Hope for children with learning disabilities
Education opens the gate of success and one important aspect of it is language comprehension. And it is not just about reading or speaking but also comprehending the material.
Sadly, not all children learn the same way. For example, there are some who have dyslexia, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism, so they use language differently and thus act out differently.
If not addressed at an early age, this could lead to isolation and low self-esteem.
"The best time to do early intervention is when the child starts to read," said Ms. Christine Joy Montero, a Singapore-trained reading specialist.
Language disorders can be challenging to both the parents and the child. "Oftentimes, we hear students are called lazy, shy, quiet or weird. This could be because of a hidden handicap," said Karen Marie Thelma Jesena, a teacher and Australia-trained director of Iloilo Reading Intervention and Assessment Center (IRIAC).
She said that there are famous personalities who have speech and learning disabilities. Though some disabilities rarely go away in adulthood, they did not let it hinder their success.
Some of these successful personalities are Albert Einstein, Daniel Radcliffe, Julia Roberts, Michael Phelps, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise, to name a few.
In helping these children, "it is not enough that we care or try hard. There has to be precision. Why is it hard for the child to learn? As teachers, we have to continue to learn," Mr. Victor Villanueva, president of the Council of Reading Intervention Specialists (CORIS) told the teachers who attended the seminar “Literary Partners: Creating Reading Connections” that was spearheaded by IRIAC.
He said that there are theories that could help parents, teachers and other professionals who deal with children find out if and why a child has a reading difficulty.
One of them is the Reading Rope by Dr. Hollis Scarborough. This model states that there are strands that need to be woven together in order to produce a skilled reader. These are:
1. Language comprehension - the ability to understand what is being said. This requires background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning (the ability to communicate using language) and literacy reasoning.
2. Word recognition - consists of phonological awareness of spelling per sound, syllables phonemes, and eye coding.
Both strands have to be woven together in order to produce a skilled reader.
Another model is the Theory of Automatic Processing by S. J. Samuels wherein reading is improved through stages of intervention like decoding and language comprehension.
In the case of dyslexia, a child has trouble decoding, the skill of matching letters with sounds and then blending these sounds together to form the word. On the other hand, another child can spell but cannot comprehend. And there are cases when a child can neither decode nor comprehend, which Villanueva says could be the most challenging. Each case has its own intervention.
The most effective approach to reading intervention especially for dyslexia is the Orton Gillingham (OG) approach. "It is a structured literacy instruction that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, individualized (one-on-one), metacognitive and supportive," Montero explained. She also advised mentors to assure the students to believe in themselves.
The center offers an assessment of reading and learning difficulties, reading intervention sessions, enrichment/advanced classes, remedial/tutorial classes, beginning reading classes, Filipino and Math enrichment classes, Filipino and Math remedial classes, group enrichment classes, and homework helpers.
"Before, we had to fly in Teacher Vic in order to provide assessment here in Iloilo. Now, we have IRIAC which is a CORIS approved center," said Jesena.
If you notice your child behaving differently and having trouble learning despite your efforts, perhaps it is about time to consider expert intervention. You may get in touch with IRIAC through any of the following:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IRIA2O18/
Email: iloilo.reading@gmail.com
Landline: (033) 321.3326
Mobile: 0998.5419.902 / 0917.7991.767
Sadly, not all children learn the same way. For example, there are some who have dyslexia, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism, so they use language differently and thus act out differently.
If not addressed at an early age, this could lead to isolation and low self-esteem.
"The best time to do early intervention is when the child starts to read," said Ms. Christine Joy Montero, a Singapore-trained reading specialist.
 |
| Karen Marie Thelma Jesena, a teacher and Australia-trained director of IRIAC |
Language disorders can be challenging to both the parents and the child. "Oftentimes, we hear students are called lazy, shy, quiet or weird. This could be because of a hidden handicap," said Karen Marie Thelma Jesena, a teacher and Australia-trained director of Iloilo Reading Intervention and Assessment Center (IRIAC).
She said that there are famous personalities who have speech and learning disabilities. Though some disabilities rarely go away in adulthood, they did not let it hinder their success.
Some of these successful personalities are Albert Einstein, Daniel Radcliffe, Julia Roberts, Michael Phelps, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise, to name a few.
 |
| Celebrities with speech or reading difficulties. Clockwise from left: Albert Einstein, Daniel Radcliffe, Julia Roberts, Michael Phelps, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise |
PRECISION AND STRUCTURE
Language-based disability is often the culprit for the child failing to comply with school requirements (due to lack of proficiency in reading and writing) and for having speech difficulty (identifying letters and sounds).In helping these children, "it is not enough that we care or try hard. There has to be precision. Why is it hard for the child to learn? As teachers, we have to continue to learn," Mr. Victor Villanueva, president of the Council of Reading Intervention Specialists (CORIS) told the teachers who attended the seminar “Literary Partners: Creating Reading Connections” that was spearheaded by IRIAC.
 |
| Victor Villanueva, president of the Council of Reading Intervention Specialists (CORIS) |
He said that there are theories that could help parents, teachers and other professionals who deal with children find out if and why a child has a reading difficulty.
One of them is the Reading Rope by Dr. Hollis Scarborough. This model states that there are strands that need to be woven together in order to produce a skilled reader. These are:
1. Language comprehension - the ability to understand what is being said. This requires background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning (the ability to communicate using language) and literacy reasoning.
2. Word recognition - consists of phonological awareness of spelling per sound, syllables phonemes, and eye coding.
Both strands have to be woven together in order to produce a skilled reader.
Another model is the Theory of Automatic Processing by S. J. Samuels wherein reading is improved through stages of intervention like decoding and language comprehension.
In the case of dyslexia, a child has trouble decoding, the skill of matching letters with sounds and then blending these sounds together to form the word. On the other hand, another child can spell but cannot comprehend. And there are cases when a child can neither decode nor comprehend, which Villanueva says could be the most challenging. Each case has its own intervention.
 |
| Christine Joy Montero, a Singapore-trained reading specialist |
The most effective approach to reading intervention especially for dyslexia is the Orton Gillingham (OG) approach. "It is a structured literacy instruction that is explicit, systematic, multisensory, individualized (one-on-one), metacognitive and supportive," Montero explained. She also advised mentors to assure the students to believe in themselves.
THERE IS HOPE
The Iloilo Reading Intervention and Assessment Center has experts like Villanueva, Jesena, and Montero who can help children overcome their difficulty in focusing, spelling, attention, reading, remembering, writing, comprehension, and learning.The center offers an assessment of reading and learning difficulties, reading intervention sessions, enrichment/advanced classes, remedial/tutorial classes, beginning reading classes, Filipino and Math enrichment classes, Filipino and Math remedial classes, group enrichment classes, and homework helpers.
 |
| Participants of Literary Partners: Creating Reading Connections, a seminar organized by the Iloilo Reading Intervention and Assessment Center for parents, teachers and professionals who work with children. |
"Before, we had to fly in Teacher Vic in order to provide assessment here in Iloilo. Now, we have IRIAC which is a CORIS approved center," said Jesena.
If you notice your child behaving differently and having trouble learning despite your efforts, perhaps it is about time to consider expert intervention. You may get in touch with IRIAC through any of the following:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IRIA2O18/
Email: iloilo.reading@gmail.com
Landline: (033) 321.3326
Mobile: 0998.5419.902 / 0917.7991.767
