Category Archives: Listening

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Perspective: A Letter to My Dyslexic Daughter

Looking back…

My dearest K,

You have come to the end of the second grade, and today, we were both surprised that your teacher wants to retain you.

She said:

  • Your handwriting is poor.
  • Your spelling is terrible and you cannot sound out words.
  • You can’t read simple “sight” words and come up with distractions to get away from reading when your turn comes around.
  • You don’t know your times tables.

I say:

  • You see things in a different way from your classmates and that helps you use your imagination in special ways to figure out problems.
  • You find patterns quickly and can arrange things so they fit into any space.
  • You tell stories in such a creative way, using simple things around that, both children and adults are amazed.
  • You won the science fair because you were the only child who could explain your project in detail.

It’s almost time to go back to school. After working with Ms. Lynn this summer, we now know why you have been having trouble with some things at school.

I want you to know that you are not stupid.

You are dyslexic.

Dyslexia is not a disease.

It is not a curse.

It is your superpower.

I will help you be the best that you can be.

Oh the places you will go because of your dyslexic brain!

Love,

Mom

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Dyslexic: The One in Five

When a baby is about two months old, visual coordination begins to take place and her eyes are able to follow an object or person as they move, but they do not work together very well. By the time she turns three months, however, your baby’s eyes synchronize well enough to focus and track objects.  

Around this same time, not only will your baby smile when you appear in her line of vision, but she will also begin to make cooing then gurgling and babbling noises that graduate to imitating the sounds she hears when you speak.

Although every child develops at his or her own pace, most children will be saying about 10 words by the time they are 18 months old.

How did this marvelous thing happen? By imitation.

Children are keen listeners. Like sponges, they suck up the sounds around them, and without structured teaching, by 24 months, most of them understand simple commands and questions, as well as speak good enough to be understood.

Listening and speaking are innate.

Reading and writing are not.

Although reading is “speak on paper”, to become good readers, children must figure out that the sounds in the words they say are represented by different letters and combinations of letters.

According to Nancy Young’s Ladder of Reading, only 5 percent of children learn to read seemingly effortlessly. The others require varying levels of a structured literacy approach.

At the extreme end of this continuum are the “one in five”…the children with dyslexia.

Did you know that the most common learning disability is displayed by dyslexic children?

Most people consider dyslexia to be a learning disability. However, from my experience with my daughter and other dyslexic children, I’d say it is not.

I like how Ben Foss, a prominent dyslexic entrepreneur, and activist, describes it. An identity. A genetic, brain-based characteristic that results in difficulties in some areas, like reading, writing, and spelling, and strengths in other areas, such as visual, spatial, or kinesthetic skills.

Have you ever considered that whenever you are in a crowd, there’s at least one dyslexic person present?

Do you know anyone who is dyslexic?

What are their unique strengths?

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3 Proven Easy Secrets To Achieving Goals

Some time ago, I heard a quote by Katherine Paterson. She said, “A dream without a plan is just a wish.” Later in life, as I studied the art of goal-setting, I learned that writing down my goals, creating a plan by breaking it down into steps, and taking action to follow each step is key to accomplishing that goal.

That sounded simple enough. But at times, I found I didn’t know enough to develop the steps, so I got stuck in a spiral of incomplete plans, thus unachieved goals.

My inquiring mind sought answers, so I began to ask questions and pay keen attention to answers to the same question from various people.

This practice began my journey to the three secrets I outline in the video below.

Children who are characterized as dyslexic thrive when they can see meaning in the concepts and things they need to learn.

How can you use my three steps to help your dyslexic child achieve his desired outcome?

I Love to Listen Day

Listen to Me - Poem _1

Listen to Me - Poem _2

Today is “I Love to Listen Day.”

This is a day when you honor the people in your life by listening actively to them.

Here are 5 suggested activities you can do today. You will find more at the I Love to Listen website:

  • Stop what you are doing and listen to someone.
  • Organize a party and play listening games.
  • Send a card / letter / email thanking someone who listened to you.
  • Start a family tradition of “Listening Time.”
  • Develop your personal definition of listening.

Make this is great day for someone else!

You’ll be glad you did.

Can you add another listening activity?