28.8.21 I like to use the Nessy programme (Nessy.com/uk/) to supplement existing phonics/literacy programmes for individual students to practise their phonics learning on the computer. Nessy provides tuition and games starting with the early skills of identifying individual phonemes and progresses to teaching and giving practise of complicated spelling rules. Nessy is not just for the dyslexic student, it can help strengthen literacy skills for many children aged 6-11 years old who are having reading and spelling difficulties. Learners can practise at home or at school once subscribed and I find that it gives the students a lot more self confidence by practising a spelling rule on Nessy. The Nessy videos, many of which can also be found on Youtube, explain spelling rules in a fun way which is easier to remember.
The story behind the Nessy set up is also very inspiring. …………. Nessy Learning was founded in 1999 by mother and son, Pat and Mike Jones at the Bristol Dyslexia Centre. The Bristol Dyslexia Centre was established in 1989 by Mike’s mother Mrs Pat Jones after she homeschooled him from age 8 when he had difficulties learning to read and write. Mike Jones says “When I was taught in a style which suited the way I learnt, I went from bottom to the top of the class”. During homeschooling, Pat developed a series of learning strategies and a phonics-based learning program based on the Orton-Gillingham method and taking inspiration from other highly recomended programmes such as Hickey and Hornsby (Alpha to Omega). These programmes led to the inspiration and creation of Nessy. Mike adds “I went to Art College, then to take a Law Degree, and then went onto retrain to teach dyslexic students. Now I am passionate about helping other dyslexics succeed, in a way that is fun and innovative”. He developed the Nessy software and won the Educational Resource Award for SEN, 3 years in succession. In January 2015 Pat Jones was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours for her services to education. Nessy is now run by Mike Jones and his wife Tiffany James, both of whom are dyslexic.
There has been a short film made about Mike Jones’ early life and difficulties entitled ‘Mical’ which can be found on Youtube.
Thinking about inspiring lives and how the barriers to learning can be removed, also this week I watched the film ‘Temple Grandin’. Grandin is on the autism spectrum and didn’t speak at all until she was nearly four years old and the story details her life and how she progressed to overcome difficulties she encountered with the support of her family and those who took the trouble to understand her. She is able to explain how she thinks totally in pictures, with words being like a second language. She overcame many obstacles during her life and has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry. Grandin has advocated for autism rights and neurodiversity movements for many years.
Help your child learn to read, write and spell 