Been reading your e-book because I have a grand child with learning difficulties and I can see how her father could have used something like this information years ago. Instead he is a jr. high drop out with 3 children, a minimum wage job and a wife who rubs it in that she makes more than twice what he does. Maybe we can get a handle on his learning problems so he can go for his GEd and try for a better job as well as helping his daughter.
Thank you, thank you.
Dear Mrs. Masko. After reading the article in the Traverse City Tribune about dyslexia and the work you are doing to educate the people involved in educating our young people, I must commend You very much. Unfortunately You will no doubt find that there is an element in many current educational systems that is extremely flawed to the point that all they want is to push kids out the door and collect their per pupil stipend. They do not want to change the current system because to them , they feel comfortable with the way it is. Change Takes hard work and a commitment to do what is right and there are teachers and administrators who are willing to make changes but they are hampered with a corrupt, lazy system that is in place. As an adult who grew up with dyslexia and have had bad experiences in school with it, I now recognize that there seems to be no difference 30 yrs. later. Some say that the teachers need more money or that its the parents fault or even the kids fault. Regardless of the reasons, a change is needed because if we don't change society in this country, WE will fall behind. I would suggest that if a school system instituted a merit sys. where the teachers are giving a low base pay but with a substantial bonus if they succeed not in just pushing students out the door but in helping ALL students obtain a Quality education that will help them succeed in the ever changing global economy. Keep up the good work and stay strong. Dave in Michigan
Comments: I just learned of your website through the 2enewsletter. I have just had the
chance to skim through your website at this time, but just wanted to pass on a "WAY
TO GO" and thanks for what you are doing to make a difference in educating children.
I went through a nightmare with my son. It took us from grade 2 to 6 to get his school
to "recognize" his dyslexia/dysgraphia. He went from being considered a
"dumb kid" in 2nd grade to a now 4.0 student in honors classes in 8th grade!
Wish I had a resource like this. It was a rough road, but we made it.
Thanks again,
My daughter was diagnoised at 5 years old as severly dyslexic, she could not
read until 3rd grade. She was privately tutored with a great OG tutor for 5 years. I read
your stories and I can relate, we have struggled many years and spent many of nights
working on homework. Every year we go in with a long speech ready for our new set of
teachers and year after year we would try to educate them on dyslexia. This year my
daughter started 6th grade, the fear was huge for the first time we would have 4 teachers
instead of 2, lord knew I never seemed to educate two teachers how was I going to educate
4 teachers and deal with the normal every day life of a middle school child. As a parent
I am sure that you know and understand the sleepless nights we put in during the summer
months worring about next year. The day came and it was our first open house at our new
middle school, her teachers all seemed nice they where young and for the first time we
had a man. I left that night with more fear than I entered with. I had prepared my child
as best as I knew how. I dropped her off on the first day and I held my breath as I
waited for her to return, to my amazement she came in from school all excited she loved
her new school and her teachers. As all parents I felt some relief but still apprehensive
of what the year would bring, how understanding would the teachers be, how would they
feel about my always prying eyes and constant emails. I am pleased to say that this year
has gone wonderfully. The school and her 4 amazing teachers have embraced my daughter and her
unique way of learning. They have been the firt set of teachers that actually learned my
child, understood what it was that I have been saying and actually made a difference in
our lives. I am so pleased to say that this school year was for my daughter the first
time in her life on the A B Honor roll, she accomplished what she never thought she
would. She for the first time was ahead. My daughter hasn't change nor our love and
commitment to her but the teachers and the school changed and when they did we not only
found happiness we found success. Success that has eluded us in the years past. I am sure
these 4 teachers will never fully understand how they have impacted our lives or how they
have completely changed the life of one little girl with a learning difference. My many
thankfully emails to them can never thank them enough.
Thank You for sharing your story and for this website.
