Understanding Dyslexia - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography (two books and two articles) Affiliation: Lawrence, D. (2009). Understanding Dyslexia. Maidenhead: Open University Press. In his book titled “Understanding Dyslexia,” Denis Lawrence was keen not to leave any stone unturned. His book is subject to consider as being up-to-date in that it provides a comprehensive analysis on all aspects of dyslexia. Upon combining the author’s knowledge, experience, and empathy, it thus becomes evident to state that this book can be subject to recommend to any person willing to learn on the nature and consequences of dyslexia (Lawrence, 2009). In this book, the author analyzes dyslexia as a health condition that affects at least ten percent of children, hence being the most common special education need of which teachers encounter in their daily activities. The author goes ahead to state that when trying to identify the characteristics of this health disorder, it is possible for one to confuse it to other learning difficulties. The alignment of ideas and flow of paragraphs, backed up with good command of English makes this book easy to read hence assisting an individual at understanding the true meaning of dyslexia. The book provides the reader with some clear guidance towards identifying the signs of dyslexia, followed by a clear outline on the practical strategies that may be helpful and supportive to the dyslexic children. In addition to conducting a review on the popular definition of dyslexia, this book offers the reader with a fresh definition that relies on the current research. Every single chapter of the book goes ahead to help the reader in understanding the unique challenges that dyslexic children have to encounter while learning literary skills. In the end, the book provides an indication that having a combined effort from the teachers and parents may have significant effect in making a difference. The key features that the author included in this book is a comprehensive coverage on the most popular method in use when assessing dyslexia strategies and techniques with intention of helping children diagnosed with dyslexia into developing their literary skills while at school or at home. The book focuses on figuring out the possible mechanism of enhancing and maintaining self-esteem among dyslexic children, while similarly discussing on the society’s attitude towards dyslexia. The whole concept calls for the need developing a further understanding of dyslexia. 2. Reid, G. (2009). Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook. 4th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell The ideal reason behind Reid writing this new edition of the book was with the intention of incorporating the very recent theoretical and practical researches related to the field of dyslexia, thus being able to present the information in the format that was user friendly for the practitioners. Reid in this book refers to the most recent research by the government reports on literacy of dyslexia basing in a number of countries, namely USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia (Reid, 2009). Through the book, the author provides a summary of each chapter at its start and its end. The book is entirely ideal for teachers, educational psychologists, and students doing education-based courses. It is an up-to-date edition of Gavin Reid’s bestselling handbooks that offers a vital accompaniment to the practice and research in the field of dyslexia and literacy. In this new edition, Reid places emphasis on the inclusion and need for meeting the needs of all those that are within the mainstream system. Reid also offers insights to the reader on the best practice to consider in a specialized provision, with particular focus on the individual approaches. The chapters of the book examine on the primary, secondary and adult education, following by examining the role of parents. Other chapters of the book offer examination on issues facing teachers while offering practical and insightful advice on the possible way of approaching and handling the subject to dyslexia basing on the context of new research findings. This book will entirely benefit many people that have the potential of assisting the young and mature people into overcoming the hurdles associated to dyslexia. The alignment and systematic flow of ideas through the book offers the reader an easy time of interpreting and understanding the concepts of the book. 3. ORTON DYSLEXIA SOCIETY, & INTERNATIONAL DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION. (1982). Annals of dyslexia. An Interdisciplinary Journal of The International Dyslexia Association. It is entirely an International Journal of The International Dyslexia Association with absolute dedication towards the scientific study of dyslexia. Features covered in this journal are those of the comorbid conditions of dyslexia, followed by mentioning theory-based practices in regards to remediation, and providing suggestion on the possible intervention of dyslexia. The journal also covers on the related areas that contain written language disorder, which includes spelling, composing and mathematics. Annals of Dyslexia is a journal that publishes on the original empirical studies, conducts significant review, and provides well documented reports on the effectiveness of engaging in evidence-based practices (Orton Dyslexia Society, & International Dyslexia Association, 1982). Annals of Dyslexia are a publication that only considers original papers for publication. The publication provides information on the current contexts, while addressing matters of social and behavioral sciences. This group of journal publications provides information on the current Index to the Journals in Education, while at the same time providing exceptional child educational resources. The publication also acts as the index medics for various health conditions, with one of them being dyslexia. The alignment of information while writing these journals is of a straight forwards manner and simple language for any reader to understand and comprehend the information. It is an educative piece of literature on dyslexia, which I can recommend for anyone with the interest of understanding dyslexia with the whole concept calls for the need developing a further understanding of dyslexia. 