5 Reasons EVERY teacher should understand Dyslexic Thinking

At Made By Dyslexia Our mission is to train every teacher to spot, support and empower every dyslexic mind. This mission is aligned with the following 3 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we aim to achieve this by 2030.?

• SDG 4 Quality Education
• SDG 9 Industry & Innovation
• SDG10 Reduced Inequality

We are achieving our mission by creating highly effective, free training which equips teachers with the skills they need to spot, support and empower dyslexic learners. It also transforms how dyslexic learners see and value their own skills.

Here are 5 reason why training every teacher is SO important:

1. Redefining dyslexia – for the 21st century?

Despite there being extensive research into Dyslexic Thinking skills, dyslexia is still largely perceived to be a learning difficulty or disability, with little or no acknowledgement of dyslexic strengths. So it’s unsurprising that some in education shy away from ‘labelling’ children as dyslexic because of the perceived stigma associated with the ‘difficulty’ or ‘disability’.?

This reluctance to ‘label’ undoubtedly contributes to the shocking fact that dyslexia remains hidden in most schools, with 4 in 5 dyslexic children (80%) leaving school without their dyslexia being identified.

Dyslexia can be spotted by its strengths as much as its challenges. Our different way of processing information results in a pattern of strengths like critical thinking, creativity and communication skills. It also results in challenges which affect traditional learning like reading, writing, spelling, rote learning, memory and concentration.?

But dyslexics can flourish in education, if both our challenges AND strengths are identified and supported early, and we are given adjustments and access to technology.?

Once we redefine dyslexia to acknowledge both dyslexic challenges and strengths, then we remove the stigma and provide an empowering ‘label’ and a compelling reason to identify every dyslexic.

2. Aligning with the world of work?

In contrast to education, companies globally are now actively looking for dyslexics. They are redefining dyslexia - no longer seeing it as a disability, rather as a valuable skillset, recognising that Dyslexic Thinking skills match 10/10 with the top skills every workplace is looking for, as this film outlines:

Dyslexic Thinking skills are ‘soft skills’ like creativity, adaptability, leadership, innovation, problem solving, and critical thinking.?

Watch our Vodcast with VPs at WPP, Facebook, Manpower who explain the importance of Dyslexic Thinking and why their organisations are actively recruiting Dyslexics.

Made By Dyslexia partnered with 2 world leading organisations to research the importance of Dyslexic Thinking in the workplace.

• In 2018/19 Made By Dyslexia partnered with EY to produce the Value of Dyslexia Reports which map Dyslexic Thinking with the World Economic Forum’s Skills for the Future. These ground-breaking reports highlight a crucial fact: in a fast-paced and changing workplace, where machines are poised to take over many tasks, dyslexics have exactly the skills needed for the workplace of tomorrow.?
• Our 2021 “Dyslexic Dynamic” report with global recruitment giant, ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions, finds that the pandemic has turbo-charged this digitisation and by 2025 humans and machines will split work 50-50. The 50% of ‘human’ skills needed map directly with Dyslexic Thinking, concluding that dyslexics have exactly the skills needed for the workforce of today.?

So, all the evidence shows us that the world needs Dyslexic Thinking, so we must spot and empower it in every school.

3. Recognising the positive impact of the ‘label’

Teachers need to be trained to spot dyslexia because early identification is crucial for dyslexic learners. The earlier it’s discovered and supported, the sooner dyslexic kids catch up and keep up. Dyslexia can be identified at 5 or earlier when dyslexic kids start to show signs. A mismatch in what an individual is capable of and the work they produce is a strong indicator of dyslexia. Once identified, and with the right support in place, dyslexics can and do flourish.Without identification and a ‘label’ we find it hard to understand why we are failing and this can cause serious problems. We develop low self-esteem which often leads to anxiety or mental health problems, and many children develop behavioural problems.?

