The ABCs of BCAs

Learning has always come easy for me. Mathematical principles would stick immediately, historical dates would be easily recalled, and the scientific theories that have subsequently helped me build my career were readily applied. My propensity to procrastinate was mitigated by my ability to cram revise the night before an exam. With all those strengths, however, I could not explain basic algebra to my sister when we were at school. My sister was far from stupid. In fact she is a very intelligent woman who has gone on to have a very successful career herself. I could see the solution with clarity but could i get her to see it? No! I guess I had not developed the patience to understand how she saw the math problem....to see the world through her eyes.....or was I just a bad teacher?

When the boys came along I relished the chance to teach them about their world. It became very obvious very soon that things would not go off as planned! 😊 Zack was infuriating - so knowledgeable, so able to grab concepts, a whiz at math and science....but would he write any of it down? Hell no! Learning was about thinking and touching and tasting - who needs a pencil for that?! He hated to read and, as a consequence, didn't allow his teachers to give him the credit he deserved. But what did he care? He was sucking in the world and all its wonders on his terms. He had a plan and that's all that mattered. He had since learned to play the game out of necessity, but given a choice he'd rather not. Why play by the rules when you can make new ones?

Logan - beautiful wonderful Logan. As I look back I feel anger and frustration about the challenges this boy had to face in silence. How he was judged and labeled. How we all missed what was so obvious. I'll carry that guilt for a while. His reading lagged below grade, and as a result so did everything else. Add in a speech delay, and some teachers who destroyed what little self confidence he had, and he struggled.....he struggled a lot. We were confused. We were worried.

I had never contemplated a child who wasn't book smart. Pretty frickin arrogant I know, but true nonetheless. I'm embarrassed. I tried my best, but I admit it was very hard to keep trying. I never stopped being supportive - he's my boy after all - but I felt I had failed him. I had failed to do what THIS Father should have been able to do.

At the beginning of this year Logan's Mother and I went back to basics - reading with Logan every night. Kids in early grades do this but kids in Grade 8? Logan, to his immense credit and humility, embraced it. Progress was still slow, however. There was still something missing. It was incredibly frustrating.

And then finally we had our answer. After years of silent struggle, Logi was finally diagnosed as having dyseidetic dyslexia - basically he has to relearn words every time he sees them. I can only imagine how it must have felt to be brow beaten about your inability to recognize words you had just learned. With the dam finally breached, the waves of support have just flooded out. Logi has dealt with it in the way he normally does - taking it all in his stride and cautiously waiting for what it all means. It takes more than a few promises to tear down the wall of low self confidence he has built up over the years.

Since the diagnosis I / we have redoubled our efforts, exploring different learning strategies, trying to see things through his eyes. It's been both humbling and amazingly rewarding. It has literally changed my life. Logi has opened up a window for me that I thought had long closed tight. His humility and strength to confront his own vulnerability has inspired me to change how I learn, how I teach, how I approach life. The kid who couldn't learn has taught me to teach.

Last week he told me that he learns math better with me than with his math teacher. My heart exploded with pride. What an amazing Father's Day gift!

As for Logi Bear, well watch out world! This kid has super powers, tenacity and an open heart. He is going to conquer the world on his terms. After all he managed to teach this old dog a new trick!