4. Sioned Exley. (2003).The effectiveness of teaching strategies for students with dyslexia based on their preferred learning styles. British Journal of Special Education. Volume 30, Number 4 Sioned Exley is the SEnCo at the Guilsborough School, which is a comprehensive school that has 1,300 students in the rural Northamptonshire. Sioned undertook on the research reported in this article at the time when she was working towards achieving her MA at De Montfort University. In this study, she was studying to understand whether teaching in a manner preferred by students with dyslexia has the capacity of improving on their performance and attainment. Sioned in this article was able to work with a sample of seven students in the study, four boys and three girls, all in years 7 and 8 of schooling (Sioned, 2003). With the aid of both qualitative and quantitative methods, she was able to figure out that five of these students were able to make significant progress in areas of spelling and number work. All the seven students that participated in the study were able to report an improvement on their feelings and attitude towards school work. Upon acknowledging that her research was only a small-scale study, Sioned Exley was able to draw some positive conclusions. The article is effective in the area of study in that it demonstrates key concepts that one requires to consider while understanding the concept of dyslexia in real life situations, especially on the effects to student’s performance. This research was subject to conduct for the purpose of investigating on whether students with dyslexia through engaging in preferred learning styles have the potential of improving their performance and attainment in literacy and numeracy. The conclusion of the article is straight forward that indicates students with dyslexia have the ability of improving on their performance, attainment, and improving on the way they feel about themselves on provision that they get encouragement in using the preferred learning styles. The strengths of this article is that achieves its target of indicating that given the ownership of students on their learning, it is possible to improve on their whole school experience. The article was able to cite several researches in a comprehensive and effective manner. The alignment and consistency of information makes it easy for the reader to understand and interpret the message of their journal article. It is entirely an educative piece of literature that I would recommend to anyone interested in developing a further understanding of dyslexia. Coding of the Transcript (Case Study Interview) The interview employed the use of open ended questions, whereby the interviewee had the freedom of discussing issues while giving more details to the question. The entire interview was seeking to figure out the extent of awareness about dyslexia among people in society. through understanding dyslexia, there is a chance for devising appropriate measures to help people with this health condition, or be able to devise on an effective way of preventing this medical condition from occurring. Absolute awareness of this health condition can be helpful to the medical bodies into devising reliable and realistic solutions, while the affected people also give suggestions of the possible action that requires considering. The participant of the case study interview was aware of this medical condition to the extent of using the same medical condition to personal advantage. Through the feedback on this interview, it is apparent that the respondent’s condition was known to many, but received little support on the same problem. The only help the respondent received was in form of parental assistance. This suggests that the society and responsible entities give little attention on the effects and solutions to dyslexia. There is need for responsible entities to consider giving this subject some serious thoughts and come up with reliable solutions to help victims of this medical condition. From this interview, it is evident that there is a possible way of utilizing this medical condition to the advantage of the person diagnosed of it. There are a lot of great things to associate to this medical condition, such as thinking in creative manner that will see success in the end. People need to stop using excuses of their heath conditions and be able to make a difference in their lives. The only thing that is important is to understand the condition, followed by accepting it, and then work towards making a difference. Bibliography LAWRENCE, DENIS. (2009). Understanding Dyslexia. Maidenhead: Open University Press. ORTON DYSLEXIA SOCIETY, & INTERNATIONAL DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION. (1982). Annals of dyslexia. An Interdisciplinary Journal of The International Dyslexia Association. REID, GAVIN. (2009). Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook. 4th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell SIONED EXLEY. (2003).The effectiveness of teaching strategies for students with dyslexia based on their preferred learning styles. British Journal of Special Education. Volume 30, Number 4 Read More