More adventures of a dyslexic writer
Sacred, scared, scarred, does everyone know what these words mean without looking them up? The are words a spell checker wouldn't catch. This dyslexic knows them too, when reading, by the context that is, and if the author used the correct word. A scared bear, standing alone, could mean it was a holly bear, a frightened bare, or a bier with a healed cut. After spending a half hour yesterday studying these words, and then going through my entire novel checking the occurrence of each one, I just now had to refer to the little list I made up. But then, I understand normal people have problems with these words too. What's a dyslexic writer to do?
Showing posts with label dyslexia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dyslexia. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Articles on writing and dyslexia
Articles on dyslexia and writing
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Check out this site, I came across it this morning on my daily adventures through La La Land. It's a free article dictionary site where you can submit or take out articles on just about any subject. As an example, I looked up writing and there are over 2300 articles on writing listed.
This is the main site, http://www.isnare.com/ ,
This takes you directly to articles on dyslexia, http://www.isnare.com/?aid=355662&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet ,
Tags, dyslexia, teaching dyslexic children, free articles, article dictionary, writing articles
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Frustration
A dyslexic's frustration.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
Frustration, a word I could not spell until recently. I guess it finally reached that magical number of times it takes beating it into my brain until it finally registers as another word conquered. (I just spent another frustrating eight minutes trying to spell conquer without a Q, such is the life of a dyslexic; write down, check spelling, choose word I think is the one I'm looking for, look up, wrong word, try another. Around the merry-go-round we go until I happen upon the word I want. I recognize it right off but must look up its definition to be sure). That is Frustration.
Sorry for the distraction, but it is a perfect example of why I chose frustration for the subject of this blog. Pick a random article on dyslexia and nine times out of ten, you will find frustration mentioned. It consumes a huge part of a dyslexic's life. Not that everyone doesn't experience frustration.
Frustration and all of its synonyms from annoyance to exasperation and from aggravation to pain, yes, look it up, pain is a synonym for frustration, and believe me, frustration can be painful. The older I get the more frustrated I become. You would think that after seventy years, your brain would absorb more than it does. Being that we only use ten percent of it. For crying out loud, what is the other ninety percent doing. I tell you, it's frustrating.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Dyslexia, definition
Dyslexia Defined
This is the clearest definition of dyslexia I've ever come across. If you are interested in reading the whole article go here, http://www.ihealthdirectory.com/dyslexia/
Excerpt from ihealthdirectiry
Dyslexia’s definition according to the National Institute of Health is that dyslexia is a learning disability which causes a child to have problems in their ability to read, write and spell according to their intellectual abilities. It is one of the most common learning disorders that affects children today and it stays with someone their whole life. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe. Treatment for dyslexia can be very successful if found and treated early in the child’s life.
Children who have dyslexia have problems with reading, writing and spelling due to the fact that their brain cannot translate information properly. The brain is unable to properly translate the images that it either sees or hears into something that is understandable for the child. However, children who have dyslexia have average intelligence. Mental retardation or brain damage are not related to this problem.
This is the clearest definition of dyslexia I've ever come across. If you are interested in reading the whole article go here, http://www.ihealthdirectory.com/dyslexia/
Excerpt from ihealthdirectiry
Dyslexia’s definition according to the National Institute of Health is that dyslexia is a learning disability which causes a child to have problems in their ability to read, write and spell according to their intellectual abilities. It is one of the most common learning disorders that affects children today and it stays with someone their whole life. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe. Treatment for dyslexia can be very successful if found and treated early in the child’s life.
Children who have dyslexia have problems with reading, writing and spelling due to the fact that their brain cannot translate information properly. The brain is unable to properly translate the images that it either sees or hears into something that is understandable for the child. However, children who have dyslexia have average intelligence. Mental retardation or brain damage are not related to this problem.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The power of deduction
The power of deduction
Don't you just hate it when you come across an unknown word and when you look it up, you come away more confused than ever. Or you look up a word that is defined using a dozen other words that are more foreign than the first.
Case in point, this morning I came across sextile. I was excited because it sounded juicy and it was part of my Horoscope. Here is what I found. It starts out with the relationship between two planets, sounds kind of quirky to me but Venus, the Love Goddess, was one of them. And it ends up talking about energetic and enthusiastic natives making advances. More interesting. My intuition was right, it did have something to do with sex, sextile is the product of a successful union. Who said this dyslexic was dumb?
Sextile, from Wikipedia
In astrology a sextile is an astrological aspect that is made when two planets or other celestial bodies are 60 degrees apart. A sextile is considered to be highly benefic, being the sixth harmonic (360 / 6 = 60) of the 360 degree zodiac. Because the sextile is the sixth harmonic of the circle, it takes on many of the qualities of the planet Venus, therefore bringing many opportunities to the native.
It is similar to a trine in that it can bring out or accentuate the good characteristics in a suitable subject, although their influence is not quite as strong as a trine. It is one of the moderately powerful aspects.