Our research found that:

• Aged 5, 1 in 3 dyslexic children are aware that they can’t do what other children can
• By age 7 that figure increases to 2 in 3
• 4 in 5 dyslexics said the ‘label' helped them develop the perseverance needed to succeed

For teachers, the identification is also crucial to their understanding of the child in their classroom, it helps to know there is a reason why a child is not able to memorise their spellings, or why they are having trouble reading. Knowing they are dyslexic means you can clearly identify that they need extra support.?

Without the correct identification, too many dyslexic children have been misunderstood and wrongly labelled, often living with the consequences for the rest of their lives.?

Watch our module on Identification here:

4. Creating Equality and Equity in Exams

Standardised tests and a ‘knowledge’ based exams make it even more important to identify every dyslexic child. Because spelling, punctuation and grammar, together with rote learning, remembering lots of facts and terminal exams, all fit neatly into our ‘dyslexic challenges’.?

So it’s vital all dyslexic students are identified and given the adjustments they need to enable them to demonstrate their abilities and readiness for the workplace, by succeeding in this system. Currently this is not happening as our research with parents and teachers found:

• 80% describe the process of getting access arrangements as difficult, or not possible.
• 94% believe the process of getting access arrangements should be made simpler and easier

In the UK, recent changes and red tape to this process are making it even harder for students to get even the basic, free adjustments they need, like extra time. As a result, private schools now hire a team of assessors to deal with this increased red-tape to ensure that all their students have the necessary assessments to trigger support. If we are to remove the inequality to this system and allow the levelling up for all, then we must make the process simpler and fairer, not more complicated and discriminatory.

5. Why every educator CAN, and must act NOW

Technology is enabling the democratisation and mobilisation of teacher training, identification, and accessibility tools at scale, meaning every government and every educator can now transform the outcomes for dyslexic students worldwide.?

Free Teacher Training

Made By Dyslexia has created free training so every teacher can to learn how to spot, support and empower every dyslexic child. This online video based training is created in partnership with Microsoft and features expert teachers from exemplar schools in the UK and USA that are world renowned for supporting dyslexia. Their teachers share evidence-based strategies that:

• help every teacher create an inclusive classroom to empower all dyslexic children?
• develop strategies for more personalised support for students
• identify and support Dyslexic Thinking Skills
• help parents to support their child at home and school

Access the FREE training courses, which include certificate of completion, on Microsoft here:

Level 1: Dyslexia Awareness? essential knowledge for all teachers, learning support staff, and school staff.

Level 2: Dyslexia Teaching more in-depth training for teachers and learning support staff.?

Watch what teachers are saying here:

Technology is a Game-Changer

In our teacher training we have worked with Broadclyst School in Devon, a DfE English Hub, and a DfE Ed Tech hub.?The academy trust has trained every teacher and member of staff using Made By Dyslexia Awareness training. Their expert teachers features in our Dyslexia Teaching Technology modules. ?

Watch the modules here:

Empowering the next generation of Dyslexic Thinkers

Thought history great Dyslexic Thinkers have imagined and created things which have shaped our world for the better. Henry Ford made cars accessible to all, Steve Jobs gave us pocket computers, and Ikea’s Invar Kamprad changed the way we furnish our homes. These visionaries and innovators imagined and created the impossible, and solved problems we didn’t know the had.?Right now, to solve the big problems we face as a world we need great innovators, creators, imaginers and communicators, and THIS is Dyslexic Thinking.?

It’s time to redefine dyslexia, and to make sure every school can spot, support and empower the next generation of Dyslexic Thinkers. And THAT is Made By Dyslexia’s mission.

Thank you for reading and please share this article and our training far and wide.

Kate Griggs

I’m #MadeByDyslexia - expect big thinking & small typos

Kate Griggs is the author of 2 best-selling books on Dyslexia and Dyslexic Thinking, Xtraordinary People for children and THIS Is Dyslexia for adults, both published by Penguin.