Moore Learning

As part of International Women's Day, the inspirational Maggie Aderin-Pocock (space scientist, presenter of 'Sky at Night' and CBeebies 'Star Gazing' and also dyslexic) is to be honoured with a Barbie doll. She has been named a Barbie Role Model for her work in promoting science careers to girls.

She said "I hope my doll will remind girls that when you reach for the stars, anything is possible,"

Brilliant!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64867924?fbclid=IwAR0xsn1JTj9UbR6cWVG3TPmYLXowMJgS_8NVF1qS_dwkl-BvplX54V0ecM4

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock given Barbie honour Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is named a Barbie Role Model for work promoting science careers to girls.

https://www.callscotland.org.uk/downloads/posters-and-leaflets/a-technology-guide-to-creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-classroom/
This free pdf details software that can help young people with dyslexia. While it says it's suitable for the classroom, I think it would be just as good for home too!

A technology guide to creating a dyslexia-friendly classroom - A3, portrait This poster provides a useful checklist, technology tips to enhance inclusion in the class to support learners with dyslexia.

An excellent free pdf explaining how people with autism process information differently.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10672469/amp/Holly-Willoughby-speaks-pride-dyslexic-overcoming-shame-younger-years.html

Holly Willoughby speaks of her pride at being dyslexic Holly Willoughby, 41, has spoken of her pride at being dyslexic, insisting it's 'a real feather in my cap'.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/richard-branson-linkedin-orlando-bloom-john-kelly-virgin-trains-b2047759.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Main&utm_source=Twitter =1648682621

Richard Branson hails LinkedIn for adding ‘Dyslexic Thinking’ as official skill The platform is recognising the term as a valuable skill which can be added to member profiles.

So often these behaviours can be misinterpreted and or overlooked in people with autism.

What stimming can look like (not exhaustive):

Humming, snapping fingers repeatedly, pacing, whistling, repetitive blinking, rocking, picking, joint-cracking, staring off into space, tapping your pencil, grinding teeth, chewing on inedible items, walking on tiptoe, making sounds, complex body movements, punching objects, jumping, hand-flapping, sniffing or licking objects, spinning, nail-biting, tapping, fidgeting, head-banging, repeating words or phrases.

Image credit: Molly of Me myself and ADHD

Kids who feel good about themselves have the confidence to try new things. They are not overly afraid of making mistakes. They are able to be proud of their effort as they don't hold their worth in their achievements. However because of this they are more likely to try their best. As a result, self-esteem helps kids do better at school, at home, and with friends.

I often use this activity to help child build their self-esteem.

Explain that self-esteem is like a bucket. Things that go into the bucket are things that make you feel better about who you are. Try and help them to think of more than just achievements. Ask what do their parents, friends etc like about them? What makes them happy?

But also things can happen that can cause holes and make the good feels leak out. These can be things that people say or things that we think.

We can't leave their buckets with holes. That would just make them feel hopeless. We need to find a way to fix the holes. Try and get them to think of ideas of what they can do or think that are specific to the hole

More information on my blog:

https://www.thetherapistparent.com/post/self-esteem-bucket

Keep Going and NEVER Quit!!!!

I think Matt's comments about reading out aloud will resonate with so many children and adults.

Matt Baker on how dyslexia has made him better at his job - PA Media Autocues, scripts and emails – which he has to read out live on TV – have proved a nightmare over the years for Matt Baker, who has dyslexia. Now 44, The One Show and Countryfile presenter – who was recently awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list – says he has developed a […]

Free for one week, to celebrate world book day, Nessy are giving free access to their new early years read and spelling programme for 4-6 year olds.

Help for Reading and Spelling Learning to read and spell the fun way!

Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students and Special Needs Technology can be a powerful tool to assist students with special needs or any sort of learning challenge. In particular the Chrome web brow...

So often stimming (repeated humming or hand flapping) is misunderstood or overlooked.

What is the cost of having a Specific Learning Difference on learners?

Yes, knowledge, new understanding, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes and preferences are all learned through experiences.  But do we all learn in the same way and, more importantly, do we all have the same learning mechanism in place? 

The 4th issue of our newsletter is out. In this issue (link in comments) we talk about:

●      Learning with Dyslexia
●      Overcoming the challenges of Dyslexia
●      Supporting our young learners
●      Solutions that help navigate the learning differences associated with dyslexia

Dyslexia is more than just words. It reflects neurodiversity - a different learning ability. But, with the right support, all children can find their strength and fly to their highest height. 

