Feedback from students who
have completed the
Dyslexia certificate course

• • I have just completed my last assignment and wanted to share with other students how useful I have found the course. Perhaps the greatest help the course has been is with my own three children.

I am so aware now of different learning styles and have identified that my oldest two children ( 5 & 7) do have very different learning styles.

My 5 year old seems to have a very good visual memory and it is clear to see what an advantage this is now she is starting school and learning to read and write. My eldest child does not have such a good visual memory and reading and writing has not come so naturally.

I have been doing lots of phonic activities with her at home to try to improve her spelling. The Golden Rule of giving unknown words when hearing a child read at home has had a dramatic effect on what had become a nightly chore.

This time really has become a time that we both look forward to now, and my daughter's confidence has definitely grown. Although my eldest daughter is by no means struggling at school, I have always felt that there was a discrepency between her ability and her achievement in reading and writing. Everyone has always commented on how bright she is. She had a wide vocabulary from an early age is extremely creative and particularly good at problem solving. I have always felt a little uneasy at her relatively slow progress in reading and writing. She is still ahead of many children in her class but in relation to what I always felt was her true potential, there seemed to be a gap.

After being out of the classroom for 8 years I am slowly returning, giving extra support to two children at my own children's school.

The course has given me so much confidence and so many ideas and I feel that when I do return to being a class teacher I will be much better equipped to identify and cater for any dyslexic children in my class. This was my reason for doing the course but what I have also learned is how many of the principles of teaching dyslexic children make good practice for the teaching of the rest of the class too. (Joanna)

• • As I am completing the last assignment and reflecting on what this course has taught me - but more importantly, how I could have possibly taught dyslexic children in the past without this information and new understanding.

I teach in a mainstream school (currently on a break to raise my own children) and in the past have taught several dyslexic children, one severely so.  If I take the severely dyslexic child as an example, he was in my class when I was an unqualified teacher.  The year before, I had entered teaching via the Graduate Teaching Program, the intensive one year, on the job training for graduates in other areas (in my case law!).  So, not only was I new to teaching, I had also entered the profession via a route, which by its very nature involved less theory and study, and more practical on the job training. 

Suffice to say, I knew nothing about dyslexia aside from the commonly held idea that it is a difficulty with spelling and writing.  Whether that is less than teachers who studied teaching for four years at college knew, I am unsure, but looking back it shocks me to think that I was not given even basic training to assist me in meeting his needs.  With dyslexia becoming diagnosed more effectively and methods to assist dyslexic students becoming more sophisticated, is it not a 'no brainer' to set up regular training in schools for all teachers covering the key areas addressed by this course?  This need not be extensive and time consuming - surely every little helps.  Not only would it help teachers help these children to integrate and flourish, but it could also help identify undiagnosed dyslexics who are falling beneath the radar.

When I think about how I could have helped my student all those years ago, it makes me very sad that I did not know how to.  As it was, the child, his parents and my colleagues all felt I had helped him immensely, but I feel that was more down to boosting his self confidence whenever I could - a natural instinct.  How much more could I have done for him if I had known?

Thanks for an enlightening course! that". (T.B., Kent, UK)

• • As I go into the final module for the Dyslexia Certificate Course, I can only feel so grateful and thankful for the many methods and materials that I have learned about. My sincere desire is to help my own dyslexic son, as well as the multitude of children who are coming through the dyslexia program at our school. I have shared some of the multi sensory methods of teaching "b" and "d" in the course Discussion Group. We use the "bed" method, as well as, the "bat/ball" method. Most kids will catch on and go with these self-help skills. It gives the student a great sense of accomplishment to be able to self-correct rather than have a teacher mark his paper as incorrect.

Just today I was able to respond to a gentleman in the Discussion Group who reminded me of our own situation. We KNEW something was wrong with our son, but our school system couldn't or wouldn't help us. It is a tremendous blessing to me to be able to come alongside others who are now walking in the dismaying places that we have already been. We were able to find hope and help, so we feel a great responsibility to pass it own. Thank you for providing a forum for us to ask questions and also share experiences with each other. There is no substitute for talking with someone who has "been there, done that". (Carol, MS, USA)

• • Having worked as a UK primary school teaching assistant for several years I have usually worked with those children who have special educational needs or were experiencing some difficulty with learning. It became apparent that a lot of these children suffered from similar difficulties and I began to try and find out about dyslexia and its symptoms and ways to help them.

Everywhere I tried it seemed that courses were just for teachers, although it is often the teaching assistants who work with these children most. It was not until I found this course that it was possible to learn straightforwardly about dyslexia.

