My 8 year old son was accepted for one-day school but after a couple of terms found it was not for him. He wasn't enjoying it and seemed to be a bit out of his depth. (His twin sister loves it and continues to go - I think it was more that the one-day school just didn't suit him - he is shy and hates making choices).
He struggles with spelling and maths and is in the lowest group in his class. Despite being bright, he considers himself to be a "dummy".
His self esteem and maths ability has improved a bit with Kip McGrath but I think he may do better with one to one tutoring rather than just being hooked up to a computer once a week.
I have contacted SPELD and thought I might try that with him.
Has anyone had experiences with SPELD? How did you get on?
Hmm, I just posted a reply to this but it seems to have disappeared. Now to try and remember what I just wrote....
We had a double referral at age 6, entering y3.
We chose Speld above ODS, partly cost but also it seemed we could do the stimulating at home but we should get help before the gap between ability and dis- ability widened.
Some Speld teachers use Alpha to Omega, which is more spelling rules based - I used it at home for Speech therapy.
Others, including our Speld teacher, used Bannatyne, which is based on listening to the sounds of vowels eg copper = short o, as in hot, pot, cot, Pumpkin =uh as in mum, rough, once etc
He grumbled about his Speld homework, copying words correctly, on the line , reading out loud in a set time, because he found it hard work, but said he preferred it to school. His self esteem at school was at an all time low, as they concentrated on what he couldn't do - spell, copy sums etc but at Speld he had a ball. I sat in on the lessons. He got on well with his teacher . She valued him for who he was and apart from discussing how words were made up, and playing games, they discussed the Kyoto treaty, hieroglyphics, spirituality etc, loaned interesting books and games for him to play at home as well. He loved getting out of school and going to his lessons. The one on one time was exactly what he needed, being made to feel good about himself while he was actually doing something that he was knocked down for at school.
I am a qualified Speld teacher. I dont currently have any students but for a while I had two. One was a struggler and one inqusitive. I think its great.... a Psych assessment is required that deals with all sorts... gross motor... fine motor.... dominant eye, foot etc.... all these details help the experienced SPELD tutor to develop a programme specific to the individual. There is homework... it is essential to reinforce what they have learnt and as a teacher I know its regular revision that helps. WHile the homework might be a pain, it shouldnt been overwhelming. Both the students I had loved it and were disappointed when I returned to full time work and gave up. I would highly recommend SPELD. It doesnt come cheap though... and it is only for an hour a week..... its over half of what you would pay for the ODS for the whole day I beleive. However, if you are prepared to do the repetitive stuff and the hwk at home I think you would find it fabulous.
Some kids are kinasethetic and it helps to have a kooshy ball etc to hold. I know of very shy kids who felt more confident with the kooshy balls and started partaking in news etc at school.
I cant recommend SPELD highly enough.
I dont know if that helps... but if you have any other questions I can try and answer them. Anne
Edit : our son had a ball of a time at Speld , not a physical ball, but actually yes at home he has had a kosh ball/ fiddly something for his hands when he was trying to concentrate on something.
Cost wise, I think we got some back under medical expenses or something. Can't remember now.
And re the homework, we had more than usual as our teacher's child was in hospital for a time so we did more at home, and we were covering as much as possible while we still had lessons.
Hi, We had our son tested by SPELD and the results showed he was gifted with learning disabilities. The report was very comprehensive and explained the results fairly thouroughly.
We had just begun homeschooling at the time and a tutor came and tutored me as his teacher and gave me lots of ideas and types of resources to use with him. He was 7yo at the time and is now 10yo and although still struggling with math he is doing well with his reading and writing and just starting to get fairly good at spelling.
He had a stint at school last year and had a great teacher, however, this year was put into a class with a teacher who spent alot of time with speed math mentals, spelling and testing and as a result my son became extremely anxious and upset thinking he was dumb. He too is highly sensitive and came home in tears every day. Needless to say we went back to the homeschooling (there are no other schools in our area) and he is thriving once again and gaining confidence back all the time.
Sorry to have gone off the question here, just want you to know there are others out here with similar special kids.
