“Nicola, you have to try really hard to focus” my Mum would tell me at home when she was looking at my school book. I tried.

Atrocious spelling became a reoccurring theme for me. I had a simpler solution to the mysteries of punctuation. I avoided it entirely. No matter how many times it was explained to me, it seemed to be an impenetrable code that was just far more effort than it was worth. I didn’t use a single capital letter or period until I was about 10 years old.

I developed a similar technique with math, which, was also completely impossible. Instead of spending hours agonising over a page of addition or subtraction, I simply filled the answer boxes with whatever numbers came to mind. Simple, painless and my teacher could see that I had completed the page so I was allowed to go on to an activity far more enjoyable.

This was a short lived solution, unfortunately, because getting 0% correct day after day was a red flag for both my teacher and mother and so math homework became a reoccurring theme in my life also.

My Mother was a Special Education tutor. Through the eyes of a child this was a problem. I was quite happy to sit at the back of the classroom and quietly fail. It was much easier and once you let go of the whole “enjoyment of getting things right” mentality, school was quite palatable.

My Mother on the other hand wasn’t happy with this situation and started teaching me at home. She taught me through games so I would forget that I was doing something I hated and found hard and just enjoy the fun of the game.

Slowly over many years my long suffering Mom won the battle. In doing so she taught me much about fighting for what I want and work ethic. Today, I have a university degree, a good career and if you met me, you wouldn’t know that I have both Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.

My brain is wired slightly differently to yours, this gives me tremendous benefits. I wouldn’t change my learning disabilities and years of hard work for a more traditional life.

On March 8^th, 2012 I will be sharing my experiences and providing a resource workshop for parents who are starting to wonder if their children are on track in school. Join the conversation yourself at Hillcrest Community Centre 7 – 8:30 “Wondering about skool?”

While working in the elementary school system here in Vancouver I saw how much parent participation makes a difference to the development of a child. It takes time for the school system to diagnose and provided extra help for children who are struggling. Parents who can work with their children at home can make a huge difference not only to the academics of their child but in maintaining their self confidence. Loss of self confidence has lasting ramifications on a person that may last long into adult hood.

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada published a report recently on the effects of a late diagnosis you can read the full version here http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t145.html

If you are concerned about your child’s progress at school, talk to the teacher. In my experience teachers are more than happy to enlist the help of a willing parent.

If you are looking for literacy games to help your child learn the alphabet check out our website at www.notchhilllearning.com.