About

I have long been fascinated by the brain and how it works.  It is amazing to me that we can use our brain to change almost anything about ourselves, including how our brain works.  Homeschooling two daughters with dyslexia (and another without dyslexia) has also taught me how frustrating it can be when your brain doesn’t work they way you want it to.  Over the years we tried many different approaches, some worked, some didn’t.  But at the end of the day, we learned that there is always a way if you just keep looking.  I’m writing this blog for several reasons.  I’ve learned a lot along the way about different learning styles, different thinking styles, and more specifically dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.  I want to share what I’ve learned so hopefully others don’t have to go through some of the frustrations we experienced.  I’m also continuing to learn about the brain and it’s amazing ability to reshape itself through practice and habit.  I’m astounded that the incredible brain research and discoveries of the past 20 – 30 years have barely been acknowledged in scientific circles, and in my opinion it should be common knowledge in educational circles guiding teaching modalities.  It isn’t as critical for those students who don’t struggle with learning differences, but for those who do struggle it could be the difference between success and failure in the education system.  Considering that estimates of 7 – 77% of people in correctional facilities have some type of learning disability (compared to 5 – 10% in the general population) (1), I don’t think it is an understatement to say that adapting how we teach to fit with what we now know about the brain and how it learns could literally change society.  It all starts with shared knowledge and understanding.

(1) Correctional Service of Canada, (2015, March 5). The Impact of Learning Disabilities on Correctional Treatment, Retrieved from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/forum/e073/e073g-eng.shtml