Our focus for 2009 has been on action-oriented activities to champion change for dyslexic individuals, and on providing information, tools and resources to inspire others to do the same and help teachers and school leaders respond. Our sold-out series of national 4D workshops with international expert Neil Mackay were a prime example.

Our new resources include a landmark series of cohesive and comprehensive webspaces, along with updates to the DFNZ and 4D websites and an extensive update to the 4D Schools Guide (V2). All these share a common philosophy of ‘notice and adjust’ in order to deal effectively with dyslexia. This is about ‘noticing’ where issues are arising, and ‘adjusting’ the approach to achieve better outcomes. 

The 4D Edge – Neil Mackay and The New Teaching Paradigm

In June 2009, international dyslexia expert Neil Mackay ran a sold-out nationwide series of workshops for New Zealand educators, sharing tips on how to improve the learning environment for Kiwi schoolchildren. These workshops, as part of Dyslexia Action Week, were attended by more than 1300 teachers, principals, RTLBs, RTLits, and other specialists. The feedback from these inspiring workshops was incredibly positive with significant demand for his knowledge to be made more widely available.

As a result, we have developed a dedicated webspace which shares the expertise of Neil Mackay, and other world leading dyslexia thinkers, with advice and proven strategies to achieve better results in the classroom.

4D Edge – Neil Mackay and the new teaching paradigm brings the ‘notice and adjust’ approach to life in the classroom. This involves noticing those children who are getting stuck and making reasonable adjustments in the way they are taught and assessed, including personalised learning and alternative evidence of achievement. This pragmatic approach can easily be implemented without the need to wait for an official assessment or ‘diagnosis’. 

This new teaching paradigm also works with dyslexia as a learning preference. This concept of preference is simple – because dyslexics commonly utilise more visual parts of the brain than neurotypical word-based thinkers, they also prefer to receive process and present information in certain ways, often more oral or visually oriented than the written word. When they are empowered to work in preferential ways, many so called difficulties or disabilities cease to become barriers to achievement.

4D Schools website update and 4D Schools Guide V2

Capturing the latest international thinking and insights into improving learning outcomes for students with dyslexic learning preferences, the updated 4D Schools website is your online guide to what works in the classroom.

Even more comprehensive information and guidance – including close to 100 recommendations on simple classroom adjustments that can make a world of difference for dyslexics students – can be found in the new, and substantially expanded 4D Schools Guide V2. The changes suggested in the Guide can also have significant benefits for other students too. Sounds like a bold statement, but it is common sense if you look at it from the perspective of providing personalised or individualised learning rather than adopting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Importantly, personalised learning is also in tune with the requirements of the National Curriculum – which challenges schools to do things differently and teach more creatively.

Taking action on dyslexia provides a manageable, defined group of students to deal with and the flow-on effect is a less disruptive classroom environment and more teacher-time for all students, creating greater performance across the board. Maori and Pacific Island students, who historically have oral cultures, can also gain significant benefits from the 4D approach. Dyslexia aware classroom practices, based around personalisation and the right to learn differently, have the potential to make a significant difference to the education and life chances of these students.

Click here to visit the 4D Schools website or here to download the Guide.

DFNZ Website Update

Our DFNZ website has also had an exciting update, with new developments and information and advice for dyslexic individuals and those who support them.

The website also looks at the three steps – recognition, understanding and action – which are critical to effectively addressing dyslexia. These are based on the following principles:

Our focus going forward is firmly on action, and we welcome others stepping up alongside us to help make a difference for dyslexic individuals.

Click here to visit the DFNZ website.

Neil Mackay Workshops

Professional development for teachers, and advice for parents and employees are hot on our agenda for 2010, with a pioneering new series of workshops now confirmed for late May and early June. Hosted by world renowned dyslexia authority Neil Mackay, these workshops will share leading edge thinking and developments in the dyslexia field.

This series follows on from the sold-out national workshops hosted by Neil Mackay this year, which was incredibly well received with much demand for Neil’s return and an expanded agenda.

The 2010 workshops will focus on dyslexia aware best practice; advanced 4D Edge thinking; help for students who need specialist assistance; 4D leadership; early dyslexia identification for pre-schools; support for employers and employees; and support for parents. For more information on these outstanding workshop opportunities, click here.

4D Home – Positive Action for Parents

Learning that your child has dyslexia can be very challenging. But the label can also be liberating. Suddenly your child is no longer just the struggling kid in the class. Rather, they have a learning difference – or preferred way of learning– that can be dealt with constructively.

4D Home provides practical tips for parents with children who don’t seem to be making the same progress as other children at school, and offers advice on how you can support your child to achieve, both in the home and at school.

This advice is based on a philosophy of ‘notice and adjust’ – a common-sense approach that is about noticing children who are getting stuck and making adjustments to help. This space also shares some real life parent perspectives on how dyslexia impacts families and provides information on support groups and solutions providers.

Click here to visit 4D Home.

4D Workplace – Creating a New Business Reality

At the present time, dyslexia in the New Zealand workplace is most commonly framed in terms of a disability (that is, if it is recognised at all), which can create an unhelpful level of dependency between employee and employer or inertia. Our new webspace aims to help both employers and employees harness the strengths that dyslexia can bring to business – particularly in creative thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Both New Zealand and international audiences place a high value on Kiwi ingenuity, so the qualities that dyslexic individuals have to offer can provide great competitive advantage. As the creative and ICT-led economies continue to demand fresh thinking, many employers around the world are now seeking out employees with the unique attributes that dyslexia can provide.

As well as providing important information, we hope this webspace will also act as an agent of change in reframing dyslexia as a learning/thinking preference which offers both strengths and opportunities to New Zealand business. These strengths and opportunities can be activated by commitment and personal responsibility.

Click here to check out this great new resource and why not send a link to your family, friends and colleagues?