What's it like being a trainee teacher with dyslexia?
Sometimes, people with dyslexia can find school a little daunting or struggle with the tasks they’re set in their lessons. It’s not only to do with reading — dyslexia can affect several other things that school life revolves around, like time management, short-term memory, and even things like academic confidence and self-esteem.
Luckily, there are a number of securities in place to help students with dyslexia go on to achieve great things. From assistive technology to better help and support, when it comes to taking exams, there has been a lot of progress made in the classroom (although there is perhaps still a way to go before the learning experience is fully accessible).
Something we don’t usually think about, however, is how it feels to be on the other side of the desk. What’s it like to go into teaching with dyslexia?
A PGCE — the most common UK teacher training qualification — is no small feat. It’s an intensive one-year course that combines a taught degree and school placements to help trainees really get a feel for the classroom. It’s also acknowledged to be one of the most demanding degrees around, with longer hours, practical assessments, and a hefty amount of paperwork on the side.
Students with dyslexia taking on a PGCE might feel nervous about how it’s going to affect their progress. There’s a whole world of marking, reports and planning waiting for them on the other side of the staffroom door, as well as the actual teaching.
There have, however, been changes to the testing that’s required for QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) that could be great news for teachers with dyslexia. Since 2000, anyone who wanted to teach via a training route needed to take two Professional Skills Tests to prove that their literacy and numeracy skills are at a national benchmark — a 4, or a C under the old grading system. These tests have been scrapped in favour of a provider-led assurance system with smaller assessments under the TES Institute. Many teaching providers have welcomed this, as the old assessments had bee linked by some to high PGCE drop-out rates. It’s also welcomed by prospective teachers who excel at their own subject, but maybe have slightly weaker maths or English skills - it means that they can focus on passing on the knowledge they’re passionate about.
There are a number of ways that people with dyslexia can adapt their PGCE study experience too - although it might be daunting, it's important to keep communicating your needs. One of the most important things to do is to get in touch with the dyslexia support provided by your university, and again at the schools you’re doing placements in. They’ll be able to find support that works for you, exam and essay assistance, as well as potentially some assistive technology too. It’s also a good idea to liaise with the school departments you’re placed in about their capacity for giving you more time to mark, paring down paperwork, and proofreading.
When it comes to practical work and placements, many trainee teachers with dyslexia find that digitising lessons is helpful. Instead of writing on a whiteboard, coming in with pre-made PowerPoint slides with their built-in spellcheck function can eliminate most of the need for spelling under pressure. Some student teachers recommend being open with their placement classes about their dyslexia, too. Not only does it immediately create a dialogue with pupils with dyslexia who might be in the class, it can make the environment more accepting of any mistakes you might make when reading or writing.
It’s important that PGCE students with dyslexia get the support they need to succeed, because they make amazing teachers. Whether it’s their propensity for empathy, problem-solving abilities, or their creative thinking, it’s great to have educators that have a natural ability to think outside the box as not everyone learns the same way. It’s also a big step towards greater accessibility and support in the classroom, as teachers with dyslexia know what it’s like to be a pupil with dyslexia.
You can find out more in The Guardian, where a primary school teacher with dyslexia discusses the coping strategies that she found made a big difference to her when she was studying for her own PGCE. There’s also some helpful information for schools about supporting teachers with dyslexia at the teaching recruitment site Engage Education.