A Poem On Dyslexia

Breaking Barriers

Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE is an award-winning space scientist, author, and broadcaster with a lifelong fascination for the stars.

Her childhood in England was challenging due to her dyslexia, diagnosed at age eight, as well as the frequent moves and instability caused by her parents’ divorce. These difficulties led to her being placed in remedial classes.

Despite these setbacks, Maggie’s passion for science remained unwavering. Her love for the subject, combined with her natural aptitude, helped her persevere. Remarkably, she attended 13 different schools before the age of 18.

Initially, she aspired to become a theoretical physicist, but she soon realized that her dyslexia made abstract mathematics and complex equations challenging. Understanding that a hands-on approach suited her learning style better, she decided to shift her focus.

Today, Dr. Aderin-Pocock holds a degree in Physics and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London. She has made significant contributions to science, including developing handheld landmine detectors and optical sub-systems for spacecraft. Additionally, she co-hosts the BBC’s The Sky at Night, where she shares her passion for astronomy with a global audience.

Dr. Aderin-Pocock’s journey is an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of dreams, regardless of the obstacles.

I Am Not Worried Anymore
by Susan Barton

Susan Barton loves hearing from parents about the impact Barton tutoring has had on their child, as this parent shared:

Dear Susan,

I could share this with a friend, but it would not mean as much to someone who does not have a dyslexic child.

My son is 13. He is dyslexic, and we used your program 4 times a week. When we started, he could not read at all. Not “cat,” not “at,” not “me.”

He could not rhyme or decode sounds.

He had three big milestones in the last month.

Milestone 1:
This year, for the first time, he tested in the normal range for reading at school.

Milestone 2:
I still read to him nearly every night because it’s our thing. And I’m going to keep it up until he tells me he’s done.

Last week, he was annoyed at the place I stopped. So he picked up the book and continued reading it to me out loud. Usually, he picks books to read that are well below his grade level. But this one is rated for grades 6-8, and he handled it with little trouble.

Milestone 3:
He had friends over today and they were playing a board game. He thought one of his friends was making up the rules, so he pulled out the rules and read them out loud to the group. HE READ SOMETHING OUT LOUD TO A GROUP. ON PURPOSE. And he understood what he was reading!

I have been concerned about him moving on to high school in a year and a half and having to read for comprehension.

But I’m not worried anymore.

Jennifer Streetman, parent
Grand Junction, CO

To listen to this story, or to share it, click here.

People with dyslexia possess exceptional strengths.

Their unique perspectives allow them to see connections others may miss, making them natural inventors, artists, and leaders.

Some schools are already starting to recommend that parents hold their children back a year – also known as retention.

Retention is not the answer.

Here are the facts on retention:

• Most children do NOT catch up when held back
• Retention is one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout
• Sixth grade students ranked grade retention as the most stressful life event — even MORE stressful than losing a parent or going blind!
  

Studies of academic achievement and socio-emotional adjustment between retained students and similarly under-achieving but promoted peers, reported in 19 studies during the 1990's, yielded significant negative effects of grade retention across all areas of achievement and socio-emotional impact. (Jimerson, 2001)

For links to these studies, click here.

For a list of 10 strategies, you can use to fight mandatory retention, click here.

To watch Susan Barton's 8 minute video chat on retention and opting out,
click here.

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