submitted on November 6, 2006 5:58 PM GMT
Name:	Treley Woolger
Email Address:	dyslexicteachers@yahoo.co.uk
Organisation	The DTA
Comments:	Thank you all for your comments, and supportive replies! I couldn't agree more that we need to see some positive stories from dyslexic teachers, but I don't want them to all be about me! Please, if you have an experience of any kind send the DTA an email and I shall put it on the website. Thank you all for your continued support.
How did you hear about this site?
submitted on October 27, 2006 4:27 PM GMT
Name:	Annalee
Email Address:
Organisation
Comments:	it would be great to hear of the positive experiences that people have encountered as well as i think this will give a better overview of exactly how dyslexic teachers feel. i would like to be able to write about both positive and negative experiences.
How did you hear about this site?
submitted on September 8, 2006 6:35 PM GMT
Name:	james
Email Address:
Organisation
Comments:	This is a short note to say that i have just started PDGE course. It has been nice to hear comments from other students and teachers with Dyslexia. However, i would like to focus on the more possitive side, for example i have excelent problem solving skills which i think will help me through my course. So lets see some more possitve stuff. Thanks james
How did you hear about this site?
submitted on September 7, 2006 7:36 PM GMT
Name:	judith
Email Address:	j.rutter@winchester
Organisation
Comments:	I was just wondering if this sight is open to other people who teach children as I am a Montessori teacher and am dyslecix I found this site when doing a ba hons (was taken off it afetr my first year however was not gibven any help with my dyslexic) have completed another degree with help.
How did you hear about this site?	from a friend
submitted on August 7, 2006 1:51 PM GMT
Name:	Annalee
Email Address:	annalee.toon@learner.dmu.ac.uk
Organisation	student
Comments:	i am a student currently studying a BA in education and psychology. for my dissertation, which i am due to start anytime now, i am writing about teachers and trainee teachers with dyslexia. dyslexia is something close to me as i have people around me that have it and i thought it would be an interesting view to look at as usually anything i find is about teaching children with dyslexia. if anybody could give me some advice or information that may be of help to me in my dissertation i would be most grateful as i really want to show the reality of the experiences teachers and trainees come across. i'm also hoping that by doing my dissertation in this subject i will have a greater understanding of dyslexia that will help me in my teaching career.
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submitted on July 27, 2006 3:44 PM GMT
Name:	Jennie
Email Address:	jennie_foster@hotmail.com
Organisation	myrtle springs school
Comments:	Sharon - DONT GIVE UP!!! I am a dyslexic teacher, who is currently fighting the government to get recognised as a qualified teacher. You will find once you get into school and into a post it becomes much easier as you will be able to develop your own ways of doing things rather than having to use the ways and resourses of those who you are team teaching or shadowing with. Advice:- do the skills tests as early as possible. Tell the kids you are dyslexic you will be amazed at how this changes the perspectives they have of you and of themselves and what you expect them to achieve. Anyway most dyslexics are brighter than those you arnt who have the same qualifications as them just to get them in the first place - so dont give up!!
How did you hear about this site?
submitted on July 5, 2006 5:14 AM GMT
Name:	Ann
Email Address:	malacands@yahoo.com
Organisation
Comments:	Sharon, Do not quit!! If you think you have something to offer children, then you absolutely do! I have ADHD and a learning difficulty. I'm currently trying to figure out exactly what that learning difficulty is. and from what I've been reasearching it's probably dyslexia. anyway... September will be the beginning of my 20th year teaching. In those years I've taken a lot of grad classes, workshops and seminars. It's hasn't been easy. Frustrating at times especially since I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD til I was in my 30's and now searching for the LD answer and I'm in my 40's. Do not let this set you back! It may get you down from time to time. And you'll find it takes longer to finish things and/or get things. But do not let it stop you!! Your bigger than it! Students need your determination and your ability to rise above. As for me... I can't imagine doing anything else but teaching!! take care and hang in there! email me anytime ... Ann
How did you hear about this site?	ADDA
submitted on June 18, 2006 11:40 PM GMT
Name:	Sharon
Email Address:	sj.esther@btinternet.com
Organisation	PGCE Student
Comments:	I was diagnosed with dyslexia just before Christmas 2005. At the time I had just started the full time PGCE. I'm sure many of you are aware of how intense this course is whether dyslexic or not. I realised that it was too early on in the course to be experiencing difficulties Other students didn't appear to be as tired and worried as me. My tutor at the time commented on how all the students were as anxious but I was showing it much more.I felt quite sensitive and began to feel self concious and exposed. I was a little relieved when I had the dyslexia assessment and it confirmed why I had been struggling for the best part of my life. I do feel let down, especially as I went to a'good school'. I suppose dyslexia was not fully recognised and understood at the time. So at my ripe age I am trying to deal with this and mend any pyschological damage e.g some lack of confidence. This week will be week three of my block practice in the school. I think I may have blown my chances by having missed week two of block practice- this was because I could not cope with the thought of not being good enough to be a teacher. Now I am in a predicament- it may be too late to rectify this. Today I had a visit- a lady from the Dore programme. Has anybody heard about this? It's a one year programme(with a cost of course!) that is designed to help children/adults with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD,and aspergers. It consists of a number of physical exercises that help develop the learning part of the brain- the cerebellum. I've got to a point in my life where I am so fed up with this and how it seems to limit my progress, that I am willing to give this a go. All in all I don't really want to walk away from teacher training because I've got so much to offer children. I live In the hope that something like the Dore programme may finally help. Thankyou for listening. TodayI had a visit from a lady from the Dore programme
How did you hear about this site?	University

submitted on March 16, 2006 5:25 PM GMT

Name:

