A Dyslexic, teaching in a virtual world
When I first came to Interhigh I was concerned about how
vulnerable I might feel as a Dyslexic teacher.
How immediate it would be that any of my common mistakes are going to be
observed by my students. I am relieved to say that the understanding and
support that I have got from this learning institute is astonishing.
My students have learnt not to be concerned about letting me
know when I say one thing and write another. I am never ashamed when I make
errors and I welcome corrections. I think many students as well as myself have
realised that sometimes we learn better from the mistakes we make. It is a
wonderful experience to interact so candidly with students in this exceptional
environment.
I had got into good routines as a classroom teacher and
relied on these practises to get me through the main stream school environment;
most of these have also been used or modified here in my newest teaching
experience here at Interhigh.
I quickly realised I was not the only dyslexic in the
Interhigh community and we have now established a support group for those that
have dyslexia and similar concerns. I
have pieced together my past learning and teaching experiences to create a
sequential course that I hope will help prepare, support and encourage
confidence in our students whatever their background.
As the majority of the population are not dyslexic the way
most students are taught especially at a young age is not all too well suited
for the particular strengths and weaknesses we have with learning preferences
such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. Adapting the way we do some things, can really
help us overcome many issues and adapt good strategies, so that we don’t allow
issues like dyslexia to stand in the way of achieving our goals.
I hope that anyone with concerns will join us in this group
and embrace the wondrous world of dyslexia and similar conditions. Together we
can discover the benefits and how to get beyond some of our barriers.
Roxanne Pearce
Science Teacher InterHigh
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