Andrea
Thanks very much for your comments, Anne, Rox and Andrea. They were certainly helpful. I've sent off the paperwork to SPELD, so we'll see how my wonderful boy gets on,
Dear Andrea,
Have just read your posting re SPELD and was hoping I could get some information from you. I too have a child who is gifted with learning difficulties and she is nearly 8 (tomorrow actually!) I have just pulled her out of mainstream schooling and at the moment she is attending a small christian homeschool that just covers the core subjects. Her tutor at this school is carrying on the Bannatyne programme that her SPELD tutor has used with her since she was 5. I would however like to fully homeschool her but am still sourcing educational resources that will suit her best. My daughter sounds just like your son was when he was 7, sensitive and a very low self esteem thanks to the school system, What I was hoping you could tell me is what home school system you have found works with your child and also where you live as I would be really keen to know where the tutor lived that you used 3 years ago to give you advice on your son's schooling? That's exactly the sort of help I need, Badly!! I have lots of advice coming from friends who homeschool however none with a gifted child with learning difficulties. I live in Howick in Auckland.
Regards.
Rosie Lane
I do testing for SPELD Manukau City and Auckland (North Shore, Hibiscus Coast, Rodney etc) and see many children for both initial testing and retesting. It is certainly a programme that works and most children build up a meaningful relationship with tutors. I do not think one should focus on the concept of 'homework'. All reseacrh points to the need to keep the pot boiling and one hour a week will not in itself do the trick. The Dore programme expects kids to practise the exercises twice a day and is unlikely to be successful without this kind of committment. The SPELD assessment is a valuable exercise in itself as it highlights strengths and weaknesses which the tutor uses in the programme and which can give the school a better idea of the child. Testers and pupils do communicate on a number of issues to try and make the programme as user friendly as possible for the child. Sometimes homework can consist of games (such as those sold with the BAnnatyne programme) so it is not all doom and gloom and most SPELD tutors give their pupils incentives if they work well. SPELD tutors often work with parents who homeschool and can be helpful concerning resources etc. I have done SPELD testing for about 11 years and would be happy to answer any questions on the forum or by my email.
It also addresses maths skills. The underlying weaknesses usually/can reflect in both. The SPELD tester would probably need to change her focus slightly. I include maths as routine but not all SPELD testers may do so. The SPELD tester tells the tutor what areas require focus.
Hi Liz - We have a son who is currently being tutored once a week by a SPELD tutor. Nathan was tested last year and is gifted but with learning difficulties. He goes to his SPELD tutor once a week for an hour (she's the most wonderful & positive person). Nat's main problem is writing and spelling . These have come such a long way this year with one-on-one. He may never have neat handwriting, but at least he's getting quicker & instead of writing the bare minimum (which he used to do - x3 words to a sentence - if that), he actually writes what is in his head and comes out with some wonderful descriptive words. His confidence has also come back, which is wonderful to see. He doesn't get a huge amount of homework from his tutor, a few spelling words per week, which we just tag on to the end of his school spelling, maybe read a chapter, re-tell the story in sequence, looking up words in the dictionary and games every now and then. I can't speak highly enough of SPELD.
Good luck.
Cathy
I would reccomend you try Iris Hambling in Parnell she is awesome. Speld homes in on the root of your childs diffucuites and intesly deals to them - unleashing quickly yor kids potential- also reccomed educational kinesiology helps with recall and working memory- kid with a brain that works so fast it sometimes has blocked pathways- does that make sense- speld tutoring is not expensive - give it a shot and see for yourself.
I am new to New Zealand. As a teacher in Bermuda I worked with Dyslexic students, through assessment and tutoring one-on-one and in small groups of 6 or less. I am a qualified primary school teacher and also have a master of arts in literacy education. I was trained to assess and work with dylsexic students in American with the Orton-Gillingham system. This system reinforces the connections that need to be made between the auditory, visual and kinesthetic pathways and also focuses on a solid phonics base. Can anyone tell me how Orton-Gillingham is similar to the method(s) used in SPELD? I have contacted someone regarding the distance course. Also, once you are trained how do you go about servicing the students that need you? Are your students found through the schools, government agencies or independently? Lastly, how much does this SPELD thing cost the parent and how much would it pay me the tutor? Do I also do the assessment and/or the educational plan? Thank you. Melissa
I currently live in Vancouver Canada, and I am looking at returning to New Zealand. I have an 11 yr old son who attends a school that uses the orton gillingham style of teaching. He has gained some of his confidence back and is achieving for the first time in his school life. I am wondering if anybody can help me to find something simlar in New Zealand.
