TED Talks Education, hosted by John Legend, premieres May 7, 2013 at 10/9 c on PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ted-talks-education/
Submission from Michael about a new iPad app: NaviDys. NaviDys allows you to change the font to Dyslexie on any webpage you are viewing.
I have not yet tried this app, so I’d love to hear from those of you who have had a chance to try it.
Judy Singer, an autistic sociologist, invented a new word to describe conditions like autism, dyslexia, and ADHD: neurodiversity. Given the advantages of diversity in all other natural areas, Singer believed there are advantages to neurodiversity, as well. She wanted people to focus on the benefits of having a society filled with a variety of minds, rather than a single type of mind, and to move away from negative terms like “deficits”, “disorders”, and “impairments”.
Check out the rest of this interesting article on neurodiversity: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2013/04/neurodiversity/
In this interview with the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, Jay Leno shares his story about dealing with dyslexia on the way to becoming one of the most recognizable names in comedy.
Do you or your child have difficulty with coordination? Did it take a long time to learn to ride a bike? Is this common for children with dyslexia? Join the discussion on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=555531334470190&set=a.202075859815741.45814.146950148661646&type=1&theater
Can the symptoms of dyslexia be lessened by use of acupressure? Dr. Gach believes using particular pressure points balances the hormones that affect the chemistry of a child’s brain and helps a child focus. You can read about his methods here:
http://www.acupressure.com/blog/?p=2236&fb_source=message
Did you suspect your child had a unique mind even as an infant or toddler? Looking back, do you think there were very early signs of dyslexia? You may be right.
The University of Western Sydney is running a study to determine whether it is possible to detect signs of dyslexia in babies. The goal is to provide early diagnosis and intervention, and to avoid years of difficulty in school prior to diagnosis.
Read more about the study here:
http://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/1467186/study-to-target-evidence-of-dyslexia-in-early-development/?cs=2066
Coursera, the online course provider created by Stanford University, is entering the K-12 world. Partnering with 62 other schools like Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt, and with science, art and history museums like the Exploratorium, Museum of Modern Art, and the American Museum of Natural History, Coursera is offering classes to K-12 teachers in everything from art to artificial intelligence. Read the full article here:
http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/01/coursera-brings-online-instruction-to-teachers-taking-its-first-steps-into-the-k-12-market/
The LeapReader, coming to stores in July for $50, is a fun gadget that helps young children read and write. It reads out words and sentences and encourages children to trace letters and write them on special paper. The pen’s got enough space to hold 40 books which can be played through an on-board speaker or via a headphone. You’ll be able to pre-order the LeapReader on June 12th.
Study shows that learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD occur together more often than expected.
Many believe cursive writing helps students with dyslexia (like this blog), while others find cursive impossible to read. Which is better for you and why? Is one better for writing while another is better for reading?
For people like me who have trouble remembering long lists, check out this study. Scientists have discovered that it helps to clench your right fist for 90 seconds while memorizing, then clenching the left fist while recalling a list.
Read more here:
http://news.discovery.com/human/health/clench-fist-grip-memory-120425.htm
Fans of Bella Thorne, a fellow dyslexic and star of Shake It Up!, have more to which they can look forward. Random House will be releasing the first book in Bella’s young adult series “Autumn Falls” in the summer of 2014.
“This book, although mysterious and magical, is inspired by different aspects of my personal life, which I hold very near and dear to my heart,” Thorne said. “I wanted to write a book that teens could relate to, but with a little bit of magic. I am thrilled and hopeful that my audience will grow with me throughout the series.”
To watch Bella’s short public service announcement about dyslexia, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iVcTPRShBA
