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Dyslexia/ child struggling.

Answered 4 years ago

Iv know since he was young he would struggle. I held him back as a December birthday. His teacher is beautiful but this last few months have been hard. His mid semester report was all d and e
And effort as gone from c (consistent) to s and r (sometimes and rarely)
He’s getting into more trouble for disruptive behaviour and they are sliding to his struggles all being behavioural but I tried to say , can’t you see his behaviour is a reaction to knowing he can’t do the work!

I feel like they are helping him for the most part, but seriously reconsidering homeschooling.
He is booked in next month for his official test for dyslexia , the previous one is just a “suspected” given he wasn’t in school yet.

His semester things are all coming back and I was shocked to find myself in tears. I’m not one for “test” results to be important. I guess I’m just gutted he is struggling like I knew he would. Like a realisation of my fears.
Am I doing the right thing putting him in school?
He’s otherwise happy socially. But has days he cries about going to school.
But I can always bring him around.

My mumma heart is torn and hurt.
We’ve worked really hard this year and I promised him a new bike if he can get to level 5 reader. We have been working harder on his sight words and readers. And he’s been more co operative with the bribe.

I know we are in for a long road of this back and forth, good days and bad.


I guess I just wanna hear from others further along , and tell me about the good, about your triumphs.
I know he will learn to read.
I know he will be successful. He’s a genius in many ways. So athletic, so creative, an incredible drawer. And by 3 had already figured out “making money” and how to do it.
I just don’t wanna break his beauty in a system that focuses in on his weakness.
Just someone tell me they have good moments.


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ANSWER
4 years ago
Hi my daughter has it and all was fine until this year (year 11). She was a straight c student but now d and e. We have swapped as much subjects to art, design and media and dropped math. We are lucky being in Victoria there is no minimum standard to reach so she will get her VCE but honestly it makes me feel sick that there are programs and funding for everything but dyslexia.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Iv been looking to ways the get the funding and help they need....

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4 years ago
It’s just so wrong.

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4 years ago
I don’t believe disparate funding is the solution. The curriculum and methods of how students are taught and tested requires an overhaul. The future requires designers, visual and lateral thinkers. Yet our school system has not had an overhaul in 50 or more years. I also believe by accepting bullying as that’s just the way it is really doesn’t support sensitive kids. These kids are the true leaders of humanity. Look around it is the nerds of the world that push us forward as a race.

ANSWER
4 years ago
If you have Facebook join the homeschool group in your area/region, they most likely will do meet ups weekly ect. Honestly homeschooling is the best thing for some children and it has grown rapidly in Australia over the last few years.

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4 years ago
I am already on them Thankyou.
The big thing for me is the time alone.
Sounds selfish but I have 4 kids and I birthed and brews at fed the all successively so each pregnancy weaned the next.
There’s about 3 years between each child so I was pregnant or breastfeeding for 13 years with little ones attached to me.
I always though I would homeschool but through running my own businesses (that only take the morning and only 3-4 days a week to be far) that 3 hours alone every day, iv lost all the weight I was carrying, I’m fit again, I’m nicer, lighter looking younger feeding the family better, a better friend. A better wife and a better mum.

I feel like homeschooling might compromise this new me

Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have sent him back after lockdown(he thrived in homeschool)
Then I get the guilts cos I wonder if I’m putting myself above him.

REPLY
4 years ago
Honestly I totally get what you are saying, I was literally the same! For me to get “me” time (which you need being a homeschool mum/SAHM mumps just a normal healthy human being) I have a schedule! When I wake up I check my emails (I sell a few things online) then I workout a little, shower and then get ready. I do all that before the kids are up. I always make sure I have schooling prepped ready to go the night before, once the kids have hadbreakfast and gotten ready we sit down at 8.30 and talk what we are going through for the day eg. The theme thins week is native animals. Basically we will do our English, maths ect together then they might do a few things they can do alone out of the workbook (that’s your time to do what you want for a bit). After lunch we do art and this week they are working on building there’s favourite native animal with clay and after that silent reading again meaning more you time if you have to go work on your business for a little.

