Teacher Awareness Series: Introduction

by Jean Schedler, Ph.D. Educational Consultant

The week of June 15th was Dyslexia Awareness Week – and many wonderful articles, workshops and resources were shared throughout the country.

There continues to be an emphasis on “what” is dyslexia, how to “identify”dyslexia, how to effectively “teach” a student who is dyslexic and how to “measure progress”.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one were able to insert a flash-drive into one’s brain and download everything needed to be known by a classroom teacher! And then assimilate the new information with a teacher’s current body of knowledge and wisdom and apply it to one’s current students.

The researchers and “experts” are each contributing their unique piece of the puzzle.

Classroom teachers are left pondering: “what does dyslexia look like in a classroomsetting?” – specifically MY classroom setting!

Leaving the classroom teachers to ponder the next question – how do I make a difference given my skills and resources in my classroom, school, community?

If you attended the 2008 SPELD conference held in Christchurch, you joined me “on the school bus” journey through dyslexia – where we explored how we came to our current understanding regarding dyslexia – beginning back in the early 1800’s to current day brain scans.

I am inviting you to join me now on my personal/professional journey to better understand how dyslexia presents itself in a classroom setting – the journey of a teacher – a clinician – trying to make a difference one student, one classroom, one teacher at a time.

Teacher Awareness Series I comprises five short articles about what I needed to do differently as a classroom teacher/clinician. Five things that I changed about myself – so as to be more aware/ more attune to the learning style or needs of my students.

Teacher Awareness Series II comprises six short articles. These are about the basic reading underpinnings that I needed to be cognizant of, vigilant to teach and review and ensure that every one of my students had mastered – and I, as a professional, not “assume” anything!

So I invite you to join me – over the next couple months – on my personal journey of Teacher Awareness.

To learn more about Dr Schedler’s September 2009 Workshops and Training in Reading intervention materials (Sonday System) contact Read Auckland info@readauckland.co.nz or tele­phone 09-529 1381.