May 2023

Happy month of May ! 

For me, this is my favourite month - everything is so fresh and green, then there's all the bulbs and trees in bloom, we hope you are enjoying it!

Come to The Dyslexic Table Live Chat

Sharon Roberts has penned another excellent article for us - this month it is 'Comparing Keyboarding Skills and Cursive Writing'.
We will be talking about this at our next Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat on Thursday June 1 at 4.30pm (Pacific Time). To read more and RSVP visit our page HERE.

So many schools are offering technology for our talented picture-thinkers which sounds like a wonderful idea ... but is it really? Join us - we'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts - and once again, we will compile a podcast from the Live Chat. www.thewds.org/podcasts has links to all our podcasts.

Comparing keyboarding Skills and Cursive Writing: by Sharon Roberts, Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Kitchener, ON

Few people still write with pen and paper, let alone in cursive script. Keyboarding has taken over this art form. However, researchers believe that cursive writing is important to cognitive development and the brain’s sensor motor region. There’s a substantial learning difference between handwriting cursive letters and typing or tracing those same letters. However, with the abundance of smartphones, laptops and tablets for reading and writing text…is writing cursive still important, or is it an outmoded learning tool? Should we focus on keyboarding skills and ignore teaching cursive writing?

Cursive writing trains the brain to integrate various forms of information at once, including visual and tactile inputs, while applying fine motor skills, according to Dr William Klemm, a neuroscience professor.  This provides similar benefits to the brain as learning to play a musical instrument.

While cursive writing involves introducing a new set of symbols, for some dyslexics, it is a faster way to write and the distinction of letters is more clear. It teaches organizational skills and assists children in composing their own thoughts and ideas.  Printing is more difficult due to the frequent stop and start motion when forming letters.

One researcher believes cursive writing improves reading and spelling abilities because it requires one to write from left to right so letters will join in proper sequence. This enhances spelling because of the connectivity of the letters, says Virginia Berlinger, researcher, writer and professor of Educational Psychology.  Additionally, the hand acquires knowledge of spelling patterns through movements that are used repeatedly in spelling -  a similar phenomenon that occurs when pianists or typists learn patterns of hand movements through continued repetition. Pictures of brain activity demonstrate that sequential finger movements used in cursive writing activate massive regions of the brain involved in thinking, language and working memory.  

Is learning cursive the right move for your picture thinking child, considering that two dimensional symbols are often their nightmare?  In my experience, some prefer it and eliminating it from a curriculum, eliminates options, especially if the Davis tools are being used at the same time.

It’s quite commonplace for clients to have difficulty with printing neatly. There are many reasons for this including intentional poor penmanship - a great way to hide poor spelling or hide uncertainty on punctuation, grammar or sentence structure. Intentional bad handwriting is not necessarily connected to disorientation.  It’s also worth noting that sometimes poor penmanship is the result of inadequate instruction to build the necessary skills. Originally, cursive writing was a class in itself, scheduled daily.

For those who just can't do it despite honest efforts, there is hope. As with all of the Davis programs providing orientation is the key to figuring out the cause of the problem. Once we experience the positive effects of being oriented, we also become aware of the experience of being disoriented. The disorientation experienced is a result of some sort of confusion resulting in an emotion.  When writing, there are stimuli that make the handwriting messy and these stimuli fall into two basic categories: line and shape triggers and motion triggers. I feel we are missing out in many ways by avoiding cursive writing, what do you think?

Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/

Another Board Director, Julie Brewer joined me, Sue Hall, to present a session at the Sooke Teachers' Association Conference on April 21, 2023. We had so much fun, as the teachers were so receptive.  Every time we present a session like this their response is 'we had no idea our students
could think like this!' They seemed to enjoy the information I shared re correction and prevention,
and then Julie was able to share her personal experience as a parent whose child took a correction program ... and a Montessori Pre-School teacher who has been using the preventative Davis Learning Strategies with her 3-5 year olds - some of whom were non-English speaking when they joined her class.  Now they are keeping up with their peers - she's surprised, impressed and grateful. We are very hopeful that one day we will have a school piloting DLS for 3 years, seeing the success, and encouraging others to join in.

We thought you might like to see what we are up to:

June 1 - Come to the Dyslexic Table Live Chat – Comparing Keyboarding Skills and Cursive Handwriting

November 9-12 – Davis Dyslexia Association International Conference in San Francisco – Sue Hall joining the non-profit panel and hosting a break-out session.

FUNDRAISING: – need we say more – our scope widens with our resources.

So please add your energy to all our grant applications, philanthropic requests and help us to welcome in a very full bursary fund. 

We are also working on our own fundraiser for this year…  we have a bursary waiting list… there’s a very real need.

Nadine continues to offer the Why Ty Parent Support Courses.

For more information click on the button below. View a parent’s testimonial on our YouTube Channel HERE.

WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL !  The Kakamega Project.

The WDS & The Kakamega Project team are on a mission ! To provide effective dyslexia education training to developing remedial tutors and supporting parents in Kakamega County, Kenya. We are very excited and honoured to be part of this initiative and look forward to telling you how it is unfolding. Visit our Campaign page HERE.

Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her new “Neurodiversity" T-shirts and merchandise.

With every t-shirt sold, $5 will be donated to the Whole Dyslexic Society to use towards the many services offered. Click this LINK to see, and buy her exciting products.

Our Giving Guide: 

Picture Perfect Learning Solutions Neurodiversity Shirts & Merchandise. Nadine Schumont has create a line of shirts and merchandise celebrating neurodiversity. You can view the range of styles and the image on the back through her store. For every shirt sold Nadine is donating $5.00 to The Whole Dyslexic Society. Check out her shop page HERE.

Purchase our Gifted with Dyslexia Pins.  Purchase our Pins Here

TruEarth Eco-Friendly Laundry Soap and Products.  20% of all sales go to our Society.  Please follow the link to our Tru-Earth product page to purchase.  Tru-Earth Eco-Friendly Products Here

Donate a Car Canada. Looking for simple and free car removal? Donate a Car Canada accepts Vehicle Donations for The Whole Dyslexic Society. When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to The Whole Dyslexic Society through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location). Read more about Donate a Car Canada…….

See how donations can result in tax credits by reading the article below. Read More…Tax Benefits of Charitable Donations

Partial proceeds go to The WDS from sales and rentals of Ed Roman’s highly acclaimed “Red Omen” video. For more information on renting or buying Red Omen click here 

We gratefully accept donations through our Canada helps charity page. We have a variety of donor options. Thank you !

Canada Helps - General Fund 

Canada Helps Tribute - Donate in honour of or in memory of a loved one.  

Canada Helps Securities - A donation of securities or mutual funds is the most efficient way to give charitably. Since capital gains taxes don't apply, our charity receives the full fair market value when the security is sold, and you get a tax receipt which reflects your larger contribution. This allows you to give more and get more. TO READ MORE ABOUT DONATING SECURITIES OR MUTUAL FUNDS CLICK HERE

We are a registered charity with the PayPal Giving Fund. You can donate to our organization using your PayPal account with no fees. Thank you ! PayPal Giving Fund