Dyslexia

What is Dyslexia? 

Dyslexia covers a wide range of difficulties and it is unique for each individual. It causes difficulty in the skills needed for learning to read, spell and write; but it is much more than that. It can also cause issues with organisation or forgetting what someone has told you, or their name. Even memorising a mobile number or multiplication fact can become a struggle.

There is no medicine that will cure dyslexia, the brain works differently. But having dyslexia does not mean you lack intelligence.

Impact of dyslexia 

An impact of dyslexia is low self-confidence. When you can’t seem to do the things other people find easy, then you start to believe it when people tell you you’re lazy or stupid. But when you stop trying there is no hope of success. The first step is to make a child with dyslexia understand that they can succeed with a different approach. At Waterside we use many different techniques to build self-esteem with spelling.  

Does my child have dyslexia? 

If you are concerned that your child may have dyslexia, firstly speak to Mrs Wills who will be able to offer you some help and advice.  
However, there are some warning signs: 

In reading

  • Immediately forgetting what has just been read.
  • Slower reading speed.
  • While reading, missing out words or missing off the end of a word.
  • Forgetting what has just been read.
  • Becoming quickly tired while reading

In spelling 

  • Mixing up the sequence of letters when spelling e.g. hlep for help
  • Forgetting how to spell a word that was learned a few days before.
  • Missing out letters or missing off the end of a word e.g. lik for like
  • Spelling a word as it sounds e.g. duz for does or wont for want
  • Spelling a ‘t’ or ‘d’ instead of ‘ed’ e.g. hopt for hopped
  • Difficulty with homophones and Sight Words e.g. their and there
  • Frequently adding an ‘e’ onto the end of words e.g. milke
  • Spelling ‘ck’ instead of ‘k’ e.g. pinck for pink

Other difficulties 

  • Can’t seem to learn how to tie shoe laces.
  • Difficulty rhyming.
  • Can’t remember their phone number or home address
  • Can’t remember times tables.
  • Confusion between left and right.