Correcting b/d Reversal

posted in: Dyslexia, KS2 Literacy, Resources and Lesson Ideas |

The tendency to reverse b and d is a huge embarrassment for older students who struggle to get the mirror image letters straight. On dyslexia discussion boards, the question keeps coming up, “How do we help our dyslexic students stop reversing b and d?” Letter and number reversal is something that tripped me up for years and I have evidence still in a scrapbook which I started at the age of 6 or 7. (Apologies to middle aged Canadians who … Read More

Spelling words with ough

posted in: Resources and Lesson Ideas, Spelling |

This is a slightly modified excerpt from That Spelling Thing, a book of spelling strategies for the classroom, offering an alternative to look/say/cover/write/check. It’s written for teachers of any subject from middle primary to adult education and doesn’t require any literacy expertise. However, I’m assured there’s lots of content for teachers who are already teaching spelling. Buy the book – takes you to thatspellingthing.com. Bundling by tricky code <ough> isn’t a common grapheme but it occurs in very common words … Read More

Improved literacy is life-changing

posted in: Post-16 & Adult Literacy, Success Stories, Youth Work & Literacy |

Our strapline is “for people who don’t think they can”. Here’s what we mean. In Ireland and was told he was dyslexic; in England he was told he had a learning disability; teachers found him difficult; college tutors treated him as stupid. Look what That Reading Thing can do. This is from Stef Boyle, our TRT Wonder Woman from Worth Unlimited in Ellesmere Port. Nineteen year old N was referred to me by a training agency saying that he could … Read More

The added value of youth workers

posted in: Secondary literacy, Success Stories, Youth Work & Literacy |

That Reading Thing came into being because of young people I met through youth work. It was originally a youth work tool and used mostly by youth workers and volunteers trained to work in youth projects. They did such a spectacular job that schools took notice because their furthest out students were beginning to come to class on time, in uniform and able to engage. Over the years, That Reading Thing has become a tool used by schools as much … Read More

Never give up

posted in: Post-16 & Adult Literacy, Youth Work & Literacy |

Is anyone really unteachable? CK is a young man, 25 years old, who came to us because his Grandmother heard one of our LMG members talking about That Reading Thing. She said that C had never been able to read, he had dyslexia and had gone to a special school. He was holding down a job but wanted to go in the army and couldn’t pass the English test. He had gone to the local college for group lessons and … Read More

Literacy and Confidence

posted in: Success Stories, Youth Work & Literacy |

Sometimes a student needs to know they’re better than they thought. Here’s 14 year old Kazys’s interview. Interview with Kazys,  A 14 year old boy who gained 10 months in 6 TRT sessions.  What have you got out of That Reading Thing? I’ve gained confidence, I am a better reader than I thought I was. I have gained spelling & reading skills. How did you feel about reading before you started? I could read, but I thought I was behind … Read More

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