I just wanted to mention something here. Lots of kids who have dyslexia are actually early readers, and quite bright, even gifted. It's just that they process information a little differently. It's classed as a learning disability because the people who have it don't do well with the standard sorts of methods. Sometimes dyslexic kids get stuck in the "slow" class because they don't conform well. For example, handwriting and spelling suck, but the kid can type like crazy and has a great memory - the kid is imaginative, gets the concepts, but the outward signs don't conform.

I hadn't thought that German would be easier, but it makes sense because it is phonetic.

English is a beast because of the spelling. I still can't spell properly, never will, and my handwriting is atrocious. I have a pen that they make for kids learning to write that has little indentations where you're supposed to put your fingers. It helps a lot. Typing and voice recognition are great things. Also software that reads to me.

At any rate, wherever you put your kids is your business... I would just make sure they can get what they need, and it sounds like you're at least asking the right questions. But I hope you don't have to quit your job - unless it's what you want.

When I was still a little schoolkid back in England, the headmistress of my primary school once arranged for me to go and see a psychologist because she thought I had learning difficulties. The psychologist diagnosed something or other (I can't remember what but think it may have been something related to learning dyselxia or autism) but my mother laughed in his face and refused to follow up on any of his recommendations. She said my teachers and this guy were totally bonkers and took me to a different school where I never had any problems and the rest of my schooling career was relatively unproblematic in that respect. The headmaster of this new school even told my mother that the staff of the previous school had over-reacted to what were quite normal problems and that those symptoms were quite common at that age but were of no concern because kids just grow out of.

I am very grateful that my mother took this stance as following up on some special treatment or special schooling might have caused more problems than it solved.

I am not an expert and have no experience with dyslexia but I recently read a fascinating book about the reading brain:
"Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading" by Maryanne Wolf I would highly recommend it for anyone (not only people with reading problems). Wolf spends a lot of time describing dyslexia from the view point of a neuroscientist, a psychologist, a child with adult with it, literature, etc.
She also talks about her successful program for helping children learn to read (at the Tufts Center for Reading and Language Research: http://www.tufts.edu/home/feature/?p=wolf).

Here is a link to the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Proust-Squid-S.../dp/0060186399

Hope that helps,
Thea

Many successful people were dyslexic. Richard Branson and Einstein are two from memory.

The tests they use to diagnose developmental dyslexia are just an age appropriate IQ test where if the person is above average in most areas but is below average in areas like short term memory recall, simple maths, reading out aloud or sounding out new words. Perhaps the child isn't dyslexic, but is shy or was never taught simple maths like long devision. Sometimes children miss something in class and never catch up. I remember missing the class on how to tell the time with an analog clock. My grandparents ended up sitting down and explaining it to me then it finally clicked.

A few people in my family were "diagnosed" with dyslexia from these tests. My dad can't remember a phone number but can do complex maths and studied engineering. My sister was diagnosed early and was schooled at home, finishing last year. University isn't an option for her like the rest of our family, but that's not that big a deal. She has missed the social aspect of school the most.

Since your children are only 6 I would, in this specific case, definitely go for changing them into the local school. I'm not a huge fan of the Swiss schoolsystem but I feel that in cases like yours they are actually quite good and do most things right.

If you choose the local school you will ensure that you get all the support needed as it is the obligation of the Schulgemeinde to cater for all children, also those with problems.

As was suggested, I would _not_ inform the new school about the reason why you change into the local system. Just hint of change of circumstances or something. Let them start fresh in the new school. They will be evaluated together will all the other children as a normal part of the school day. If there are problems, the new school will discover them and they will then suggest the best course of action for your children and give you the support you need.

Good luck!

Hi Telandy,

I am sorry toe hear about your situation. But to be honest, I am also a bit confused...I was involved in a previous thread about your integration issues after year 4 (which I can absolutely understand) But in that thread I gathered there that your twins were able to read and write? With all due respect, I am wondering about the international school they are going to, or if, perhaps, the issue is somehow interconnected with the other integration/ socialization issues you mentioned there (which had a great deal to do with them not speaking Swiss German)? I'm certainly not the expert, and I am routing for you to find the right solution (and yes, please get a second opinion!) but maybe the kids are truly unhappy and this is one additional outcome of it?

This is the thread you are referring too is:- Integration into year four


The boys do speak HIGH German and understand it, but are shy in speaking the language. They are reading Oxford Learning Tree level 6 in English and Oxford Learning Tree level 3 in German. With writing, they are writing sentences in English, but not fully in German. In the German class there are the only English speakers and are in the middle of the Group of native Swiss/ German speakers. The problem is that we have the boys and their younger sister all in the same school and their mother is a teacher there, so movement of two boys will probably result in the loss of her job. From my side we will plough on with a second test and wait and see what the reaction is from the school to the psychologists report with regards to what they can offer.

The situation in becoming more complex, since it may mean that the mother has to give up her job and movement of the children into the Swiss system. The one thing I am worried about is the level of bullying in Swiss schools, we have already had one twin hospitalised when some bigger boys slit his tongue by whizzing around their jacket near him and the zip of the jacket hit his face and caught and cut his tongue.