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4 years ago
Yes I considered hiring a babysitter once a week, but I still like 1 day 😩
Iv been surfing every day since the kids went to school. After 13 years break really only surfing maybe once or twice a week. I went from being a travel round the world surfer to every other week. I surf every day with my kids but 4 kids in the surf isn’t exactly me time 😂 it’s pushing them into waves, eyes in 4 different places, only select waves for me and smaller surf lol.
I’m finally surfing bigger waves now as my fitness and strength is up.
It’s just been so good for me. I’m scared to give it up again.
Aaaand then the guilts kick me in the gut again lol

ANSWER
4 years ago
You are an incredible mum and your son is so lucky to have you. I agree it sounds as though he may not be getting evidence based reading instruction in line with the National Enquiry into the Teaching of Literacy (you can read it online). I would encourage you to speak with the professional who is assessing your son and have a look at the resources on AUSPELD. Be prepared for a lot of rationalising from the school, who are undoubtedly doing their best, in a problematic system.

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4 years ago
Thankyou we were suppose to have a tutor come into school for an hour (privately organised and paid for by us) then Covid hit. Not she’s not allowed in and we are waiting for a place after school. Two people I know their kids saw huge huge success with her so we are hoping. She has over 40 years experience (she’s from the UK) and says we are about 15 years behind Europe when it comes to dyslexia.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I have a daughter with a formal diagnosis of dyslexia. When she started school it was the same as you described. The formal diagnosis doesn't really do anything but confirm your suspicion. There isn't extra help (to the best of my knowledge) for kids with dyslexia, no ndis or an sso at school. I think later in school dyslexic kids might get longer to do tests but I'm not sure.
We have a tutor once a week and my daughter has been catching up. She is still behind the other kids, but have noticed her report is getting better.
Its so frustrating that there isn't more help for kids.

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4 years ago
Thankyou. Yes after we get her formal diagnosis I’m actuallly thinking about campaigning for funding and seeing how we can change it

ANSWER
4 years ago
I have tried to keep it really basic just so you get a rough idea! If you have a partner or money to hire a babysitter or if you have good close parents that could even watch your kids once a week or once a fortnight or even once a month it’s a good idea to just try and get that you time!

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4 years ago
Oops meant to comment this on the other post xo

ANSWER
4 years ago
You sound like a wonderful mama X I know that getting support for dyslexia is near impossible in some schools, so maybe do a search and see what school is the best in your area. If home schooling is an option perhaps you could do that if no schools are around, but keep him in sports and Activities so he can still make friends. I've seen plenty of families struggle with finding the right help esp in non metro areas. I really hope you get the support you both need xxx

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4 years ago
Thankyou, 😔he’s in one of the best options of school as far as help goes. It’s been good so far just since his behaviour changed they seem to be focusing a bit more on that. His teachers have been wonderful. It’s more the other teachers at the group meetings for him

ANSWER
4 years ago
Don't promise him gifts based on his achievement or ability. Give gifts based on his effort. Please. I'm a mum in the same boat. Our allows nurturing pride instead of harboring shame.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Thankyou, it kind of is for his effort too, I said if he does his words 4 times a week without fuss, and also gets to level 5. He would get the new bike. If he doesn’t get to 5 and the effort is still there he will absolutely still get it. What he would do through gritted teeth he was vacant for so learnt nothing. Since giving him this goal to work for he run over his sight words most nights with little fuss and has gone from level 2-3 in 3 weeks. (So far over a year to go from 1-2 )
It’s made me realise my opinion (similar to yours) goes against what I know to be true to work for him. He does really well when he has a goal to work for a clear frame work and end point.
So just saying put in effort wouldn’t be clear enough for him. He needs that direction and an end goal.