Dyslexia & Reading

Dyslexia & Reading

Should reading matter in the modern age? Computers can ‘read’ aloud for you; special pens can ‘read aloud’, so does it matter? Should we still bother to teach people to read?  How you can help someone learn to read.

Why Read When You Can Listen? – Dyslexia Reading

People with dyslexia often have a problem with reading.  Usually, the first question I ask is, ‘are they on the correct level’ because they shouldn’t be struggling too much if the book is age-appropriate.

However, another way of ‘reading’ is by listening to books.  Which is often overlooked as people think the student is not ‘reading’.  While this is technically correct, reading can take different forms, and some research suggests that “listening to books” can be just as educational as actually reading them.

The ‘C-Pen Reader Pen Scanner’

And yet another way of reading is to use a special ‘reading pen’, called the ‘C-Pen Reader Pen’.  I have seen this in use a number of times and have never failed to be impressed. It is absolutely fantastic. It is so easy to use. You can use it almost anywhere, and if it is written in a student’s education plan, it can be used for most examination boards (in the UK).

Not cheap, but if it can sort the student’s reading problems out immediately, it is well worth it.
The Dyslexia Shop

How Can I help my Child Read?

There is an excellent website, ‘Dyslexia Assist’, with many handy ideas to encourage your child to read.
Dyslexia Assist

Do Repeating children’s stories boost their vocabulary?

According to academics, children who demand the same story be read to them repeatedly may be learning more than those who choose a different tale every time.

Research at the University of Sussex has found that repetition in reading storybooks is more likely to help a child acquire a broader vocabulary.

Psychologist Dr Jessica Horst and her team devised an experiment in which three-year-olds were exposed to two new words. Over the course of a week, one group heard three different stories with the same original words.

Another group heard only one of the stories with the same new words. When tested after a week, those who had heard just one story were much better at recalling the words than those exposed to three different stories.

The study was published in ‘Frontiers in Psychology on 17th February 2011.
Daily Telegraph, Monday, 21st Feb 2011.

Do we need to read every letter?

And, if reading correctly is essential, how come many of us can understand what is written below?

Do you have a Strong Mind? (Just for fun!)

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If you can read this, you have a strong mind:

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1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
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B3 PROUD! 0NLY
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Do you have a Strong Mind? (Just for fun!)

I do not think there is any science behind this. However, I do find it interesting.