Cromwell teacher researches dyslexia

The problem with dyslexia is many people do not recognise it — seeing instead naughty, lazy or disinterested behaviour.

Danella Smallridge of Cromwell is studying dyslexia as part of a New Zealand Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship through the Royal Society of New Zealand.

"I have probably taught lots of kids over the years but just did not recognise them until one little girl two years ago in my year 5 class at Cromwell Primary School." Mrs Smallridge said. "She seemed to have the ability but struggled with her reading, the words had no meaning, no connection." This prompted Mrs Smallridge to study the condition and she found many famous people around the world conquered the effects dyslexia had on their lives.

Richard Branson, Walt Disney, John Britten, Richard Taylor (Weka productions) and Peter Leitch (The Mad Butcher), all suffered from dyslexia with Branson being told by one of his teachers he would either end up in prison or a millionaire.

As part of her study, Mrs Smallridge has a control group of children — some recognised with dyslexia — and some autistic children, taking part in a simple exercise with patterns to try and form some correlation with brain connection.

"We should see a pattern emerging in the results that will not necessarily be due to anything else but their way of interpreting a thought pattern." With help from associate professor and director of the Action Brain and Cognition laboratory at Otago University Liz Franz, and resource teacher for literacy at Cromwell College Dawn Cousins, the results will be studied and a paper written of the findings.

"We would like to study more things in depth, and have applied for a further grant for next year" Mrs Smallridge said.

To highlight Dyslexia Awareness Week next week, Mrs Smallridge has organised a creative challenge for all Cromwell schoolchildren to use their imagination and come up with something unique. It will make schools eligible for a $2000 cash prize to be spent on dyslexia-related activities in their school.

- © Fairfax NZ News