Giving Dyslexic Children ‘Permission’ To Learn Differently
Teachers from 15 schools around the Queenstown and Central Otago district and interested parents gathered at Millbrook
Resort on Saturday (June 5) to hear from one of the world’s foremost thinkers on dyslexia.
In a three-hour workshop, UK-based Neil MacKay demonstrated how youngsters with dyslexia needed to be given “permission”
to learn differently, and how changing the learning process in schools could not only benefit those with dyslexia, but
all children in the classroom.
“If we can personalise the learning process, they all learn so much better,” he said.
Mr MacKay is the creator of Britain’s Dyslexia Friendly Schools concept. Approximately one in ten New Zealanders have
dyslexia, including 70,000 schoolchildren.
Sponsored by Millbrook Resort and the Queenstown Cookie Time store, which supports the Dyslexia Foundation through the
Cookie Time Charitable Trust, the seminar got the thumbs up from teachers and parents attending.
Shirley Forrest, a specialist support teacher from Arrowtown Primary School, described Mr MacKay’s simple, easy
techniques as “fantastic”.
“We used to think that many children who were struggling in the classroom simply needed more ‘one-on-one’ time, more of
the same. Now we know they need something quite different and far more specific and tailor-made.”
Kay Hart of Mt Aspiring College in Wanaka said Mr MacKay’s methods of working with dyslexic children were “essential
learning” for teachers and parents.
“It’s a real uphill battle to get some schools involved but it must be done,” she said. “When you see the change in a
child’s self confidence when they realise that they are able to ‘think’ and ‘do’ and that the words don’t matter so
much, it’s very invigorating.”
Jan Rockliff, who works at Cromwell College and has a dyslexic child attending Goldfields Primary School, said school
was “terrifying” for her child, who saw it as hard work for very little reward.
“It can be incredibly frustrating being a parent because there doesn’t appear to be anything you can do to help them,
but the seminar gave me a great insight into how dyslexic children see things and the whole confusion they feel.
“This is the first time I’ve seen and heard about a simple process of learning that can be introduced in manageable bite
sizes while also making it fun for your child.”
In a draw, Goldfields Primary School and Wakatipu High School were both awarded $1750 from the Dyslexia Foundation of
New Zealand and the Cookie time Queenstown store to help further their efforts to become ‘dyslexia friendly’.
Dyslexia Foundation trustee Guy Pope-Mayell said it not only made sense for schools to become dyslexia friendly, but for
workplaces as well.
“This is a whole new approach aimed at recognising dyslexia as a learning preference. Seeing it as a preference means
that you can do something about it.
“If you apply this to the workplace, when you ask people to communicate only by email, where does that leave the person
who wants to come and knock on your door and tell you what they think?”
Mr Pope-Mayell said there were 500 schools around New Zealand that had adopted the foundation’s 4D programme.
“In the classroom, if we get it right for dyslexic children, then we get it right for all. And for parents, we help them
to celebrate what will work, and ignore what won’t.”
Further information on dyslexia is available from the Dyslexia Foundation’s website www.dfnz.org.nz and details about Neil MacKay, his workshops, and the foundation’s 4D programme is available from www.4d.org.nz.
ENDS