Developments in Dyslexia

How to spot, and empower Dyslexic Thinking in your child

2022 was a big year for dyslexia. In April LinkedIn, the world’s biggest careers platform, added Dyslexic Thinking as a skill, and it officially entered the dictionary

at www.dictionary.com as a noun. Our schools can no longer see dyslexia as a special need to be ‘remediated’ but must recognise it as a pattern of strengths and challenges that need to be identified and supported…because in every school, around the world, there are 1 in 5 kids with exactly the Dyslexic Thinking skills needed for the future of work.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexic minds process information differently, creatively. They are naturally curious, highly creative with an ability to unconventionally connect the dots and think laterally. Cyber Intelligence agency GCHQ actively recruits dyslexics for their big picture thinking, innovative problem solving, and all known Dyslexic Thinking skills, which are the soft skills every employer is looking for.

But our research found that teachers have little or no understanding of Dyslexic Strengths, and our education system actively discriminates against dyslexics with its focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar, and memorisation and rote learning. In an era of automation, where facts can be Googled; spelling, punctuation and grammar can be corrected at the touch of a button; it is creativity, imagination and intuition that sets us apart from the machines, and that’s Dyslexic Thinking. Made By Dyslexia’s Value of Dyslexia reports produced in partnership with EY found Dyslexic Thinking Skills map directly to the World Economic Forum’s Skills for the Future.

Learn Dyslexia

Given the right training teachers can spot and support dyslexic learners and empower their

Dyslexic Thinking. dyslexic thinking Forward-thinking schools have been doing this for decades, [dis-lek-sik thing-king] but they are the exception not the rule. noun That’s why Made By Dyslexia has partnered 1 an approach to problem solving, assessing with Microsoft to information, and learning, often used by develop FREE online people with dyslexia, that involves pattern training featuring recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking, and interpersonal communication. dyslexia experts from world leading schools. The training will enable every teacher to spot, support and empower dyslexic students and create an inclusive classroom where their Dyslexic Thinking can thrive. Earlier this month we announced that New York City public schools have trained EVERY teacher, all 100,000 of them, and now we’re calling on others to follow their lead. Our new ‘Learn Dyslexia’ campaign asks every teacher to ‘Take A Day for Dyslexia’ and skill up using our FREE online training. One single day is all it takes to complete all three training levels. But it’s enough to change a child’s life. You can find out more and find links to our training at www.dictionary.com As parents – the best thing we can do is to Learn Dyslexia ourselves, by watching the training films we will skill ourselves up to empower the limitless potential in our brilliant dyslexic children. And we can be the change too, by joining the movement and asking our MPs, Mayors, or schools to follow the example of NYC.

How to spot Dyslexic Thinking skills in kids

An easy way to do this is to think about what your child loves to do and would do for hours, if left to their own devices. Dyslexic kids become experts in the subjects they love because they are inquisitive and curious and use lots of Dyslexic Thinking skills to find out all there is to know about it. This is often a great way to spot dyslexia in our kids early. Just observe how they master a topic they love, but at the same time struggle to grasp simple skills their peers find easy. This mismatch or ‘spiky profile’ is a key marker for dyslexia and can often be spotted at a very young age.

Storytellers

Makers “People”People

Entertainers

Imaginers

Movers

Questioners

7 Dyslexic Archetypes – taken from Xtraordinary People

Dyslexic children have a natural ability in one or some of these 7 Archetypes. While all children will show ability in these areas, dyslexics tend to immerse themselves and become ‘expert’ at them.

Storytellers: Persuasive. Tell tall tales. Elaborate explainers. Invent stories. Love stories and films. Makers: Jigsaws. Puzzles. Lego. Building things. Making things. Cooking. Crafts. Art and painting. Entertainers: Music and rhythm. Singing. Dancing. Jokers. Expressive arts. Like putting on a show. Movers: Fidgets ‘on the go’. Physical risk takers. Sports/ball skills. Balance. Climbing. Skateboarding. Gymnastics. Imaginers: Daydreaming. Making up games and fantasy/imaginary worlds. Create dens and ‘worlds’ out of things. Get lost in their imagination, immersed in activities. Questioners: Constantly ask ‘what if?’ and ‘why not?’. Challenge norms and rules. Have an answer for everything. Always curious. Problem solvers. Explain things to everyone. ‘People’ People: Peacemakers. Social organisers. Busybodies. Helpers. Charmers. Carers. Leaders.

The most important thing we can do for any dyslexic child is to identify their Strengths and place as much importance on them as we do on their Challenges. With help, our kids will learn to do all they need to do well enough, but it’s their Dyslexic Strengths that will help them to excel in life.

KATE GRIGGS, founder and CEO of global charity Made By Dyslexia and author of dyslexia guide This is Dyslexia (Penguin, £11.99) and children’s book Xtraordinary People: Made By Dyslexia (Penguin, £6.99).