Is it an evolutionary enchancment in our skills to assume visually or, as “the present system prefers”, a situation, a incapacity, or a distinction? Even when we think about it a distinction, we’re nonetheless indicating that there’s something improper with the scholar. At present’s diagnoses give attention to what a toddler can’t do, which actually is the improper manner round. We have to give attention to their visible considering expertise and assist them additional develop them.
Strengths corresponding to creativity, curiosity, downside fixing, instinct, empathy and a lot extra are constructed on having distinctive visible considering expertise that may very well be higher referred to as superpowers. See this put up.
The sensible work of Thomas G. West, Temple Grandin, Linda Silverman and others assist this mind-set about distinctive visible thinkers. However why achieve this many visible thinkers wrestle with literacy and numeracy? There’s a easy reply: the schooling system is an auditory sequential system, based mostly on listening, talking, writing, studying, underpinned with phonics, as the one technique to develop literacy. Nevertheless, when youngsters discover ways to scaffold onto their visible strengths they discover fluent studying, correct spelling, improved handwriting and comprehension straightforward.
Virtually each younger baby in Early Years (EYFS) is a visible thinker; that’s how they had been born and the way pre-school encourages them to develop, constructing on their strengths, by means of play. We even have analysis from George Land and Beth Jarman, to verify that 98% of 4-5 12 months olds are artistic geniuses and that this determine progressively drops to 2% in maturity. “What we now have concluded,” wrote Land, “is that non-creative habits is discovered.” All we have to do is assist them develop their visible expertise throughout all features of literacy and numeracy, and maybe, dyslexia could not seem.
And as Jessie Rose recenly posted “Neurodivergent minds aren’t damaged – they’re wired for brilliance”. Let’s cease pathologising distinction and begin celebrating design.”
Empowering Studying has been enabling visible thinkers to be taught visually for many years. Any instructor, mum or dad, studying assist, Senco can shortly be taught these expertise. See free periods under.
Transferring again into the early years
Just lately, we now have moved the paradigm again into the early years to make the transition into college as seamless as doable. We purpose to see all neurodiverse youngsters utilizing their visible expertise to additional develop their studying within the Reception Yr (4-5 years) after which discover decoding and mapping new phrases straightforward. That is achieved by merely adjusting the order of creating literacy expertise – psychological photographs first, adopted by phonics for phrases you may already visualise. Delaying the introduction of phonics for phrases you aren’t visualising, will truly speed up literacy and scale back stress. This entire visible studying setting is appropriate for all younger youngsters. These are the abilities they’re born with and when inspired to make use of these pure expertise they are going to speed up quicker and be happier.
Visualising Phrase – An important ability for Literacy. Watch my YouTube video right here for a 5-minute demonstration. https://youtu.be/b8eVJDjRVPg?si=qB9a0RptSV3Njj2_
[i] 25 years of teaching neurodiverse minds at http://www.empoweringlearning.co.uk
So what’s going on inside your thoughts, or your baby’s thoughts? How do you discover their strengths for creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, and a lot extra? Come be part of our well-liked free session and uncover extra of your hidden skills in “Neurodiverse Strengths“. (hyperlinks and dates under). No person must be fastened we simply want the world round us to grasp extra.
If in case you have any questions, your subsequent steps will help you be taught extra:
- Give me a free name and learn the way to make literacy simpler in your baby/pupil: +44-7970-854388
- Be part of one in all our free group teaching calls under
- Signal as much as the month-to-month e-newsletter that offers you all of the dates of occasions.
- If you wish to be taught extra about the entire story of visible thinkers and learners, please sign-up to our common e-newsletter right here:
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Empowering Studying practitioners additionally coach youngsters and adults, with or with no prognosis, to learn the way to make literacy, maths, and ADHD simpler by constructing on their visible strengths. We train privately and in colleges. We even have one practitioner who’s working workshops for grandparents to grasp their ADHD youngsters.
- For literacy we use an strategy that permits college students to activate the a part of the visible mind that retains letters and phrases for fluency, so that they don’t have to get caught in decoding for ever. This can be a very easy step for artistic visible thinkers. College students will nonetheless use phonics for brand spanking new phrases, however they are going to first have constructed up an enormous vocabulary of phrases visually to allow good literacy. We additionally use their visible reminiscence for comprehension and enhancing handwriting.
- For ADHD we use 5 easy steps to manage psychological photographs, audio chatter and enhance focus.
Listed here are the workshop dates for the following few weeks of 2025. Do enroll and be part of our group:
Thursday seventeenth July at 8pm UK time: Straightforward Literacy for enhancing Dyslexia: Study the important ability of visualising phrases for decreased nervousness, Dyslexia and creating fluent spelling and studying. Click on right here to e-book totally free
Tues 1st July or Wed thirtieth July at 8pm UK time: Thriving with ADHD: Many tricks to study enhancing ADHD in your baby and also you with out remedy. Click on right here to e-book totally free
Wednesday twenty third July at 8pm Help your Neurodiverse Little one: A brand new class to assist dad and mom and educating workers to assist neurodiverse youngsters. Discover a number of the key matters that may actually make a distinction shortly. Click on right here to e-book totally free
Monday 14th July at 8pm UK time Neurodiverse Strengths and Challenges – there are numerous neurodivergent strengths which are nicely price exploring to present you totally different views on neurodiversity. Click on right here to e-book totally free
Monday twenty second July at 8pm UK time Serving to change early indicators of Dyslexia in Early Yr (EYFS). Come and be part of this thrilling new challenge: this suggestions that may minimise Dyslexia and even keep away from it. Click on right here to e-book totally free
Monday June thirtieth or twenty eighth July at 8pm UK time Maths. Studying tips on how to visualise numbers is a good asset for arithmetic, come and be taught the tips. Chick right here to e-book totally free.
Not obtainable till September 2025
Recuperate your power, together with enhancing respiratory and sleep – For individuals who are missing power, feeling overwhelmed and would really like some expertise to enhance their power banks. Click on right here to e-book
Exploring Psychological Footage, for individuals who really feel they don’t seem to be as artistic as they was once. Come and discover your personal psychological photographs with us. Click on right here to e-book totally free
We run common webinars to cowl these important expertise.
To discover extra of the ideas and tips we now have for neurodivergent youngsters and adults, do click on right here. There’s even a free introductory video there. You’ll profit from all of the expertise we now have gained during the last 25 years working with neurodiverse college students.
My title is Olive Hickmott, I’m a well being and studying coach, specializing in working with neurodivergent college students. I might be happy to assist you in any manner I can.
You might be welcome to contact me olive@empoweringlearning.co.uk
Right here you’ll discover my studying platform for a few of my coaching programmes and free stay webinars www.visualkids.co.uk
You will see different helpful info and Practitioner Coaching at http://www.empoweringlearning.co.uk
Right here is my YouTube channel for extra free sources: https://www.youtube.com/c/OliveHickmott
My newest books are:
The Elephants within the Classroom: utilizing each pupil’s pure energy of Psychological Imagery to boost studying: Neurodiversity by means of the lens of psychological Imagery.
Bridges to Success – rework Studying Difficulties
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