Having passed the first module my head-teacher asked me to speak at a staff meeting where, I was able to explain quite clearly the many different aspects of dyslexia and how the problem can be spotted in the early years of schooling. This makes it possible to help children before they get discouraged and disheartened by their learning difficulties. Afterwards, several teachers said that it helped them to understand some of the difficulties that their pupils experience; that they are not just lazy!

I would thoroughly recommend this course to others and I am looking forward to putting the strategies suggested into regular use, now that I have been given the job of senior teaching assistant for Special Educational Needs. (Sue)

•• I have been working with my own children when practicing the ideas provided in the course and on the Internet.  Am happy to report that not only has their school performance improved, but our relationship as well.  I have come to know my children in a way I did not know them and we are even bonding very well.  This is an experience that I could not exchange with anything on this world.  My elder son is just entering his teenage years and I am happy that we can now sit and share things with him.  Thanks to this course.  I thought the teaching they get at school is enough but I have come to enjoy teaching them very much.  I plan to continue with the training and acquire a post graduate diploma. (P.W.K.)

•• As an LSA with 10 yrs experience, I have never learned so much as I have doing this course. It has been a pleasant and enjoyable experience, and has given me further insight into the difficulties a dyslexic learner encounters.
When I first started the course I introduced myself on the Student Forum, and I explained that, even on the first assessment, I could already relate to many dyslexic children I work with. So much advice was given by other members, that I felt compelled (and was advised) to share my own experiences, (building self-confidence). It’s working well, and still my student ‘H’ carries his list around with him.
Today, as I prepare to submit my 5th and final assessment, I was asked by another course student to give some advice on writing her own assignments. I hope my reply is of some help to her. (A.H.)

• • I have just started the course and I wanted to express how informative I have found the first module to be. I am presently working as a teaching assistant in a secondary school with children who have reading, spelling and writing problems. The children all show the symptons expressed in the book in one way or another. Having it explained in a clear manner has been helpful and made me address the children in a different way. I would like to stress that these children do look for encouragement and do not run away once they get the help they want. They just don't know how to express themselves. A student of mine said to me, the best present I could give him was the thumbs up that he had done it right. I give a thumbs up for this course and its essential information in helping these children. (K.C.)

•• Thank you very much for having provided me with a wonderful teacher, support and encouragement throughout my study. I really enjoyed the course study as well as the comments and suggestions from other learners and teachers in the Discussion Group. I now live in America and there are so many opportunities to learn about how to help children with learning difficulities as well as to help them. I would like to put the certificate and knowledge I have earned through the course to practical use soon. I am very sure I will visit your website often for more information and knowledge. (N.G., Phoenix, AZ)

• • I work as a teaching assistant in a primary school in London, where I work with a child in year 5. I am coming to the end of the course with only assingment 5 to complete. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the discussion group with different ideas for helping children one to one and in the classroom. It has been interesting and helpful putting lots of your ideas into practise. I have also shown other teaching assistants at school many of the different stratagies I have tried. They say that these teaching methods have been very useful and successful with the children they work with. Good luck to anyone just starting the course, You should find the discussion group very helpful (J.C.)

• • I would like to thank all those who made this course possible. I just passed my third assignment. As I am using these methods with some of the struggling kids, it really touches my heart to see their reaction to their accomplishments. These kids really are trying hard and with the right tools they are gaining ground very rapidly. I wanted to see if I was really making a difference with these students so I made a line graph of their grades for the two subjects in which they struggle the most. I compared it with the rest of the class to make sure that it wasn’t a class-wide deficiency in my teaching. Even though there were a couple of spikes in the graph, most of the class stayed within the 90-100% range for math and phonics. The four students with whom I study showed a downward trend dropping 5-10 points lower than each previous test in Phonics but less of a drop in math scores. I started withdrawing them for study sessions when I started this course. That was about nine weeks ago at the end of our first quarter. All four students’ grades have climbed as dramatically as they had fallen. They are now 85% and above. I get a little choked up when I hand the tests back and I hear one of them say “YES!!!!” That makes it all worth while. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. (Rhonda)

• • I received my certificate a few weeks ago. The school administrator had it framed and she presented it to me at a luncheon. This course has been one of the greatest self-esteem builders of my life. I was scared to start, then I was sad to have it end. Dyslexia has become my passion almost to the point of obsession ... (R. G.)

