overcoming Dyslexia it has me feeling very passionate and excited that these are things that are beginning to be discussed. When will they FINALLY apply to our children- I do not know. I do believe that it does offer hope that the perception and understanding of Dyslexia will change in the world and our education systems.
❗"Dyslexic's have a reading impairment, NOT a thinking impairment." - Sally Shaywitz
Who else agrees with this?!
04/07/2022
🚩If your child is not at or near their grade level in reading by the end of grade TWO and beginning of grade THREE, intervention is worth looking into.
✔One on one rehabilitation with the correct program is the best investment you will ever make for your child. Without the correct instruction your child will plateau in their reading and struggle with it throughout their lives.
🧠The program I provide does many things that will continue to improve your child's future even after the program is completed. Yes you are investing in my time and tedious efforts I with your child weekly. However, you are also investing in how they can/will continue to improve WITHOUT me in their reading, self-esteem and confidence.
🎉Connection + Trust + Confidence + Fun (yes they will learn to have FUN reading) = The recipe to improving your child's reading level. Ps... This is additional TO the program 😉
03/24/2022
📖 Is your child between the grades of one and three during the school year of 2019 - 2021?
📖 Are they behind in their reading level?
I've been having multiple parents connect with me regarding their child being behind in their reading. Significantly behind, in fact. Some of the cases didn't show signs of dyslexia.
Which until now was hard to understand, but it seems there are multiple children that missed the experience to learn the foundations needed in order to read.
It also is showing those that show Characteristics of Dyslexia to seem to come accross more severe in their Dyslexia then they really are.
This is pandemic is something we are all unfamiliar with. It's impacted many people in many different ways.
If you are concerned about your child in their reading level and not sure what do to, I would love to chat with you!
Send me an email at [email protected].
Share this post with friends and family.
03/17/2022
🧠 Diving into this fantastic book! I've read the first edition, now time to learn some new updates in the Dyslexia world!
📖 I plan to host a seminar/info night on the new things and my big takeaways on the book and topic. It will likely happen in 2023.
🤰Maternity leave begins in June. When I am back is to be determined. Irlen Screenings will be available sooner than reading lessons. I am aiming to be back in full swing in early 2023.
🖊️ Inquires will still be welcome and encouraged as I am away on maternity leave. Email preferred.
[email protected]
03/01/2022
Intelligence doesn't impact Dyslexia.
🧠 Did you know that reading isn't natural for our brains to learn like learning to talk is?
Reading requires you to decipher a code; to process symbols that match individual phonemes that form into a word.
❌ Stop linking the ability to read to the level of intelligence.
People with dyslexia can learn how to read. It just requires a one on one in-depth reading recovery. One that focuses on teaching the student to understand that words have parts, and each part has its own sound to form a word.
❌ Stop underestimating the complexity of learning to read.
❌ Stop underestimating the learning ability and intelligence of a struggling reader.
11/23/2021
‼What an incredible update from one of the first students I taught FIVE years ago!
Swipe through the pages to read the message she sent me this morning and to see what her back story is.
I can't tell you how proud I am of this young student. She came from a place of anxiety, defeat and frustration in her school work. Her family chose to take her out of public school and focus on her reading and later focus on the other subjects. The end goal was to always put her back in public school.
Which they did. Now Ella is winning awards in a subject she struggled with so much. If you have tears rolling down your cheeks like me, send this girl cheers of celebration with your comments below!
She earned this award on so many levels. I am so incredibly proud of the hard work and perseverance you've put into your reading, Ella! Keep it up, and you will continue to move mountains!
I always encourage my clients that they are investing in more than the time spent in the lessons. It's the continued improvement of their child's reading that will continue after the program. 🥳
07/29/2021
Dyslexia Tip💡
I use this trick after I have written a report or an important email!
When a dyslexic brain is tired, learn to give it a break!!! Taking a break is productive to a hard-working dyslexic brain.
Take a break. Use this tip. Allow your child to take a break. You will find that they will be much more productive if they are given a break!
What are your tricks and tips?
04/28/2022
04/07/2022
03/24/2022
03/17/2022
03/01/2022
11/23/2021
07/29/2021