Tag: filter

Let’s use our stick shift analogy to understand this. Automatic thinkers move into the comprehension gear automatically. But ‘manual thinkers’ need something to move them into that gear. I could explain more about the interplay between working memory and phonological processing, but in terms of ‘stick shift’ they are stuck in first gear trying to get into second. You see, comprehension is actually another skill of ‘Filtering’ information while reading. What gets dyslexics like me and my students into second gear?

The answer? Would you believe me if I said “underlining with a pencil”? Too simple? At BulletMap Academy we train children to filter by underlining individual words while they read. At least one word underlined per sentence or paragraph. There are lots of reasons why, which would take another post. But try it. If you have dyslexia, do a children’s comprehension test and underline the story as you read it. PM me with your experience 

Underlining is harder than it sounds. Us dyslexics often think “everything is important” or “nothing”. Often Highlighting whole paragraphs. But underlining individual words reliably shifts you from just reading into the filtering gear for comprehension.

The rule is “one line a word”. Crazy, but trust me, it works. But please don’t go telling your dyslexic child ‘just underline the individual words like Darius says’, Ok? It’s hard. Not as hard as reading. But hard. It takes an hour of one to one training, and quite a few hours of practice to get it.