What is Dyslexia, The Gifts of Dyslexia or the Gifts of the Global Processing Style
Well, the word dyslexia is a bit of a miss direct, let me explain… Referring to literacy Dyslexia means word blindness or difficulty with words, relating to Reading, writing and spelling – But here’s the thing, the term dyslexia does not describe the student’s processing, thinking or learning style.
The word dyslexia says nothing about the student’s strength, skills and talents, on the overhand the term global processing refers to strength skills and talents as well as learning. In the majority of cases, dyslexia is actually the by-product of the global processing style. To be more accurate the true question should be, What are the gifts of the global processing style.
What are the gifts of the global processing style
• Big picture’ thinking • Problem-solving • Lateral thinking abilities • Creative •Intuitive •Exceptional visual-spatial skills.
Key point
Dyslexic students almost always fall into the category of global thinkers. The ability to think. Globally is what makes many of the great minds stand out, and it’s this processing style which makes dyslexic innovative and excels in a wide range of fields.
Scientists, artists, architects, engineers, entrepreneurs, sportsmen, actors, politicians, and Writers.
Some call it the gifts of dyslexia, some call it the Genius of dyslexia, others call it the dyslexic’s superpower, I like to call it the Global Processing style. The Global Processing style is a great metaphor for how information is being expressed and processed by the students/individual with so call Dyslexia.
Let’s Face It The term dyslexia is a one-dimensional term, That literally means Difficulty with words, but in recent years we have been trying to extend the scoop of the word Dyslexia to fit our new observations and understandings.
Understanding the Processing style associated with dyslexia, it’s far more appropriate to identify so call dyslexics by their processing and learning style, rather than by the student’s weakness in reading and writing. This is especially true when we are referring to areas outside of literacy, we would say the student is a global thinker.
The term global thinker/processing style once fully understood can aid parents and teachers in their understanding of dyslexia, shedding light on the students learning style. The term global Processing also helps dyslexics, Global thinkers to better understand their own learning styles and expression.
Ron Davis says “Having dyslexia won’t make every dyslexic a genius, but it is good for the self-esteem of all dyslexics to know their minds work in exactly the same way as the minds of great geniuses.” These geniuses and great minds are global thinkers. It is important for students, parents and teachers to know that we have inherited an educational system that was designed to serve a narrow band of intelligence, namely the liner analytical spectrum of intelligence, and this bias toward liner analytical thinking, puts global thinkers at a disadvantage because their learning style is not taken into full account by the dominant world view.
Major differences between global thinkers and analytical thinkers Global Thinkers and learners are more comfortable learning new information if they can put it into the context of a Big picture. Then once they have established the framework or big picture, the global thinker will work out the details. The standard or dominant learning style is more comfortable learning new information linearly, identifying the details, and putting the pieces together to form a complete picture. With Global thinkers, it can be the opposite.
Global thinkers prefer to access all the information (early on) so they can build a mental map and make connections. Global thinkers tend to mentally turn off when it comes to the linear step-by-step instructions and this difference in learning is reflected in reading and writing global thinkers do better with a holistic approach to reading and writing. For global thinkers, the emphasis should be on producing content and refining it, through trial and error and self-correction, an example of a holistic approach is using a daily journal or and notes taking.
When it comes to the reading and writing for analytic thinkers the emphasis is on spelling, grammar and structure. Many smart global thinkers are held back in school not because they don’t understand the content but because they are left behind because of the technical aspects of reading, writing and spelling ( not to forget the slow speed at which they read and write. At this point it is useful to know that all the skills involved in literacy can be developed, it just takes time. How we unlock the global thinker’s gifts allows the student to follow their passions, hobbies and interest.
The student’s passions, hobbies and interests will reflect the student’s gifts (talent and skill) and revile the natural course of the student’s development. It will Cultivate in students, practice literacy skills for use in personal life Reading and writing Note Journaling about day to day events about what the student is interested in encourages them to journal about their passions and hobbies. As we all know Literacy is the passport students need to export their gifts.
“Johnny’s Hero’s Journey” is an inspirational book for young dyslexic readers, teaching the brain principles that aid in the development of literacy skills. This anime-inspired story fosters the development of literacy skills and habits for readers aged 6 to 16+.
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“Dyslexia Awareness: The Secret Phonic Lottery” is a creative masterpiece in dyslexia and neurodiversity research, not just a book but a catalyst for students, aiding dyslexic readers, educators, parents, and advocates alike.
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