Like you, my children are the most precious things on this earth. Starting school was exciting, but very soon it became evident that what most other children found easy, mine found very difficult. The emotional roller coaster began… seeing your happy, curious, confident child, slowly creep into the shadows, is devastating.
All three had very different reasons for failing to learn to read, write, spell or do maths. Not only are two of them severely dyslexic, it turns out they have elements of dyspraxia and attention deficit too.
The impact at home was enormous: fear of school, headaches and tummy pain, panic attacks, low confidence and despair. Homework was an absolute nightmare, and reading became a monster waiting to attack.
I felt very isolated as there was so little support from school. Some teachers were fantastic; however, many were not - I received some of the most eye-watering comments over the years and, had I listened to some of the awful advice, my children would be in a very different place now.
Determined to find out how I could help, I started a course at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre. I learnt to understand what it is to have a specific learning difficulty (SpLD). I went on to learn how to teach children with SpLDs. Finally, I completed the Level 7 Diploma Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/SpLDs, and I am qualified to assess and diagnose dyslexia.
I found it fascinating, and I passionately believe that understanding the underlying reasons why a learner struggles and providing specific targeted support can be transformational.
I work as a specialist teacher, and I am a SEND Governor at my local primary school. Through this combination of personal and professional experience, I have a far greater understanding of how dyslexia children learn, how to develop their academic abilities and more importantly, their confidence.
I believe every person with dyslexia has something unique to offer, their own set of incredible strengths. None of them deserve to feel stupid or worthless because they can't read, write, spell or do maths YET.
Work on the weaknesses through the strengths and, in their own time, they can learn to fly...
"I don’t mind being dyslexic, but I have to work harder than everyone else and it is tiring. Kim has helped me not to feel irritated and sad about it and has helped me so much."
