Introductory course for parents of dyslexic children

The Specific Learning Difficulties Service has again successfully completed the annual course for parents of dyslexic children.

The objective of the course was to offer parents the opportunity to understand the implications of dyslexia and give them insights into their role of supporting the child at home.

The SpLD team firmly believes that the reading and writing levels of dyslexic individuals can improve considerably with the appropriate multi-sensory intervention. Such techniques are all important and must be firmly implemented before any special examination arrangements are applied for or even considered!

This year's course included six sessions and parents were introduced to the basic principles of multi-sensory teaching. In the first session a parent (and teacher) related how she supported her dyslexic children in the early years of their education until they eventually became independent.

Parents realised that it is the different strategies together with a structure and a commitment to work that can lead to success.

Over the past years the SpLD service has witnessed considerable improvement in reading development as a result of paired reading techniques, when appropriately implemented (Firman, Francica and Grech, 2000, Firman, 2001, Grech, 2005).

Consequently, this reading technique was illustrated and discussed and parents were strongly urged to implement the strategy within specific time frames. They were then shown reading software programs and reading material on CD ROMs available at the SpLD library and were encouraged to make use of the SpLD lending library since it offers a wide selection of reading books carefully selected to target the various reading levels.

Revision techniques were also addressed - these included key words, mind maps and visualisation. Parents were encouraged to use visual, auditory and tactile senses when attempting to carry out any reinforcement at home.

A wide variety of spelling techniques were also illustrated to ensure that regular but enjoyable reinforcement is carried out on a daily basis. Since organisation is one of the weaknesses of dyslexic individuals, tools to reduce such difficulties were also illustrated. Children of parents attending the course were invited to attend an activity day during which they were given the opportunity to try out, together with their parents, the techniques illustrated during the lectures. Participants tried out with enthusiasm the software, board games, reading materials and other resources used for multi-sensory teaching.

During the final session parents were invited to give their comments, views and feedback. It was generally agreed that participation in such a course helped develop more understanding of the difficulties encountered by the child and awareness of the 'small' changes that can be implemented at home both for the purposes of literacy development and general reinforcement of school curriculum.

It was evident that such awareness enabled parents to appreciate that a positive attitude can slowly encourage the child to move forward along with the rest of his peers. The course was co-ordinated by Christine Firman, co-ordinator of the SpLD service, and all team members contributed.

The Specific Learning Difficulties Service (SpLd) is a unit within the Curriculum and Management Department of the Education Division which strives to create more awareness of the difficulties encountered by dyslexic individuals and offers support and advice on the accommodations required at home and in schools. The SpLD Service also supports individuals by means of a lending library which provides books catering for specific difficulties in the development of literacy skills.