Issue 17: September 2023 Dystinct Magazine

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On The Cover

On the cover is RJ McLaughlin.

This issue covers the story of RJ, a young videographer who transformed his challenges with dyslexia, OCD, and ADHD into strengths, using them as catalysts to carve a unique path in the world of content creation and storytelling.

Topics Covered

The September 2023 issue of Dystinct Magazine brings to you:

Issue 17: Letting Go of the Wheel: The Journey of Rachel and Jen

Navigating the challenges of dyspraxia, a mother and daughter duo, Jennifer and Rachel Cyr, share their personal journey, highlighting resilience, determination, and the art of overcoming obstacles while emphasising the power of understanding and patience.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Applying the MATCH Strategy to Driver’s Education | Jennifer Lynne Cyr

Jennifer Lynne Cyr applies the M.A.T.C.H. strategy to the challenge of teaching her daughter with dyspraxia to drive, emphasising the importance of understanding, adjusting expectations, and patient advocacy.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: The Explicit Teaching of Vocabulary: The Bridge to Comprehension | Gemma Maddocks

Gemma Maddocks explores the significance of vocabulary in reading comprehension, advocating for a balanced approach to instruction covering breadth and depth. She introduces a 6-step instructional routine to enhance word knowledge effectively.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Vocabulary Instruction for Learners with Language-Based Learning Disabilities | Dr Sharon M. Ware

Dr Sharon emphasises the significance of explicit vocabulary instruction, for learners with language-based learning disabilities. She provides practical strategies to foster word consciousness, igniting children’s interest and love for words.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Dyslexic Insight: Lauren Hall’s eye-opening study on reading challenges

Lauren Hall, a 13-year-old with dyslexia from Steubenville, Ohio, turned her school-required science project into an eye-opening study, challenging teachers to read ‘dyslexic’ text; her findings showcased the difficulties dyslexic students face daily.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Is Guided Reading Inclusive? Deirdre O’Toole

Deirdre O’Toole closely examines the techniques of Guided Reading and the implementation of Levelled Readers within classrooms, highlighting their limitations in fostering inclusivity & potential drawbacks for struggling readers & explores alternative approaches that could prove more effective.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Morphemic Spelling Activity | Mary Beth Steven

Mary Beth Steven demonstrates an engaging spelling activity incorporating Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) to empower students to understand the morphological structure of words, recognise word families, & effectively apply suffixing conventions, resulting in enhanced spelling and language proficiency.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: The Dystinct Journey of Callisto Dougherty

Navigating the challenges of dyspraxia, a mother and daughter duo, Jennifer and Rachel Cyr, share their personal journey, highlighting resilience, determination, and the art of overcoming obstacles while emphasising the power of understanding and patience.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: Dyslexia-Inclusive Education: Comprehending the Linguistic Code | Jenny Gray

Jenny Gray underlines the importance of understanding the linguistic code in English and French and advocates pattern-based instruction, incorporating interactive methods for improved decoding and encoding skills.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Issue 17: The Dystinct Journey of RJ McLaughlin

The story of RJ, a young videographer who transformed his challenges with dyslexia, OCD, and ADHD into strengths, using them as catalysts to carve a unique path in the world of content creation and storytelling.

DYSTINCTZahra Nawaz

Editor's Note

Sometimes, you have to let them fail and just be there for them!

We often encounter frustration, confusion, and even heartache when raising our children. As parents, caregivers, and educators, it's natural to want to shield our children from these challenges, make their path smoother, and ensure their success. However, the above wise words shared by Katryn Dougherty serve as a reminder that there are times when we must let them fail.

In every setback, there is an opportunity for growth. When we let our children face their difficulties head-on, we empower them to develop resilience, determination, and problem-solving skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Being there for our children doesn't always mean shielding them from failure; it means standing alongside them, offering unwavering support, and encouraging them to discover their unique strengths and abilities. It means fostering an environment where they can learn, adapt, and ultimately thrive.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue and all the specialist content covered.

Please get in touch with me if you have any feedback, ideas, or stories to share to change the narrative surrounding learning disabilities.

Thanks

Zahra Nawaz Shafeeq

Extracts from the Magazine

Featured Illustrations