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Post by healthy11 on Aug 22, 2011 20:29:05 GMT -5
I look forward to reading it, but I'm doubting anyone has done so yet, because it was just published a couple of days ago, 8/18/11. (Even Amazon only has one review thusfar, but that one rates it highly!)
I have a high regard for the Eides, who are considered very knowledgeable experts, especially in regards to "2e" children. I imagine this book has been "in the works" for quite a while, because on a personal note the Eides have been understandably consumed with their teen daughter's cancer treatments over the past few years. Still, I know they're concerned about the plight of other families whose children are struggling in school, and they're scheduled to speak at the International Dyslexia Conference that's going to be held in Chicago this coming November. I hope to be able to attend the conference, and in particular their session.
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 22, 2011 20:50:21 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of it!!  |
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Post by dhfl143 on Aug 22, 2011 21:33:04 GMT -5
I am looking forward to reading it, as well. Have tremendous respect for the work that the Eides do.
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Post by eoffg on Aug 23, 2011 4:10:44 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 23, 2011 7:28:03 GMT -5
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Post by flmom2008 on Aug 23, 2011 9:51:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up, I'll definately read it.
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Post by hsmom on Aug 23, 2011 11:25:33 GMT -5
Just ordered it. I'm looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for letting know about it.
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Post by healthy11 on Oct 24, 2011 8:52:51 GMT -5
I just wanted to report that I'm more than halfway through reading this book, and IT IS FANTASTIC!!! Not only does it give some "scientific" explanations for dyslexia, but it gives practical suggestions on how to teach dyslexics using their strengths...it is a book that really does focus on the many POSITIVE attributes that many dyslexic people exhibit....
The book uses the acronym "MIND" to explain 4 key areas that dyslexics may excel in:
M is for Material Reasoning (a 3-D spatial advantage)
I is Interconnected Reasoning (strengths in perceiving relationships between things)
N is Narrative Reasoning (ability to construct mental scenes from fragmented memories)
D is Dynamic Reasoning (power of prediction)
There is an explanation of different types of Memory, not just long term and short term/working memories... Long term they further break down into Declarative (facts about the world) and Procedural (ie, rules and procedures) AND then they discuss Declarative Memory as breaking into Episodic/Personal Memory and Semantic/Impersonal Memory. The book gives an example of how "tears taste salty" may be recalled either as something you've experienced (an Episodic/Personal recollection) or a fact you know without knowing where it came from (Semantic/Impersonal recollection.)
There are positive recommendations made to some other experts' helpful books and methodologies for improving reading and writing, and suggestions for thriving in different settings, such as high school, college, and the workplace. The end of the book is filled with pages of resources and accommodations. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERY FAMILY WITH A DYSLEXIC MEMBER GET THIS BOOK!!! I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD BOOK TO GIVE AS A "TEACHER'S PRESENT."
(For what it's worth, my son is a classic "M"strength dyslexic, and if I didn't know otherwise, I'd swear they watched him grow up and personally interviewed him for their book! They say that a disproportionate number of engineers seem to be "M" strength dyslexics, so I'm hopeful that he's on the right path towards adulthood!!)
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Post by SharonF on Oct 24, 2011 10:17:53 GMT -5
I wonder if it's anything like Ronald Davis' book "The Gift of Dyslexia"? www.dyslexia.com/I know there's a lot of dissatisfaction with Davis and his methods. But many years ago, a coworker gave me Davis' book "The Gift of Dyslexia." I had mentioned that my husband was dyslexic but had said I didn't really understand what that meant. Reading Davis' book was a real lightbulb moment for me. Until then, I truly did not know that some people think in pictures. Until I read that book, I did not know that my husband, son and daughter think in pictures. dh and ds think exclusively in pictures. dd has a few words creep in from time to time. healthy--ds is very strong in the first three you mentioned. Those strenghts did not help him much in school. dd is strong in M and N. We have laughed for years that she remembers *every* detail about past events, including the clothing people were wearing, the weather... everything visual, she remembers. Almost like a photographic memory. But she can't memorize vocabulary words for a test unless she visualizes them in a certain way. Davis' book didn't solve the puzzle for me. But it helped me to ask questions I had never thought of. And it helped me to understand that dyslexia is as much a gift as it is a disability. Just not much of a gift in the "words, words, words" world of most classrooms. I found Davis' description of dyslexia far more enlightening than Sally Shaywitz' description in "Overcoming Dyslexia." Davis' methods: not so much. |
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Post by healthy11 on Oct 24, 2011 10:46:48 GMT -5
The Eides, in this new book, have touched on many other author's works, and include the following notes/comments about Davis' book The Gift of Dyslexia: "There are certain aspects of this book and of the Davis Method with which we are not fully in agreement, and many of his theoretical ideas seem far off the mark, but the practical material on building 3-D models of letters and words and on what Davis calls "trigger words" are often very helpful and are not well covered elsewhere." In the Eides book, there are SO MANY VALUABLE RESOURCES mentioned, including many that we've discussed on Millermom, from things like Inspiration and Kidspiration software, to Write Out Loud and Livescribe smartpens, to Diana Hanbury King's Writing Skills and Handwriting Without Tears, Earobics, Lindamood-Bell, to time management tools like www.skoach.com and www.rememberthemilk.com and Google Calendar. They even put in a link to www.wrightslaw.com Some of the newer networking and support communities that they mention are dyslexicadvantage.com and www.facebook.com/dyslexicadvantage plus www.headstrongnation.org and www.projecteyetoeye.org and www.beingdyslexic.co.ukI've been reading a copy of the book from our local library, but this is one resource that I'm definitely going to buy, and add to my permanent collection! I wish I could get my dyslexic son to take time and read it, too, but as the Eide's point out in their book, "interest is also important for selecting the right reading materials...students with M-strengths (like my son) often enjoy books about physics, chemistry, engineering, inventions, mechanics, computers, airplanes, architecture, landscaping, automobiles, design, fashion, or other topics that engage their spatial interests." (Unfortunately reading about dyslexia is NOT on that list!!)  |
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Post by healthy11 on Oct 25, 2011 7:52:26 GMT -5
Since my book was due back at the library today, I skipped ahead to the chapters of immediate interest to me, and my son.
The section about "Thriving in High School and College" is very well-written, with a good overview of the challenges that are likely to be faced in a college setting, along with some very specific suggestions. Among recommendations that the Eides have made is to be sure students have a good formal diagnosis before requesting accommodations on ACT/SAT exams or applying to colleges. They say, "We've found that many bright students with dyslexia may not show problems with reading speed or comprehension on the simpler passages contained in standard achievement tests but will struggle to read the more advanced passages found on the SAT or ACT. In general, we've found that the Nelson-Denny Reading Test is a better predictor of such problems, and it should be used in testing all students in ninth grade and beyond. Several of the other less commonly used subtests we've found to be especially helpful in documenting the important executive function and processing speed challenges that can require extra time on admissions tests include the WJ-III NU subtests on decision making, visual matching, and pair cancellation."
The chapter on "Thriving in the Workplace" also contains a good discussion on whether to disclose or not disclose one's dyslexia, and recommendations of jobs that engage ones strengths based on their interests while avoiding weaknesses, as well as steps to improve job fit. They don't deny that having dyslexia can be a challenge, but it truly can be an advantage, too!
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