Does anybody know if speld is similar to the orton gillingham style of teaching? Can anybody suggest how to get this ball rolling?
I would appreciate any help in this matter.
Thanks Paulette
Two of my sons have had SPELD tuition. The older one had glue ear and was two to three years behind his age group for reading and spelling: this was when he was 9-10 years old. He had two years of tuition and by the time he began high school he was working above his age group.He loved his Speld tutor and worked hard. Now aged 21 he is in his 4th year at university, usually getting B to B+ passes, and will finish his double degree at the end of 2009. Spelling is however still not a strong point but its good enough!
The other son has dysgraphia(needs to use laptop for note taking at school), is dyspraxic but is very creative and is an advanced reader. He had a year's Speld tuition. It also was a great success. Although his ability to write legibly is still not adequate the tuition allowed him to be extended in his areas of expertise; areas which he has been able to concentrate on in high school.
I have a wee boy who is 6 years and 3 months old. He has just been tested by a Speld recommended educational psychologist and been found to be gifted in verbal comprehension and well above average in working memory and the one day school has been recommended. On the other hand, he has been assessed as being extremely low in processing speed. From the messages I read above it seems that so many assessed children are diagnosed as gifted, I don't know whether to take it all with a 'grain of salt' - whether the gifted diagnosis is simply there to soften the blow of the low result/learning difficulty in processing (in our son's case, poor spelling, writing and slow reading progress). Any information from people in similar situations would be really helpful.
Hi there
My son now 7 has had SPELD lessons for approx 4 months and I think it has been a help to him. he also is verbally advanced and with high reasoning ability (98%ile in both) but was struggling with the nuts and bolts of reading, writing, spelling, maths.
His reading has improved alot, he now reads a lot for pleasure whereas he wasn't a great reader before and hated reading.
His handwriting is getting better, still not superb, but he doesn't do all of the reversals of his letters etc anymore.
He has loved the one on one with his tutor, which I think is what these kids need as often school doesn't cater to them so well as they are outside the "norm" ie far ahead of their peers in some areas and struggling in others.
I must admit we haven't been as committed as we should on the homework but just try to do a little each night.
Will be interesting to see how he goes on his reassessment in a few months.
His confidence has improved alot and I think this is half the battle.
My nephew had similar. At six was assessed as gifted in areas 98-99% and processing speed about 8-9%. He had speld which helped him along ok. He also had a lap top given to him at high school by Special Ed Services to combat very poor handwriting skills. At exam time he was provided with a Reader/writer (someone who will read the exam question, then write word for word the answer given). He is 16 going on 17 at the mo and a very bright, capable boy, has his own lawn mowing round and doing very well at school. Lots of support out there if you know where to look so try all.
The Gifted development Centre in the US have a fairly comprehensive website and a huge database of tested gifted individuals. If you wade through the articles looking at the validation of the WISC-IV test and the discussion of which subtests they consider to be most relevant in looking at giftedness, they do make the point that giftedness is more a function of high abstract reasoning than the "nuts and bolts" of working memory and processing speed.
In fact they report that it is usual for gifted individuals to score less highly in these and not uncommon for these scores to be low. In the twice exceptional discussions, they note that they often see those with the highest reasoning scores have the lowest processing speeds.
So, no, it is not odd that your son's scores look like this and many highly gifted children struggle with reading, spelling etc.
They usually get there in the end but it is an extremely frustrating and upsetting thing for a child who has an exceptionally able, fast and brilliant mind to be constantly performing poorly in the things that are the focus of the first years at school.
Although he will have to learn these skills, he needs to know at a level that he can grasp that these are not the measure of success academically or otherwise later on.
