Barton Teaching Method: Words of Encouragement

Words of Encouragement

As I said before, in the first part of this series, people with dyslexia really don’t have anything wrong with them. Dyslexia does NOT equal mentally disabled. They have a more developed right brain and function predominately there. All that is needed are the right tools, which are different tools, than other people to read and spell, and perhaps even writing. We won’t go into writing today because that is dysgraphia, but it is important to note that dyslexia and dysgraphia often go hand in hand.

It’s important for every person who has dyslexia to recognize their talents. It’s quite possible that they’ve heard about their shortcomings repeatedly either directly to their face or while adults were having a conversation while they were in the room. They may have felt hurt when adults talked about how badly they were doing in certain subjects as though they weren’t in the room. There’s also the never-ending putdowns from peers.

It’s time to lift them up and point out some of the amazing talents they have, some that are uniquely strong with people who have dyslexia because of the way their minds are wired. List credits go to Credit Bright Solutions for Dyslexia.

• Art of all types – painting, sculpting, weaving, graphic arts, etc.
• Music – both vocal and instrumental.
• Spatial skills – they can visualize in three-dimensions, and tend to think in pictures rather than words.
• Machines – they tend to be very skills at working with, designing, or fixing, machines – copiers, cars, computers, farm equipment, etc.
• Athletics – many of our highest-paid athletes and coaches are poor readers and spellers.
• Imagination – their minds are busy and constantly creating things.
• Creative Thinking – they naturally think “outside the box.” They often find patterns or “see” solutions that no one else notices.
• Curiosity – they love to know “why” things work – or don’t work.
• Intuition – their intuition is right more often than wrong.

Here’s a TEDx video about the talents and gifts about people with dyslexia:

One of the reasons why I love reading the Percy Jackson series to my kids, many of whom have dyslexia, is that he learns that dyslexia is part of his super power. I’m looking for even more story and nonfiction books about kids and adults to read with my kids and teens to empower them with more confidence and to recognize their amazing abilities. If you have additional ideas, please add them to the comments.

I also like to point out famous people with dyslexia. The list of people that are living today, as well as a few legends from the past, is very long because 1 in 5 people has dyslexia.

What are the most important things parents need to know?

You know what to look out for if you suspect dyslexia at any age from part one of this article. I recommend getting connected with a Barton Reading & Spelling tutor to help build the confidence yourself and/or the people you love who are struggling to read, diagnosis or not. In fact, you can be a tutor even if you are struggling with dyslexia yourself. It has been shown that your reading and spelling skills will improve along with the people you are tutoring.

Next, I shared with you some ways to build up the confidence people with dyslexia in your life, including pointing out their talents and naming famous dyslexics.

I also pointed out that people with dyslexia are NOT disabled. Reading is just one of many indicators of intelligence. Dyslexics have some amazing talents in creativity and athletics because the right side of the brain is used more and developed more than the left. They need tools that are designed to work with the way their brain’s design.

Your tutor will be with your student at most 5 hours per week. There’s a lot you can do at home to help. You are the most important force of change in your child’s life.

How can I learn more about Barton reading and Spelling?

This isn’t the first article I’ve written about dyslexia or Barton Reading & Spelling. Perhaps one of the others below will help you in your quest to help yourself or someone near and dear to you.

This is our #1 post because parents and educators are seeking solutions for adults and children who are struggling to read. Find out how the Barton Reading & Spelling Program works and what you need to get started.

Are you tutoring someone who has a hard time associating letters with the sounds they make as taught in Book 2? I created 2 games to help my son move forward when he got stuck in lesson 1 of Book 2. They’re free and I’ll explain how we play them.

You may not have access to an experienced guide to share some of the most important tips for tutoring. Let me be one of your guides. Based on my experience and training, these are crucial, must-have tips.