September meeting recap Rev. Larry Stephens, a dyslexic success story
Our thanks to Rev. Larry Stephens, a compelling adult dyslexic, a success story of encouragement! We certainly appreciated hearing from Larry, who told his story of dyslexia and gave some specific suggestions for help for our kids.
1. Go to www.m-w.com Webster�s Online Dictionary because you can have it PRONOUNCE the word audibly for you. You type in the word you are trying to spell and you will see the word and a symbol . Click on the and you will hear the word pronounced. If you type in the word misspelled, you will get an entry like this:
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the Dictionary search box to the right.
Suggestions for fone:
1. foin
2. phone
3. fawn
4. phon
5. fun
6. phon-
7. fohn
8. faun
9. -phone
10. Foxe
11. Fond
12. -phony
13. font
14. fond
2. Larry recommended getting the Franklin portable spelling device. He said they are available at Costco, two for $39.00. Larry said he has one at home, one at work, and one in a briefcase. His first Franklin spelling device made a huge difference for him.
3. Have your child read every day for pleasure. By encouraging our struggling readers to read for pleasure, something that interests them, this will keep WORDS before them. Larry says he keeps a book with his constantly and he reads every opportunity he gets.
4. Have your child sit in the front row, center of the classroom. Tell the teacher this is vital for your child.
5. ARIAL font at size 18 is easiest for him to read, and the colors blue, green, and black were helpful to him to use for outlines.
Montgomery native Larry told us his story. He failed 3rd and 5th grade. Sports kept him in school when he reached junior high. He didn�t know he couldn�t read when he was in elementary school, but he knew he wasn�t like the other kids. He faked sickness to avoid Sunday School because his teacher required him to read aloud. Larry learned what he calls �faking mechanisms�, becoming the class clown to have the kids laugh because he was making them laugh, not laughing at him because he was dumb. The class clown was also the teacher�s HOLY TERROR and he spent a great deal of time at the principal�s office, preferable to being in class and having to be put on the spot of reading.
In the 6th grade teachers told Larry�s mother he needed to be institutionalized and they even visited the residential center recommended. Both came away in tears, Larry�s mom telling him �I know you are too smart� Larry went on a bus to Tuscaloosa to the University of Alabama for IQ tests where he tested above average with a learning disability. At that stage of education, the officials at the University didn�t have any methods for him to use to overcome this disability.
In the 7th grade, Larry learned to memorize words which got him through high school. A football scholarship took him to Jacksonville State where he played until an injury. When he was called to preach, Larry went to Shelton Junior College and then to University of Alabama. It was at Shelton State where a teacher realized Larry couldn�t read and spent extra time with Larry to help him memorize the words. It took 9 � years but Larry graduated Cum Laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Perseverance and hard work made a difference for Larry. He was determined to become a Methodist preacher and took it one day at a time, one task at a time. While in college he wouldn�t go to bed until his day�s list of tasks was complete.
Larry will host our kids at his church in January, on a Sunday to be determined. After the 11:00 service we will have a brown bag lunch with our kids and Larry and he will give them his story and pep talk. I�ll let you know the date when we get that chosen. The kids would benefit, as they did last year from meeting with former D.A. Fred Simpson, from hearing from someone who understands their learning difference.