I am a Dylexia Therapist In Training, through the
Scottish Rites program. My grandson is suspected of having dyslexia and I am working
with him. He will be assessed later this week. His school is the problem, they refuse to
even intervene in his ADHD diagnosis. They continue to look at him as if he is a slow
learner, but he is a learning different child. We have repeatedly requested a 504 plan,
but the school has refused to follow through. We are fighting this battle as we learn
more about how to. Mississippi
My son is indeed currently a student at ****** High school. His dyslexia still exists of course, but he has become a strong reader. The school reluctantly provided a laptop with Kurzweil, Co writer, and Inspiration software. He is the only student in the school system who has a laptop, therefore he is reluctant to use it. The biggest gripe I have is that the teachers don't "get it" they seem to think I am a overreacting. He has had a few amazing teachers who have put him at ease and allowed him to demonstrate his intelligence. He shuts down when he is in a class with a teacher who expects him to work harder that she/he will work to help create an environment he can learn in, but he has maintained a good GPA and has even made the honor roll a few grading periods. We rejected the schools recommendation for placement in a self contained ld classroom. For the past 5 years he has done well with a resource bell and general Ed classes. He only has 2 more years until graduation
I am so excited over your site. My
granddaught is almost 18 and a senior at school. TOOOOO many nights we were up to
midnight doing homework. Her brother will be 15 and is in 7th. I held him back in pre K
because he was { I thought immature } He failed 7th last year because we could not get
the school to help in anyway with his dyslexia. This year, new school,resourse class and
passing grades. How my heart has ached as people called him lazy, etc. etc. and
privilages taken from him until he became depressed and lost all selfrespect. Grandmother
Comments: Thank you what a excellent source of information. I have a dyslexic husband
and 5th grade daughter. We knew this from day one that something wasn't the same. I
became an advocate by disperation I was not going to let my child be on what the schools
wanted (on medication for focusing) but I knew better. She now at least with my parental
threats has a 504 Plan at school and a great teacher this year. I get calls almost on a
monthly basis of referrels from other friends and family of people they know or our
peditrician. How can I help this country needs to wake up with educationing all and
actually I am thrilled to now have the brillant thinker I have it amazes me she reads for
fun now but really struggles writing. The math she finally got but not with the insane
program they use at school. I would love to home school but she is very very social and
husband had such an ordeal with that as a kid.
Comments: Have you heard of our organization that helps dyslexic children. It's free for
parents. It's the Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.
Comments: I teach a Special Day Class at a high school in ******. I have not had more
than one formal class that deals with dyslexia, in 1970, from ****** teacher's
college in *****. I am currently taking classes at ******* for special ed, and still
have had not had formal training in that area. It was mentioned in one class I had for
reading instruction, but no details. I can suspect that some of my second language
learners also have dyslexia, (perhaps two), but I need to know more. Our school district
has the lowest pay for the entire state, and I struggle for funding always. Please send
me any information you can give me at this time. I read about your website on the
web-based Special Ed. magazine for my state. You are fighting a battle most people cannot
understand, and I wish to know more. Thank you for your time.
Comments: Your website impresses me. I am a undiagnosed dyslexic & ADHD parent of a 16
year old gifted slow processing dysgraphic with ADHD and possible sensory problems.
Denied testing and services because she was gifted. My next child Very dyslexic and
dysgraphia with sensory, slow processing poor memory and ADHD. Daughter was a reader son
was a non reader. Distict denied reading services until 4th grade and then would not
provide appropriate when he was identified as reading at GL 1.4. It has been a struggle
quiting my job to help him and his hours of HW. It was more of a trauma when I filed for
DP to reimberse me for reading program that worked. I can not teach what I do not know
myself. He is now in 6th grade and getting more of the same NOTHING. My heart goes out
to all of the lost people who enter the world without the tools in place to survive.
Congraduations on what your doing.
Thanks for your effort . If you get questions from families who need
someone to prepare them to go to school meetings (including IEPs or 504s, do
let them know we are available to do that in most communities in Alaska
(some we'll have to do via telephone, fax and e-mail). We also run support
groups for parents and for youth (emphasizing self-help recovery
management/wellness skills. And we do parenting classes specifically for
parents with children with neurobehavioral issues
We are also connected with Posie Boggs, an excellent tutor and expert in
scientifically researched teaching techniques and materials. Her web site
is http://home.gci.net/~connectionsthatwork/
Frances Purdy, Executive Director
Alaska Youth and Family Network - Alaska's Voice on children's Behavioral
Health
Alaska Chapter of the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental
Health
P.O. Box 23-3142
Anchorage, Alaska 99523-312
(907) 770-4979 toll free 1-888-770-4979 and fax (907) 770-4997
http://www.ayfn.org dir@ayfn.org
An interesting essay sent to me:
Taught Them All
I have taught high school for 10 years. During that time, I have given assignments, among others, to a murderer, an evangelist, a pugilist, a thief, and an imbecile.
The murderer was a quiet little boy who sat on the front seat and regarded me with pale blue eyes; the evangelist, easily the most popular boy in school, had the lead in the junior play; the pugilist lounged by the window and let loose at intervals a raucous laugh that startled even the geraniums; the thief was a gay-hearted Lothario with a song on his lips; and the imbecile, a soft-eyed little animal seeking the shadows.
The murderer awaits death in the state penitentiary; the evangelist has lain a year now in the village churchyard; the pugilist lost an eye in a brawl in Hong Kong; the thief, by standing on tiptoe, can see the windows of my room from the county jail; and the once gentle-eyed little moron beats his head against a padded wall in the state asylum.
All of these pupils once sat in my room, sat and looked at me gravely across worn brown desks. I must have been a great help to those pupils--I taught them the rhyming scheme of the Elizabethan sonnet and how to diagram a complex sentence.
Naomi White 1937