I have a family member whose dyslexia led to failure and depression at school.
He now has a masters degree in literature and the seemingly overwhelming issues relating to his handwriting and spelling were miraculously unimportant when using a laptop and having an appointed person check his work before submission for any errors he misses.
What you are capable of thinking and what you have to contribute is not how well you spell. (fabulous handwriting will not be the cure for cancer !)
Unfortunately, many primary school teachers do not see this and may dispute his abilities. I'm afraid that a few other threads on this board will show you the attitude that you could meet. Other threads will show you that you are not alone !
Arm yourself with information and be ready to support him, he is capable of so much and you really need to believe that he is gifted or no-one else, particularly he himself, will either.
I would reccomend you try Iris Hambling in Parnell she is awesome. Speld homes in on the root of your childs diffucuites and intesly deals to them - unleashing quickly yor kids potential- also reccomed educational kinesiology helps with recall and working memory- kid with a brain that works so fast it sometimes has blocked pathways- does that make sense- speld tutoring is not expensive - give it a shot and see for yourself.
Hi Shelley.
I have just found your posting about Iris Hambling, a SPELD Teacher. I am trying to find a book called.. "The Look Book" It was compiled by a SPELD teacher named Iris Hambling. I am not sure if it is the same Iris or not, but are you able to send me her contact details, e-mail will do, so I can find out if it is the same Iris and if I can source the book off her.
I have two gifted children who are both now adults. My son had ADHD and is dyslexic. I think it's important to get a full assessment from a professional. SPELD can recommend somebody. SPELD Tutors vary considerably in the way they teach. I suggest you ask the assessors advice in choosing a tutor.
Once you have documentation to show there is a learning disability you can then access concessions through the exam system later on. My son sat scholarship exams but had a writer for his English exams. Dyslexia is not a barrier to success. My son was Dux of St Paul's Collegiate and won an Auckland University Scholarship. My daughter is completing a Masters. It's a matter of finding out how they learn and capitalising on it. My son now spells well after using predictive texting on his cell phone and by learning to touch type. Spelling for him is not visual, its a sequence of movements with his fingers. If he doesn't know how to spell a word he pretends he's typing.
As his parent nobody knows your son better than you, and nobody cares as much. With persistance you will become the expert on how your son learns and will be able to help him. The critical thing is that he knows he's smart. My son was initially treated as a failure because he couldn't spell but he just thought they were idiots - his belief in himself remained intact.
I tried the One Day School for my daughter. With the first teacher she had she enjoyed it. The next teacher replicated school which really switched her off. For gifted children you need a gifted teacher and this isn't always the case. We homeschooled for many years which worked for my two.
I'm pleased Julie has confirmed the effectiveness for students with dyslexia of using predictive text and typing for spelling. At my school which has around 60% gifted/dyslexic students we promote both these methods with success. In today's Herald an article headed Young Texters gr8 Spellers highlights a study published by the Royal Academy that found those who used the most phonologically-based textisms were the best at spelling and the research failed to detect any sign that frequent texting had any effect on spelling ability in writing standard English. For us it removes a lot of the frustration in requiring to write notes quickly, and using a laptop as a matter of course is the only sensible way to conduct most recording in 2010.
Happy New Year everyone Catharina
I'm gonna take my teaching anad trainee Educational Psychologist hats off and talk as a Dyslexic to you for a minute.
Not all children or adults with Dyslexia are above average or gifted intelligence ... it may seem that way on here but thats usually because they are the ones parents have most trouble helping.
I myself have very low processing speed but am highly intelligent (Am a member of MENSA) while it is a lifetime disability it doesnt have to be seen by the person as a disability it is all in how people show them how to view it.
SPELD is a great organisation and I cant speak too highly of them ... My tutor taught me there was nothing I couldnt do as long as I wanted to do it.
I have been a primary teacher in NZ for over 30 years and have just completed the SPELD training on-line. It was a very intensive course and took me most of 2010 to work through the course.
I feel that I have an in-depth knowledge of specific learning difficulties now and feel confident to teach pupils with SLD.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to put my new knowledge to the test and start 1-1 SPELD tutoring. Lucille.
