Presentation 13
Dyslexia, Behavioural Problems and Depression
Mark Le Messurier for GENERATION NEXT
A gift for participants from GENERATION NEXT Conferences, 2013
GENERATION NEXT Conferences in 2013 feature a national seminar series, and supporting resources, aimed at protecting and enhancing the wellbeing of our children and teenagers.
Synopsis
This presentation is in admiration of the kids who set off to school intending to learn to read and write, but falter because of an unexpected learning difficulty. Soon after starting school they realise that their learning is not the same as the others. The others scoot through the glorified reading boxes, while they struggle to retain word patterns and sounds. They burn with humiliation. This wasn't their dream, and a dreadful shame replaces the dream to read and write.
A few turn their shame inwards and immediately stop trying. As the emotional pain grows some give up, become sad, lose friendships and refuse to go to school. Others become depressed and contemplate the incomprehensible seeing this as a better option than dealing with their shame in front of peers every day. For those who prefer to act out their shame, the script plays out with surprising speed, volatile emotion and errant behaviour. Not being able to crack the 'print code' still hurts, but at least they gain recognition for something!
How brave are our dyslexic students?
How can they remain emotionally intact and capitalise on learning opportunities when they cannot access the everyday currency - the currency of print - so readily and easily available to others? Let's explore what we can do, on a practical level in the current school climate, to support young dyslexic learners and their families.
Click to download:
- Generation Next, 2013; Dyslexia, Behavioural Problems and Depression presentation.pptx
- Generation Next, 2013; Video clips; "Part 1 - I don't want to be here", "Part 2 - Meet Tim", and "I don't want to be here - festival version"
- Generation Next, 2013; presentation notes, references and useful websites
- Generation Next, 2013; articles on Dyslexia, Behavioural problems and Depression
- Chapter 4 from TEACHING TOUGH KIDS; Strategies to help organisation and memory; inside 'Tough Kids with learning disability'
- Australia's appalling 'little secret' about Dyslexia exposed – learn how to help
- Dyslexia – on THE PROJECT
- REFLECTIONS ON DYSLEXIA – this 20 minute film invites you into the lives of four very different adults who live with Dyslexia. They discuss the bigger issues behind Dyslexia; the emotional issues, and how it influenced their health, decision making, behaviour, opportunity and success.