In the Opinion article on dyslexia, primary school teacher Mark Bracey writes about a classroom where the teacher is kind and children learn with ease among classmates who are also kind and tolerant of differences. Where the focus is on creativity and social interactions, rather than "process".
Is this dream or reality? Yes, it is a dream, just as we like to dream of 'mum and apple pie' when things get tough. The reality is that in New Zealand nearly one in four children struggles academically across primary and secondary school, even though we have an army of conscientious and capable teachers who try to help them.
Dyslexia, in simple terms, means being unable to read words, or at least not being able to read very well. Dyslexia ranges from very mild to very severe. Some say there are special reasons as to why dyslexia occurs, but even neuroscientists have so far been unable to figure out exactly what makes it hard for so many to learn to read, write and do mathematics with success.
Parents are sometimes told that their dyslexic children have a gift and that they are "different" in a good way. But my experience is that these children themselves don't like their so-called gift because it stops them from being what they would like to be - normal. They'd love to be able to read and write and do maths like their classmates, but they are caught in a trap.
Can you tell whether a child is likely to have difficulties soon after they start school? Yes, it is obvious to the teacher - and usually to their parents. Mark Bracey's dream is that these slow starters will be late bloomers and will grow out of these difficulties. However the reality is that children who start school behind nearly always stay behind unless schools do something dramatic.