• • I would just like to say at this point how I found the course most helpful. I have learned so much and feel very positive about my daughter's dyslexia and her future. I would definately recommend this course for anyone working with dyslexic children. The discussion board is brilliant. (A. W., Ireland)

• • I am Sana from Karachi, Pakistan. Just attended my last session with our group and thought I better introduce myself now, to share why am I doing this course and how did I find it..... Well am doing my Ph.D. on LDs and am in a process of developing a scale to screen "at-risk" children. I wanted to know what remediation is all about to incorporate it in my work. I found this website one day when I was browsing through the net and thank GOD I did:) ..... This course is a good introduction of remedial teaching and builds enough interest to go for a more extensive one ... My thanks and congratulations to John Bradford and his whole team!!

• • Just a short note to say thank you. I have enjoyed doing this course and it has made me aware that each child with dyslexic tendencies is different and learns differently. I wish teachers could have more training days to be made aware because I feel most of them don’t understand the difficulties these children encounter. (N.A., Kent, UK)

• • I am very glad that I took this course.  It has helped me a lot in helping my son.  I know he is a happier, less frustrated child.   He is also doing so much better in school.  The strategies that I have learned to help him have been amazing in that they have done wonders in his learning abilities.  He likes to read now and no longer feels that reading is "his enemy."  I no longer am frustrated by his attempts to sound out a word.  We both enjoy our time spent together doing his schoolwork and reading together.  The time together is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.  I am so glad that I am able to help him and I have this course to thank for teaching me how to teach him.  Thanks so much !! (S.N., Yuba City, Calif., USA)

• • I have just started the course and I wanted to express how informative I have found the first module to be. I am presently working as a teaching assistant in a secondary school with children who have reading, spelling and writing problems. The children all show the symptons expressed in the book in one way or another. Having it explained in a clear manner has been helpful and made me address the children in a different way.

I would like to stress that these children do look for encouragement and do not run away once they get the help they want. They just don't know how to express themselves. A student of mine said to me, the best present I could give him was the thumbs up that he had done it right. I give a thumbs up for this course and its essential information in helping these children. (K.C.)

• • This has been a very informative course and I have enjoyed working through all the activities with Kevin. The course has given me great information that not only helped me to learn more about dyslexia, but has assisted me in working with Kevin. Over the past months working through the exercises I have been able to take the information and use it with students who may not be dyslexic but do have some kind of learning disability and assist them in their school work. I know talking with Kevin’s parents that this course and me working with Kevin have made a great deal this year. They have said that they have noticed an improvement with not just homework and school work but a changed attitude. I know that without this course I would not have been able to help Kevin succeed in his studies. Thank you, it was worth the time, money, and all the work. Thank You! . (C.J., California)

• • End of my course - Well, it's the end of my course and I am amazed at how much I have learnt. I am a second grade class teacher in Hong Kong and have several students in my class with dyslexia who have benefitted from all I have been studying. Some of the things that I have especially found useful were the strategies to teach math/s and the strategies when reading with a child. My students have shown a increased interest in reading and their reading has improved! The same with their basic counting skills and multiplication skills. Thank you for a wonderful course! It has been SO worthwhile. (D, Hong Kong)

• • Course Has Helped a Lot - I work for an English school abroad as a classroom assistant and have found Direct Learning's course on Teaching Children with Dyslexia really helpful.
I am shared between four classes which can be very tiring at times but great fun because I have got to know four classes of children. I began this course mainly because I began to work with a little boy who needed some extra help and was in the process of being diagnosed with dyslexia. This course really helped me see different ways to help him. To help him with his reading we starter a little book together where every time he managed to read a set of five words that I gave him he got to stick them in and choose a picture or sticker to go next to the words. He really enjoyed this and was very pleased to gradually see the book fill up. We used lots of different tactics to learn the words including using colored letters or writing the words in sand. I made sure it was always fun and that the words where achievable. The boy in question is a lovely kid and always tries hard and puts his had up to answer every question the teacher asks, although is often way off the mark. He is young for his age (7) but I have noticed that he is becoming more aware that he is different from his peers and that he does receive more help than the others. I do try to be involved with all the children sitting on his table and help them all. With lots of praise and encouragement he is getting there slowly and is very happy when he gets things done. (R.A., UK)

• • I find the subject of dyslexia fascinating and I would like to thank you for producing such an informative course, easy to follow and full of brilliant ideas. (S.R., Kent, UK)

• • I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed the course. I have been able to implement some of the information from the modules to my work with dyslexic children and am delighted with the way the children have responded. (A.G., Singapore)

• • Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Last term I did a presentation for parents on what I have learned from this course. It went well because the course was all so practical and relevant. (J.R., Sydney, Australia)

• • Well done on Module Three! Very useful information in this Module for the average classroom teacher working with dyslexic children! (E.S., Zurich, Switzerland)

• • Thank you! I have really enjoyed doing the course. It had been a number of years since I last studied and I was worried at first, but it has been interesting and fun. (S. B-A., North Carolina)