My Child's Gardener

The point at which one becomes disorientated, often resulting in the inability to read and write.  Well hell’s bells, I’m beginning to think I’m dyslexic too.

I am nearing information overload as I have researched incessantly the subject matter of dyslexia, its symptoms and solutions.

Up to this point, we have not done anything traditional in regards to our children’s education and I really don’t plan to now.  If the goal is “to read at grade level”, “to be ready for a traditional classroom”, or “to learn to take a test”, I am not interested.  Anyway, there isn’t anything at grade level about this child.  He is no average kid.  In every area, he presents either above or below.

Tonight’s Design-Build

I am committed to providing whatever he needs to maintain his confidence and boost his reading & writing abilities as long as it is not at the expense of his 3-D, spatial, non-verbal, experiential abilities.    I am convinced that with enough time, effort, and money, we could make him a linear, verbal thinker.  (All the studies indicate in approximately 3 years).  Ain’t gonna do it.  So in other words, I want him to learn to read and write within his own framework, not mine.

I met a lady today whom I am trusting to give us solace.  Her name is Cathy Cook at On Point Learning Center in Columbia.  She is dyslexic, has 4 dyslexic children and 3 dyslexic grandchildren.  (Did I mention it’s hereditary?).  She has worked in special education for years trying to “teach” reading.  Then she discovered, The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis.  The traditional method tries to teach reading; the Davis method teaches orientation and the student learns to read.

The theory is that the same dis-orientation that allows him to see in 3-D prevents him from reading & writing in 2-D.  The remedy is to re-orient the mind’s eye.  How complexly simple is that!

As for my son, he gets to meet with Cathy to talk about his imagination and play with clay.  He thinks it’s kind of cool.