Drop Everything And Read For Dyslexia: March 29th and March 30th.
With World Book Day approaching, thousands of dyslexic kids may well be dreading the focus on reading stories. At the end of March, the Drop Everything And Read Learning Festival is taking place to help you find strategies that will help your child to enjoy reading more. Find out more below.
Ever since I saw my brother dressed up as Wolverine taking my nephew to school dressed as Superman on World Book Day many years ago, I have absolutely loved the idea of finding novel ways of encouraging kids to love stories and reading.
Matt and Will saving the world on World Book Day 2009. Click on the picture to see how Matt tells his stories.
My own daughter used to say that she hated reading and would get very stressed at the idea of reading out in public. She struggled to see the text as it was printed and reading text didn’t make a lot of sense. Audio books worked well and she loved being read to. So she loved stories, just not when she had to read them.
There are thousands of kids who will have similar challenges related to experiencing dyslexia and it struck me that whilst it is a great idea to dress up as book characters on World Book Day, conversely the focus on reading stories could also cause anxiety for kids with dyslexia.
Later this month a learning festival is taking place that seeks to help children find strategies that will help them to engage with stories. To find the fun in reading, perhaps even to start to love reading.
Inspired by the worldwide campaign ‘Drop Everything And Read’ this festival brings the focus on reading onto children with dyslexia.
The reality is that there are so many ways to engage with books and stories and the Drop Everything And Read Learning Festival will explore these different ways on the 29th March (for the UK) and on the 30th March (for the US).
The Drop Everything And Read Learning Festival for the UK - 29th March 2021
Speakers for the UK include:
Georgina Durrant
FOOTBALL AND READING FOR FUN.
Georgina is a hub of information. In this session she will describe her Special Educational Needs support journey and why she felt it was so important to help parents and teachers focus on the most effective resources available. Supports for learners with special educational needs are plentiful but this can mean that teachers and parents struggle to see what might really work. There are many adverts for potential solutions, and hundreds of potential supporting resources – it can be hard to decide what might really be effective and supportive. Georgina will be helping us to navigate the most effective reading supports for reading difficulties including dyslexia and give an overview of the low, medium and high tech solutions that help to close the reading gap.
Dr Neil Alexander-Passe
HOW TRAUMATIC SCHOOLING CAN LEAD TO POST-SCHOOL SUCCESS
The experience of failure in the classroom
Undiagnosed needs, the repercussions
Misdiagnosed need, camouflages the problems
Negative coping-defence mechanisms start very early, and last a lifetime
Strategies to overcome learned helplessness
What works for young dyslexics
Homework and helicopter parents
Strategies for parents
Rebuilding resilience, skills for life
Carol Allen
Reading and the Secret Door - Reading Together
Carol will be discussing reading transitions and how to help struggling readers reach for the next phase of reading progress with confidence. This seminar will develop your thinking around how to resource, support and encourage young readers to pick up books with confidence and enthusiasm. She will also be sharing practical ideas for supporting children with dyslexia and undiagnosed reading difficulties to feel included, delighted and ready to dive into books.
Michelle Catterson
EVERYONE LOVES READING IN SCHOOL - OUR JOURNEY
Executive Headteacher, Michelle Catterson will be explaining why putting the love of reading into heart of Moon Hall School has been such an important project. The reading area developed from a dingey space under some stairs to become the jewel in the schools crown. The impact of raising the profile of books for everyone in school has become a catalyst to challenge ideas about accessibility, resourcing and approach to reading. Now all learners, including those with dyslexia and reading difficulties are able to enjoy, achieve and succeed with reading. Find out more about Moon Halls journey to ensure that reading has no boundaries.
The Drop Everything And Read Learning Festival for the US - 30th March 2021.
Find out about the US Drop Everything And Read Learning Festival by clicking here.