Testing

Hey guys for the past few weeks my school has been doing CAPT testing. Even though I will be  participating in this test next year my school has been preparing the grade below with the practice CAPT.  My teachers are still counting these as grades.  I get anxious when I take tests and quiz's.  I am aloud to have extra time for my quiz's and tests because it takes me longer to read and answer the questions.  But even so I worry about the tests.  If you are a special ed or 504 student you could talk to your Special Education teacher or your Guides Counselor about the accommodations you receive. 

I thought it would be helpful if I shared some strategies that have helped me and might help you to get better grades or to relieve stress. It doesn't matter what kind of testing you're doing middle-terms, finals, or any testing these tips will get you ready.

    •    Get organized
    •    Get rid of distractions
    •    Take a 5 minute break every 30-40 minutes of working
    •    Write down how many minutes it takes to do your subjects

If you get stressed out here are somethings that have helped me in the past:
    •    Listen to your favorite songs
    •    Take a nice long shower
    •    Exercise- like running or weight lifting
    •    Talk to someone about what you are stressed about

 I hope my tips are helpful for when you have a test or just normal homework! If you follow these tips or find your own ways of studying or relieving stress you will feel better!

Math class

Hey Guys! It's been a while since my last post. High school has been difficult in many ways. Math has probably been the most difficult. It has been really hard to get my teacher to understand how kids learn differently.  In class we spend 20 minutes going over homework, then we spend 10 minutes explaining the homework for the next night and we spend the remaining 12 minutes going over new information. She gives the instructions to the whole class and then we work on problems individually or with a partner.  She walks around and checks our work but doesn't really talk us through a problem.   For me, 12 minutes isn't enough time to learn something. I need hands on help and more time to learn the new things.  I also need a quiet atmosphere to learn, not a really loud and crowded classroom.  The struggle for me is to get the things I need to learn.

My teacher believes she is teaching me the right way.  She's teaching me the way she was taught to teach students with learning disabilities.  The problem is she hasn't taken the time to ask if what she is doing works for me.  I've tried to explain this to her but it's difficult for me to talk to her, let alone tell her that her way of teaching me isn't working.  Things can't always be perfect.  I understand that.  But it would seem to me that if you know I have a learning difference and you want to teach me something that you would check to see if what you are doing works for me.  I guess that because I have a "C" most people would assume I'm doing ok.  But I know that I could be getting an "A" if I could just get a little more of what I need.

Getting Started

I am Dyslexic. That isn't something that people just blurt out at random.  I have created this blog so that I can tell people about my life and how I deal with all the issues of being dyslexic.  I hope that by sharing my story other people with dyslexia know they aren't alone and shouldn't be embarrassed.