Dyslexia Advanced Certificate
Course Outline

Thecourse consists of five Modules, each with one assignment:

MODULE 1: ADVANCED READING SKILLS

*** Using advanced skills when hearing a child read
*** Advanced use of the Golden Rule when hearing a dyslexic
      child read
*** Learning word attack skills

*** Three stages for hearing a child read
*** The acid test for success at hearing a dyslexic child read
*** Reading word endings
*** Praise based on evidence.

MODULE 2: SHORT-TERM MEMORY AND VISUAL TRACKING

*** Short-term memory
*** Testing short-term memory
*** Difficulties with short-term memory in the classroom

*** Techniques to improve short-term memory
*** Visual Tracking and letter reversals
*** Exercises to improve a child's visual tracking skills

MODULE 3: SYNTHETIC PHONICS

*** What are Phonics?
*** Synthetic Phonics Compared to Analytic Phonics
*** Write in Lower-case Letters

*** Use sounds, not letter names
*** Multisensory Teaching Methods
*** Multisensory Reminders
*** Games and Activities Using a Multisensory Approach

MODULE 4: ASSESSMENT

*** The purpose of an assessment
*** What you need to make an assessment of dyslexia
*** Levels of assessment

*** Assessing a child's intelligence
*** Forming an opinion
*** Forming an objective opinion

*** The meaning of 'average'
*** Avoiding familiarity with a particular test
*** Possible dyslexia

*** How to avoid being biased
*** Discuss the child with another adult
*** Finding suitable tests

*** Giving the actual test
*** Examples of suitable tests
*** A formal assessment by a psychologist

*** Overlapping conditions
*** Attention Deficit (ADHD)
*** Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) or Dyspraxia

*** Dyscalculia
*** Your final assessment

MODULE 5: TROUBLE WITH MATH/S: DYSCALCULIA

*** What is dyscalculia?
*** Misunderstanding the foundations of math/s
*** Assessing and re-building the foundations

*** Numbers can be used in two different ways
*** Teaching methods
*** Using multisensory methods

*** Discuss each problem with the child
*** Using a variety of objects to teach basic math/s
*** Using alternative methods

*** Using a tables square    
*** The 18 most common confusions in math/s, and how to rectify them   

Appendix 'A': Alternative Remediation for Dyslexia:

*** Delayed Neurological Development and Primitive Reflexes
*** Physical exercises to develop the cerebellum
*** The actual exercises

*** The research
*** Criticisms of the research
*** Research evidence

*** Using a trampoline
*** Brain Gym Exercises

Appendix 'B: Introducing the Films of the Physical Exercises on the Course CD-Rom.

Appendix 'C': Balance Exercises Shown in the Films on the Course CD-Rom.

Appendix 'D': Left/right Exercises Shown in the Films on the Course CD-Rom.

Appendix' E': Physical Sequencing Exercises Shown in the Films on the Course CD-Rom.

Appendix 'F': How to Lead a Staff Meeting on Dyslexia.

Appendix 'G': Assignments for the Regular or Standard Route.

Films of the physical exercises :

One well-known alternative remediation for dyslexia consists in getting a dyslexic child to do certain physical exercises. It is claimed that after a year or more of doing this, a clear improvement will have taken place in their ability to read, spell and pay attention, as well as an increase in  their self-esteem. The exercises are claimed to help children with dyslexia, attention deficit (ADD or ADHD) and developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia).

Examples of this type of exercise are to be found in the films on the course CD-Rom.

The exercises aim to improve the functioning of the cerebellum. For a long time, the cerebellum’s only purpose was thought to be to control the body’s movement, but recent research has led some scientists to believe that it may play an important role in reading and short-term memory.  

The exercises have become controversial, and are not part of the actual Advanced Certificate course. As it was thought that many students would like to know about these exercises, full details of the research and controversy surrounding them are given in Appendix A.

The 42 films on the CD-Rom show a child doing the exercises so that any course students who wish to try them with a child may easily do so.