Madeleine

Email Address:

Web site URL:

Organisation:

Comments:

thanks so much for the information-an for the link to the doc- it does just state that its improper if i don’t declare it before i am on the course and i did! and needed a degree to get on the course so really don’t understand how im limited!!aughh ignorant people!thanks a million and will let you know how I get on :) Madeleine

submitted on February 26, 2006 10:09 AM GMT

Name:

Dawn

Email Address:

riggdawn@hotmail.com

Web site URL:

Organisation:

Comments:

I'm also looking for some advice, I'm a newly qualified teacher and finding it very difficult to get a full time post. I believe that this may be due to my personal statement. I too thought long and hard about incuding my dyslexia in this, I did so and am now worried that this is holding me back in getting a post. Any suggestions? P.S. I did well in my degree, higher than most that I know have jobs, maybe it's the way I wrote in my personal statement? I'm at a lose! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

submitted on February 21, 2006 7:24 PM GMT

Name:

Julie Bennett

Email Address:

julie@key4u.co.uk

Web site URL:

www.key4u.co.uk

Organisation:

Unlocking Potential

Comments:

Madeline, The document Fitness to Teach can be viewed on line at http://www.nhsplus.nhs.uk/allaboutOH/fitnesstoteach.pdf If you go to page 36 of the document that page 44 of the pdf file you will see the part which is relevant to dyslexia. The section is 16.4.7 Part of this section reads: “The DfEE Circular 4/99 requires an entrant to ITT with a specific learning difficulty to show that their condition does not limit their capacity to teach and states that it is improper for a candidate not to state a specific learning difficulty in their application. “ I will check out the legalities related to whether or not to disclose your dyslexia and post again. Julie Bennett

submitted on February 19, 2006 10:16 PM GMT

Name:

Treley Cope

Email Address:

dyslexicteachers@yahoo.co.uk

Web site URL:

http://thedta.tripod.com/

Organisation:

The DTA

Comments:

Jennie: The TTA tests are a severer bone of contention for teachers with Dyslexia. Personally I fail to see how these can ensure high quality teaching. But rather they seem to label those who can teach, but have difficulties under pressure, with words, or numbers, as being “unfit to teach”. I am pleased to hear that you have the support of your school for this. You also have the support of the DTA, and anything that we can do to help we will. Having had such a large number of emails regarding the TTA tests I plan to set up a petition on the website which I will send to all these “policy makers” in the hope that something will be changed.

submitted on February 19, 2006 10:16 PM GMT

Name:

Treley Cope

Email Address:

dyslexicteachers@yahoo.co.uk

Web site URL:

http://thedta.tripod.com/

Organisation:

The DTA

Comments:

Hello! I apologise to you all for taking so long to reply – it has been a very busy few terms! Claire: My advice would be to mention that you are dyslexic in your application and again at your interview. If you withhold information like this, but later feel that you need assistance, then you may find it harder if it was not mentioned before hand. It is very unlikely that they would refuse to employ you on the grounds that you are dyslexic, if they did they would be breaking the disability act. Karen: There are a few ways of approaching employment in teaching adults with dyslexia. One of the most simple would be to contact your local council and find out if they are looking for volunteers to help with any current courses they are running for dyslexic adults. A Diploma in Dyslexia is a good qualification to start at. Or you could do a teaching degree which includes teaching Special Needs. You can find more information about teaching Special Needs here: http://www.tda.gov.uk/ http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/category27/ And about the courses on offer here: http://www.gttr.ac.uk/ Gail: I am glad that you feel that life is easier now you are diagnosed with dyslexia and understand a little more about why you have had difficulties in the past. There is a large section of this website dedicated to strategies fro dyslexic teachers in the classroom. These can be found under the heading “Dyslexic Teachers” Madeleine: I am concerned about who is threatening you with this document, and why they feel it is relevant to you. Simply being dyslexic is no grounds for you being failed in your PGCE, and definitely not grounds for you being unfit to teach. I hope that you have spoken to your mentor within the university about this, perhaps also talk to the SEN department at your university and see if they can offer you any individual advice.

submitted on February 19, 2006 8:31 PM GMT

Name:

jennie

Email Address:

jennie_foster@hotmail.com

Web site URL:

Organisation:

school yorkshire

Comments:

In reasponse to Maggie I challenge my classes to spot any spelling mistakes on hand outs and on the board. If they spot one and can give me the correct one they get a merit. They think it is fab and are continueally challenging my (normally on correctly spelt words!)and the school beleives it is great and encourages them to take an interest in what they read. I am very open about my dyslexia in the classroom this means I can stop m