Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 99
 The Gift of Dyslexia April 9, 2000
kim norman (Nashville, TN)
97 out of 99 found this review helpful
I have not only read the book, but was also fortunate enough to find a trained Davis facilitator to help my 9 year old son begin the process outlined in the book. My son , Edward is in the 3rd grade at a private school in Nashville, TN. Edward is very smart, but he couldn't learn to read. Yes, he could read with great frustration and "muddle" through, but only at about beginning first grade level.We had him "tested" on the advice of his kindergarten teacher(auditory processing was the diagnosis)and we began the painful tutoring journey with phonics-based programs(Linda-Mood Bell, Orton-Gillingham, Wilson,etc.) In spite of following the "experts'" advice Edward could not read. His teacher and tutor said "he wasn't trying hard enough." Not trying hard enough? Baloney! I saw daily the look of pain and frustration on my child's face as he struggled to read. He simply had not been given the right tools to decode the English language. Edward is dyslexic. This program has given Edward the tools he needs to be a fluid reader with full comprehension. His self confidence is high and he's having fun. I am greatful to Ron Davis for sharing this information with my child and me. It has changed my child's and my life forever. Thank you.
This book can change a life January 10, 2005
Lauraloo Mattox (Atlanta, Ga USA)
82 out of 85 found this review helpful
My son is dyslexic. For years, reading was a source of frustration and inevitable tears. He struggled, I struggled, his teachers struggled. Little improvement was made for years.
Then, for 4th grade, I homeschooled him. My father bought me this book. I devoured it. I learned from it and I put it to use. THe changes were dramatic and faster than I could have ever expected.
The book explains so much about the nature of dyslexia, and it gives realistic excercises to do. And they are fun to do, so even my reluctant 9 year old was enjoying himself!
Now he is in 5th grade back at his old school. And he loves to read! Loves it! He's read Tolkien. He's on book 14 of the Redwall series. He reads everyday, and every night, in the car, in bed, everywhere. I am so grateful, so very grateful for this book.
As well as helping us bring the love of reading into my son's life, it also explains some of the benefits of dyslexia. Yes, benefits! Now, my son doesn't feel stigmatized. He is learning to put the strengths he has to use, and this book will help you do the same!
A life-changing book, I recommend it for anyone with even a touch of dyslexia. You will find it empowering!
Helped my 9 year old with more than reading December 3, 2002
Kate Picher (California USA)
57 out of 58 found this review helpful
A friend loaned me this book when I told her I thought my 9 year old could hardly read. She is extremely bright (GATE child), yet could barely read a beginner's chapter book. It was a fight just to get her to read 10 minutes a day. Her teacher told me she had identified her for remedial reading.I read The Gift of Dyslexia cover to cover in one afternoon. The next day I did the "perceptual ability assessment" with my daughter, literally reading the script as we went along. She understood right away. The next day we did the "orientation counseling." At the end of the session, she was so excited to discover which words were "making her brain jump." After that we did the clay letters and clay representations of her "jump" words. She was retested at school and she now reads above grade level. She also loves to read and is enjoying the Animorphs series. I also use the "orientation point" when she works on math, specifically math facts. She can now whiz through her multiplication table, and when she gets frustrated, knows that it is the "brain jump" that occured. I would highly recommend this book, even if your child has not been diagnosed as "dyslexic." It has changed the lives of everyone in our household.
It works! May 27, 2000
58 out of 60 found this review helpful
This is the most positive and helpful material I have found for working with dyslexic children. I tried the techniques Ron Davis outlines this year with an 8 year-old girl diagnosed with dyslexia. She progressed from a Reading Recovery testing level of 6 (PP2) in October to a level of 24 (3.2) in May. We will continue the words/definitions in clay this summer. I was amazed that she understood what I was asking her to do. I'm not sure I understand it because my mind doesn't work that way. I tried just using Reading Recovery techniques but it wasn't enough. She seemed to need to discovery and control her mind's eye. Her body is so much more relaxed and she doesn't rub her feet on the carpet when she can contol her mind's eye. This book offers a way to help children rather than label them.
This book offers real hope for the dyslexic October 26, 1999
46 out of 47 found this review helpful
In January of '99 my first grader was completely unable to read. After formal testing at a university, special education intervention, and endless hours of struggle, I sat down and studied this book. By April of '99 (3 short months) my daughter was reading at a second grade level! I have since then gone on to complete the program described in the book for other students with good success. One 9 year old girl went from a pre-primer reading level to a 2nd grade reading level in just 5 days! Furthermore, the book offers hope. While dyslexia clearly causes problems it also offers special talents. Knowing what those are enables me to encourage interests where she is naturally gifted. Albert Einstein, Alexander Grahm Bell, Thomas Edison... my daughter is in good company. Read this book!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 99
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