About Me
I am a qualified specialist teacher, based in Hertfordshire, with experience in teaching all ages and abilities. I am Head of Dyslexia in a local mainstream secondary school, where I have been employed for 11 years, to improve students’ literacy skills to ensure they achieve their full potential.
I became interested in dyslexia as several of my students were struggling with reading and writing, often displaying bizarre attempts at the same word throughout the same piece of work. There seemed to be little information about this common difficulty from which many of our children suffer. Advice was not easily accessible and appropriate help was not available. I decided to investigate the issues these students had so I could understand, help and offer suitable strategies.
I have helped many students become proficient readers by teaching a variety of successful techniques to suit individual learning styles. This builds confidence and ensures progression so that every student succeeds.
Everyone deserves to achieve to the very best of their ability. With the right help, support and guidance, this is possible.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a complex neurological condition, also known as a ‘specific learning difficulty’. The cause of dyslexia is still unknown, although we do know that it is about the way in which the brain is programmed.
Who is Dyslexic?
One in ten of the population are dyslexic. There is strong evidence to suggest that dyslexia is hereditary; affecting more boys than girls. The effects of dyslexia can range from mild to severe and can occur across a whole range of underlying abilities.
How can specialist teaching help?
After assessing students, difficulties are targeted and effective strategies taught, to ensure progression. This will include a variety of different learning styles tailored to the individual, depending on the age and ability of the learner.
What are the characteristics of Dyslexia?
Dyslexics may show difficulties with decoding, reading fluency, comprehension, sequencing, spelling, organisational skills, and processing information. They may also have a poor short-term and working memory.
Dyslexics will show difficulties with…
Phonological Awareness
This is a difficulty manipulating sounds within words and linking the idea of spoken word into text; either reading or writing. It is also a difficulty recognising rhyme, breaking up words into individual sounds and linking written letters with the sound they make. It is also an inability to recognise blends (individual letters blended together, for example: ‘cl’, ‘pr’, ‘spl’, ‘str’) and digraphs (letters put together that make one sound, for example: ‘ai’, ‘oa’, ‘sh’, ‘th’) and the inability to break up words into syllables.
Poor Auditory Short-term Memory
Dyslexics typically struggle to retain any amount of information that has been delivered verbally; especially long lists. Learning times tables and to tell the time may present a difficulty.
Processing and Production Speeds
Speed of thinking, processing information and producing answers quickly; whether verbally or written. They may have difficulties understanding what you say and following more complex instructions. Lengthy exam questions can often be misinterpreted or simply not understood.
Poor Co-ordination and Fine Motor Skills
Dyslexics often have very poor handwriting. They may also show confusion between left and right.
Organisational and Sequencing Difficulties
The typical brain is like a well organised library where information is neatly filed, any new information is automatically stored and information that needs retrieving is quickly accessible. Someone with dyslexia will generally struggle with retrieving information quickly as their brain will lack an organised ‘filing system’.
Contact Me
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like further information regarding tuition.