I was also extremely worried about aggression in general in Swiss schools, following behaviour I saw in playgrounds and from local children. However, in the end my worries were completely unfounded. In general I think the Swiss have a tendency to let kids sort things out for themselves. However, prior to kindergarten/school when children do not have the means to do this, it often results in frustration and aggression in my opinion.

However, once they get into the school system my experience is that aggression is dealt with as it would be in any school. In my 11 year old's school they have just spent a whole week focussing on "peace-making"; how to respect the views of others, how to stop problems escalating, how to deal with aggression etc.

In Primary school it is also common for the class to have a discussion once a month where children can safely bring up any issues they may have with another child either in the class or in the school and parameters of behaviour are set and discussed. Both my kids have faith in this system, although to my knowledge they have never had to use it.

Of course, there will always be incidences of bullying and I think the issue is more how it is dealt with. My experience has been good, although neither of my kids has been bullied. Certainly all Swiss schools will have a policy on bullying - there may be something on the website of your local school which you could look up or ring up the School Secretariat and ask them. Good luck.

Hi

I agree, that many are quick to diagnose. It is good though that you get a diagnosis here before the age of 9 so that you can get assistance from IVA.


Dyslexia type symptoms can be brought on by stress to the system. It can be brought on by such things a bright lights or general brightness. Stress brought by pressure to perform. etc. If the child can nolt perform so well and there is pressure brough on then the symptoms can be acerbated.

Real dyslexia is a brain issue where parts of the brain are underdeveloped and there is a lack of coherence in parts of the brain.

Yes, get a second opinion. You might also consider getting a QEEG (quantitative EEG) which measures the brain activity.

Careful with labels as they by a yoke around a person's neck or even be used by the person not to perform. The labels can help the parents but can be a detriment to the person labeled.

Also, some like to label because the child does not conform.

I am just interested to know how dependent the twins are in each other. Do they have nay shared words- or behaviour or games that only they understand? Do they get upset if they are separated?, Do they conspire together?

I don't mean any of this negatively, they are probably a tremendous support to each other but sometimes if they rely too heavily on each other they will have problems integrating. I am not that impressed by international schools I have worked in the ones in Zurich, Schaffhausen and used to know the people who worked at the Winterthur one.


I am a teacher, as a teacher I knew where to order all the reading and writing materials I needed and which schemes to choose from. You can do the same. Actually New Zealand used to have the best schemes. I taught my kids to read and write so they were advanced 1-2 years in the Swiss system and were bumped up a class. I carried on teaching them using the National Curriculum materials. They did have a tough time at Swiss schools, but that was racial. For quite while both kids refused to speak English when anyone else was around. Being in a village with the doors open that was most of the time! I still kept a timetable of English and Music lessons. Both reintegrated into English speaking school very well when we moved to the US.

I found that when I taught in a school and my kids were in the same class or school I always put their needs last during schooltime, which was not fair.

It is tough but sometimes you can do both- have the kids go to Swiss school and teach them English at home.

I would seriously look into separating the twins, first just with small trips, like shopping then build it up to different sports activites until, perhaps, they are in separate classes. If they do have a learning disorder (you don't know for sure yet) you definitely don't want it compounded by a behavioural problem.

[
A few people in my family were "diagnosed" with dyslexia from these tests. My dad can't remember a phone number but can do complex maths and studied engineering. My sister was diagnosed early and was schooled at home, finishing last year. University isn't an option for her like the rest of our family, but that's not that big a deal. She has missed the social aspect of school the most.[/quote]

Very good. I often make the comment to my clients, that I do not know anyone who does not have a problem, an issue, or something different about them. I think we spend too much time looking for perfect children or perfection wit in ourselves which often creates anxiety which affects learning. Two of the most richest men in the USA had issues, Gates and Buffett. Actually their issues or differences is what made them rich.

In some cases it can be a serious situation that can be
helped such as with diet or some type of training

Very good. I often make the comment to my clients, that I do not know anyone who does not have a problem, an issue, or something different about them. I think we spend too much time looking for perfect children or perfection wit in ourselves which often creates anxiety which affects learning. Two of the most richest men in the USA had issues, Gates and Buffett. Actually their issues or differences is what made them rich.

In some cases it can be a serious situation that can be
helped such as with diet or some type of training[/quote]

My sister's dyslexia is really bad, but out of 4 sisters, three of who are voracious readers she is independently the most financially successful. She also has the keenest insight politically, even though initially she comes across as a real ditz. I love my sister she has taught me so much!

I hate sticking labels on kids, but sometimes it is the only way in the US at least, to get special needs funding.

I hate sticking labels on kids, but sometimes it is the only way in the US at least, to get special needs funding.[/quote]

Actually there are those who say the DSM-IV was developed in order to make it easier for the pharmas to prescribe.

Actually there are those who say the DSM-IV was developed in order to make it easier for the pharmas to prescribe.[/quote]

I guess that they will be prescribing pot soon, it seems to help some kids with ADD/ADHD which can be a co-factor with dyslexia. I just don't like the fact that it can spark psychosis in some and of course I am against smoking. Not that I am advocating Telandy should try getting his 6 year-olds high! NO No Nooo!