An example of an aspect would be the Sun in 10 degrees Aquarius forming a sextile to Mars in 10 degrees Aries. In such an instance the native might have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm that he could use to make friends and advance himself.
Don't you just hate it when you come across an unknown word and when you look it up, you come away more confused than ever. Or you look up a word that is defined using a dozen other words that are more foreign than the first.
Case in point, this morning I came across sextile. I was excited because it sounded juicy and it was part of my Horoscope. Here is what I found. It starts out with the relationship between two planets, sounds kind of quirky to me but Venus, the Love Goddess, was one of them. And it ends up talking about energetic and enthusiastic natives making advances. More interesting. My intuition was right, it did have something to do with sex, sextile is the product of a successful union. Who said this dyslexic was dumb?
Sextile, from Wikipedia
In astrology a sextile is an astrological aspect that is made when two planets or other celestial bodies are 60 degrees apart. A sextile is considered to be highly benefic, being the sixth harmonic (360 / 6 = 60) of the 360 degree zodiac. Because the sextile is the sixth harmonic of the circle, it takes on many of the qualities of the planet Venus, therefore bringing many opportunities to the native.
It is similar to a trine in that it can bring out or accentuate the good characteristics in a suitable subject, although their influence is not quite as strong as a trine. It is one of the moderately powerful aspects.
An example of an aspect would be the Sun in 10 degrees Aquarius forming a sextile to Mars in 10 degrees Aries. In such an instance the native might have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm that he could use to make friends and advance himself.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Communicating With Words
Communicating With Words
I woke up this morning thinking about words and writing. That's not so unusual, I am a dyslexic and I am a writer, even though I haven't done much of it lately, writing that is, so thinking about writing is pretty much what I do 99.9% of the time. Thinking about words, I do 100% of the time. Writing is a form of communication, a way of getting others to understand you. So what's the big deal on how we do it. And, what is a misplaced modifier, does it make any difference? We laugh at them sometimes because they are funny, but still, we understand what the writer meant. So what the hey or h--- is the big deal. Did you not understand what I meant by h---? Everyone knows what the F word is and what the N word and many other words expressed by a single letter or a multiple letter string. They represent a forbidden word or phrase that is not to be uttered or read. Yet we know exactly what they mean. They register in our brain just as clearly as if written or said fully. I remember the first movie that came out with the F word. One character repeated it many times. Of course, they blanked it out, but everyone knew what he said, and it was funny as h---.
Today, texting is a popular form of communicating, something that looks Greek to me. These kids thumb it in with lightening speed and with that same speed, they read and understand it. Communication established. So, if what you write is understood by others, no matter how it is written, you have achieved your objective. When you say, "yo, M F-ing SOB," everyone knows what it means. It only looks better than the actual full spelling of the words. For me, I say "Dam the aesthetics, full spelling ahead.
Tags:
I woke up this morning thinking about words and writing. That's not so unusual, I am a dyslexic and I am a writer, even though I haven't done much of it lately, writing that is, so thinking about writing is pretty much what I do 99.9% of the time. Thinking about words, I do 100% of the time. Writing is a form of communication, a way of getting others to understand you. So what's the big deal on how we do it. And, what is a misplaced modifier, does it make any difference? We laugh at them sometimes because they are funny, but still, we understand what the writer meant. So what the hey or h--- is the big deal. Did you not understand what I meant by h---? Everyone knows what the F word is and what the N word and many other words expressed by a single letter or a multiple letter string. They represent a forbidden word or phrase that is not to be uttered or read. Yet we know exactly what they mean. They register in our brain just as clearly as if written or said fully. I remember the first movie that came out with the F word. One character repeated it many times. Of course, they blanked it out, but everyone knew what he said, and it was funny as h---.
Today, texting is a popular form of communicating, something that looks Greek to me. These kids thumb it in with lightening speed and with that same speed, they read and understand it. Communication established. So, if what you write is understood by others, no matter how it is written, you have achieved your objective. When you say, "yo, M F-ing SOB," everyone knows what it means. It only looks better than the actual full spelling of the words. For me, I say "Dam the aesthetics, full spelling ahead.
Tags:
Thursday, August 6, 2009
CHARACTERISTICS OF DYSLEXIA
Thirty-seven common characteristics of Dyslexia:
Here are the first sixteen. I'll post the remainder later.
Most dyslexics will exhibit about ten of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.General
1. Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
2. Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
3. Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
4. High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
5. Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
6. Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
7. Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
8. Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
9. Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
10. Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
11. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
12. Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
13. Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
14. Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
15. Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
16. Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis
Here are the first sixteen. I'll post the remainder later.
Most dyslexics will exhibit about ten of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.General
1. Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
2. Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
3. Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
4. High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
5. Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
6. Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
7. Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
8. Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
9. Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
10. Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
11. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
12. Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
13. Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
14. Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
15. Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
16. Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis
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