Julie Davison Educational Psychologist

11/04/2022

Great resources on the “Phonics Books” website.

Word lists for word-building, spelling and dictation activities. Free to download and use, each with a specific phonic focus.

03/04/2022

Three students in every classroom, on average, are affected by dyslexia — and yet teachers are not receiving adequate training on it, says Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard.

30/01/2022

It’s hard to miss the meteoric rise of the Wordle craze. This game is not only a gift for lexophiles but also for educators. It reminds us that effective phonics and spelling instruction requires carefully designed, explicit teaching combined with volume reading, vocabulary building, and high leve...

16/01/2022

Multiplication tables - great to know fluently but difficult for a lot of children to memorise. The little “Maths Trekker” pictured here from is a great little tool for practising tables. The child can choose a set of tables to answer questions on (which I really like as they can practice one set at a time). It’s simple but effective.

Other tips for learning times tables include:

✏️ ensure the child understands the concept of multiplication (link to repeated addition, work from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract, ensure a strong foundation before expecting children to remember number facts) Don’t assume the child understands the concept!

✏️ explicitly teach the vocabulary related to times tables - ensure the child understands and is comfortable with the different ways to express multiplication facts - e.g. 4x5 can be - 4 times 5, 4 multiplied by 5, 4 lots of 5, or 4 fives.

✏️ start with the core or key number facts - 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x

✏️ draw out dot pictures for each set of number facts and identify the patterns. Link to other facts.

✏️ highlight (explicitly) the commutative property of multiplying (e.g that 3x6 is the same as 6x3) and show children that if they know one, they know the other! It cuts the task in half!

✏️show children how to fill in a multiplication square, which will highlight all the facts they know and allow them to use what they know to work out what they don’t. Older students could be encouraged to draw a multiplication square for themselves at the start of an exam.

05/01/2022

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-teachers-can-do-to-help-struggling-readers-who-feel-ashamed/2022/01?fbclid=IwAR296wE5zBfYWM0eutCuiz9zvvh2xyQ4Pm66E4dL55sF6IWWRN9XAfoNfI4

Students who are ashamed of not being able to read on grade level tend to withdraw from class or act out, experts say.

04/01/2022

This is a lovely resource for using Elkonin Boxes.

22/12/2021

Happy Holidays! Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year. Julie x

16/12/2021

This book really is SUPER! I ordered it at the beginning of November and I’ve been waiting patiently for it to arrive. I love the other books in this series but this one is really magnificent. It’s beautifully written and illustrated. The description of the little boy going to school with “his shoes filled with lead” and “his heart filled with dread” is so apt and is a side of dyslexia that we really need to raise awareness of. 💔The emotional impact of facing into a day of struggle and trying to cover or “blend in” is huge. Books like this help children understand their own difficulties and difficulties their friends might be experiencing. There is huge value in children seeing themselves and their friends in books. They know they are not alone and that other children struggle too - this is really powerful for a child who faces challenges every day. What do you think of books like this? Let me know in the comments below 👇
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09/12/2021

Great reference list of programmes recommended for supporting children with literacy difficulties. Depending on the child’s needs a combination of materials may be needed. Using materials that ensure systematic, structured and explicit instruction is key. Not all of these programmes are in use here in Ireland but a lot of them are!

09/12/2021

“Some people with ADHD can independently address and overcome their challenges. But for most children, it takes guidance, education, and practice”

Traditional carrots and sticks don’t motivate students with ADHD – that much is clear. But the neurological underpinnings behind this behavior still mystify many parents and teachers. Here, understand why the ADHD brain is tough to motivate, and how you can adjust your teaching and/or parenting ...

01/12/2021

Advice and recommendations for Assitive Technology

Author: Aoife (Information Team | Dyslexia Association of Ireland) Assistive technology refers to devices or software/apps which are specifically helpful for people, and which enables them to acces…

20/11/2021

This is the updated ladder of reading and writing by Nancy Young https://www.nancyyoung.ca It highlights the importance of a structured approach to literacy. It has recently been updated to highlight the importance of differentiation and to incorporate a holistic view of the interaction between the learner and their environment. Some children will need extended learning and enrichment and some children will need more intensive support. It’s a really useful and clear infographic. Let me know what you think in the comments below 👇

Image shared with Nancy Young’s permission

Keep an eye out for an upcoming blog post on Nancy’s website with more detail of the revisions and further information and resources 😊