This different learning ability is so often misunderstood or taken for granted. Yet, it is only when we understand how something works and have access to effective and accessible resources  that we can achieve the best possible outcome for both learners and educators, so PAGS got together with Sounder & Friends™  to share their insights of this SpLD.

>What are your challenges when working with SpLDs such as Dyslexia?
>What insights can you share that would help others understand dyslexia better?

Some children won’t respond when you try and call their name.

This isn’t them being rude and ignoring you, this is them being ‘hyper focused’, ‘zoned out’, overwhelmed, or having a dissociation with their own name! 🧠 👂

English has a “deep orthography.” What does this mean?

One sound (phoneme) in a word could be represented in multiple ways. This makes spelling a challenge! 👀

One letter or one team of letters can represent more than one sound!! The EA in ‘eat’ can sound differently in ‘bread’ and ‘steak.’ 🤔

We must begin teaching children explicitly and not leave to chance‼️

The chart below shows how languages vary in the degree to which letters have a 1:1 mapping to sound. The transparent languages require less time to teach than English. ⬇️

Free online CPD for teachers and parents of those with dyslexia and other SpLDs, about software that can support mind-mapping and note-taking etc.
https://events.techedmarketing.com/teched-showcase-cpd-fest-march-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0zoxpsipN3fZ3yWdTU2sCqzE6Gyro_KLaKZUMr-5nID4-H7GXRONkv_tE

TechEd Showcase SEN Speed Date Join us for FREE between 9am-1.05pm, where you will break into small groups of 5-7 people and move around the room, listening to 20-minute presentations by 8 assistive technology providers for SEN, whilst seated at their stand.

One of our favourite resources! Specific praise is the best way to develop children’s confidence and self esteem. Here’s how you do it....

Download this and all our resources from https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/childrens-speech-and-language-resources 💙🌈

As children, some of us were taught to hide our emotions.

We dutifully stuffed away those difficult feelings and tried to ignore them.

We were told...
"Quit crying. That's for babies."
"You're fine. It's not that big of a deal."

That was wrong.

But we don't have to perpetuate the wrong. We can teach our kids to face their feelings directly because hiding or avoiding feelings doesn't make them go away — it just causes them to fester.

Let's raise kids who aren't burdened with the emotional baggage of hidden emotions.

Executive Function challenges are often interpreted as laziness, but this is almost always a mistake. Most students WANT to succeed, but they just don't know how. Our infographic walks through how to differentiate between laziness and Executive Function weakness.

If your student checks the criteria for EF weakness, just remember that these abilities are coachable skills. Here's how we can help: https://bit.ly/3kHRp4g

It’s so important to persevere in relationships with those who have experienced trauma. Relationships are SO hard for most 💙

After school meltdowns so clearly explained ...

Next week is Children's Mental Health week. Here's something to get you going with.

This Day, spend 20 minutes having a conversation about mental health with your child. Here are some conversation starters you can use.

I love this so much 🙂

A free pdf all about ADHD from the reputed ADHD Foundation. It is aimed at teachers and TAs, but great for parents too.

FREE BOOK - TEACHING & LEARNING ☂️STRATEGIES TO SUPORT LEARNERS WITH ADHD

https://adhdfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/REFOCUSING-ON-ADHD-IN-EDUCATION-compressed.pdf

A helpful blog we could all use: 4 Ways to Overcome Cognitive Overload In Your Students.

https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/4-ways-to-overcome-cognitive-overload

Thanks Claire Mills - The Neurodiverse Women ☂️

☂️Getting a diagnosis is not labelling a child - it is getting an understanding of a condition ( difference) that can lead to early interventions, help & support for your child.☂️

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, family problems, poor teaching or schools. ADHD is genetic-but it’s impact is influenced by all environmental factors such as access to assessments& healthcare, informed parenting & teaching & ACE’s that can enable or disable.☂️

As we head into another week, this is worth remembering. Like lots of us, I know I need some space post work, our little people are no different 😊

For anyone who might need this right now 💙

Things kids with dyslexia wish everyone knew

Executive function skills are vital for effective learning, but so often overlooked.

Pepper Kids Therapy ❤