Hi my son is dyslexic and it has been recommended to us that he start with a SPELD tutor but I am wooried about the cost...can anyone give me an indication of the cost to get a SPELD tutor? thank you
HI Gina, Its about 6-7 years since we had a SPELD tutor. We paid $30 for an hour lesson in Auckland. It was usually one hour per week, with homework given to practice each day, often spelling or sounding out words. From our point of view it was worthwhile. The one on one tution was extremely good and focused specifically for that child. There was also a bit of interaction with the school, year 3 or 4 level I think, which was very supportive as they didnt have the resources to do it themselves.
Hi, my son who is ten has been going to Speld for one and half years. He was three years behind in spelling and hated reading and writing. He now is at his age for spelling, is reading chapter books and his hand writing has improved. Our Speld teacher is great and makes the lessons fun for him. It is worth the $25. You also have resources you can use from the main office, such as books and games and computer programmes.
Hi,
I am interested in receiving just the same info. re. homeschooling methods,for my 7 y/o,also with just the same areas of giftedness/difficulties.We have found unit topics(of his choice) very motivating and rewarding-the first topic was 'ATLANTIS'. .We have a brainstorming session on what to discover about the topic,then off we go!However, I was worried that we may be missing the core 'nuts and bolts', so have enrolled in the PACE C hristian School homeschool curriculum, this year.SPELD assessment also is happening soon.We will keep exploring with unit topics too.I am keen to hear what other homeschoolers are doing,
Thanks,
Kaye
my 14 yr old son is being tutored by an ex speld teacher for his handwriting. my son is very bright but his handwriting has got so bad that its illegible. i have nothing but praise for the ex speld teacher.
My son, who is now coming up 30 attended SPELD, back when it was not acknowledged as an educational facility. At age 9.5 he had the reading age of a 6.5 year old, even though he had had two lots of Reading Recovery. From other aspects of his life, I knew there was nothing wrong with his brain but he still couldn't read and write. Fortunately I got on to SPELD and my son went every week for just over a year. In that time he came up to his age for reading and writing, covering 4 years in 1. My son still found secondary school quite hard because he was such a slow writer. In 5th Form the teacher persuaded him to have a 'reader-writer' for English. He topped the class. I am delighted to say that at age 20 my son took himself off to University where he gained a BA in Education to become a teacher. I am so proud of him.
General thrust of this is to stress that the sooner children are helped the better. There is a 'normal' time to learn to read and write and if children don't get a handle on reading and writing then, it is so much harder later on.
I have been reading through all these SPELD questions and answers...and then came across your story.
I think it is awesome your son is now a Teacher...if anyone knows how difficult it is for young Dyslexics to find their way in the world your son does!
My young son is just about to start his journey with a SPELD Tutor next week, even though I know he will face many challenges with his Dyslexia, I have such strong belief in him....I know he will go on to great things :0)!
Hi, Definitelyo to Speld. Ask for an older person as she will have had experience. Work with her asking constantly what you should reinforce at home between lessons. Get a book or two from the Library to understand dyslexi. Lots of praise and rewards but small things. Half a jelly bean! Read to him every night so you can look at words and talk about them. I taught my own child as at that time with 4 others I couldn't afford Speld. However the examiner felt sorry for us and helped me . Now I teach Parents over the phone and send out material by mail. You and a Speld Yeacher can do it. I taught my son intensively for 18 months to 2 years till he was top of his classin reading Maths and Science. Then I tailed off and taught 19 other boys and one girl. In the 4th Form he won the High School Quiz Championship for his school and I was blown away by how much general knowlege he knew against boys 3-4 years older than him. Yes, go to Speld for all the help they can give you. E-mail me if you wish.
Best wishes, Pat.
I can recommend Speld. I am a trained Speld Teacher and have had, and I am having, success with my students. Often the one-to-one is what is needed and most Speld teachers deal with the underlying difficulties causing the problem e.g. visual spatial, auditory processing, sequencing. It is the WJ111 Assessment (by a trained Assessor) which pin points the difficulties the student has. All the best - perseverance and patience. Cheers Claire
