This is what kinesthetic learning looks like
Kinesthetic learning, also known as hands-on or physical learning, is a learning style often suited to children with dyslexia. Learning Pathways Our senses—touch, sight, hearing,
DYSLEXIA
WRESTLING WITH AN OCTOPUS
10 tips to help your child
10 tips to help your child
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Self-care tips for parents of kids with ADHD or dyslexia
Self-care tips often drop to the bottom of a parent’s to-do list, yet author Maree Davis wants this to change. I write this in October,
5 things you never knew about dyslexia and hand dominance
Which hand do you eat with? Write with? My son Harry has dyslexia. He also is mixed-handed (he doesn’t have a dominant hand), so is
Why I’ve made an audiobook about dyslexia
Why did we have to wait so long for the audiobook about dyslexia? Finally, my audiobook about dyslexia is available. Here is a teaser. The
Ear reading for dyslexia
Parents, worried about encouraging their children to use audiobooks for ear reading, sometimes ask me if using them is cheating. I assure them audiobooks are
These are the best jobs for a dyslexic
What jobs should your dyslexic teen be considering? My son, Harry, is fifteen and getting him out of bed in the morning to go to
8 tips to help with back to school
“I don’t want to go back to school.” What do you hear from your child at the start of the year? In the 11 years
Teach Reading and Spelling in 30 Minutes a Day
How to teach reading and spelling in 30 minutes a day I didn’t homeschool my son Harry, but I used a multi-sensory dyslexia programme to
Finding your child’s strengths is a game-changer
Finding your child’s strengths is the key to getting through school and setting them up in a career they will enjoy. This is a big
The Davis Dyslexia Programme
You may have heard about the Davis Dyslexia Correction Programme. Some say it isn’t an evidence-based dyslexia programme, and I mentioned in my book that
How Going Gluten-Free Transformed our Home
Hi, I’m Melissa, Beth asked me to explain how going gluten-free made a difference in our household. I have a daughter and two sons with
Reading Fluency – What Helps
Does your child have reading fluency? Is it easy to understand them when they read aloud, or do they read too slowly or in a
Dyslexia and transitioning from school to work
A post about leaving school may seem irrelevant to you if your child is much younger, but believe me, they will be there before you
Here is why building a child’s vocab matters
What was your child’s first word? At eighteen months, my son said ‘Dad’. We were thrilled and encouraged his baby babble, hanging on to his
This is why I love Structured Literacy
When my son Harry started school in New Zealand in 2010, his teachers followed the balanced literacy approach. It worked for children who, like my
This is what emotion coaching looks like
Emotion coaching isn’t just for toddlers. As I found out this week, teens also need it. Harry is no longer my wee boy, in fact,
How to avoid being a pushy parent
Good things take time Plants flowering at separate times in a garden is a source of pleasure, yet when it comes to our children, we
My Fabulous Dyslexic Family
By Shelli Squires Hi, my name is Shelli, I have three children who have dyslexia, two of them are also on the autistic spectrum. It
How to Beat the 4 AM Anxiety Trap
It’s 4 AM and I’m going over what happened to Harry at school yesterday, wondering how best to help. My mind goes into overdrive and
James Beck from Parenting Place Reviews my Book
Informative and inspiring, heartwarming and heartbreaking, are some of the words I’d use to describe ‘Dyslexia. Wrestling with an Octopus.’ I found myself laughing and
How to teach multiplication tables using stories
Children with dyslexia need a way to anchor facts in their memory to stop them from floating away. Teaching multiplication tables using stories helps anchor
Listening comprehension – why it matters
When scientists scanned the brains of people engaged in listening or reading, they discovered the same areas handle both activities. So improving your child’s listening
This is What Dysgraphia Looks Like
My sixteen-year-old son, Harry, loves music. He enjoys playing instruments, listening to songs, even singing, but he absolutely hates writing about music. Last night he
8 Signs of Dyslexia
I first asked, could this be a sign of dyslexia? when my son, Harry, was five years old. Harry couldn’t spot his name on the
This is how to give bullying a pushback
As a parent of a child with dyslexia, helping my son deal with bullying is an ongoing challenge. I asked U.K.-based Parenting Support Specialist Nicola
How to spot dyscalculia and what may help
Mathematics – even the word makes me sweat. Trying to say dyscalculia sends me into a tailspin. At school, I had a very old-fashioned maths
What helped Max overcome autism and dyslexia
Max Hides lives for mountain biking and is a world-class rider. Here’s what helped him overcome his dyslexia and autism to become a champion. In
20 Dyslexia Tips From a Learning Support Teacher
I received this message from Rachel, a subscriber, requesting tips on how to talk with teachers about dyslexia. “Dear Beth, please, can you write a
Visual problems and dyslexia – this is the connection
Researchers estimate a third of children with dyslexia suffer from eyestrain or visual problems.[1] My son, Harry, is a case in point. We had his eyesight
The link between dyslexia and sexual abuse
TRIGGER WARNING–This post contains material that may upset survivors of sexual abuse. What’s an iceberg got to do with dyslexia and sexual abuse? When I
4 Good Reasons to Give Fish Oil to Your Dyslexic Child
When my son, Harry, was three years old, we had no idea why he couldn’t sit through a meal like his sister. He had to
5 Reasons to Homeschool a Dyslexic Child
I don’t homeschool my children, but like many, I experienced home education during Covid-19 lockdowns. I must admit I found it challenging. However, many parents
5 things to try to get quality sleep for dyslexic children
Quality sleep is crucial for dyslexic children because they work much harder than other kids to achieve the same results. Our children may even have
This is what people are saying about, ‘Dyslexia. Wrestling with an Octopus.’
Melisa—parent. “Dyslexia affects how a person interprets written language. Beth’s book helped me navigate how this difficulty plays out for my son. The book views
This is Why Timed Tests Aren’t Helpful for Children with Dyslexia
One request I’ve made every year to Harry’s teacher is to limit, or avoid, timed testing because he freezes under pressure. Things were easier when
3 Tips for Teaching a Dyslexic Child to Tell the Time
Teaching a dyslexic child to tell the time is tricky. Even once they master this skill, understanding the concept of time and what they can
Dyslexia and Perfectionism. 6 Ways to Help a Perfectionist Child
Does your child have difficulty starting their homework? Is it hard to get them to make a phone call or to choose what to wear?
How to Strengthen Your Child’s Memory
Does your child have a poor memory? Are you looking for ways to strengthen your child’s memory? I am. I When my son, Harry, was
What is your child’s love language?
Then Do you ever get sick of nagging your child to do their chores? I love my son Harry but his teen years are challenging.
How to keep a healthy brain
Do you have a healthy brain? I try my best to have a healthy brain, and I’m encouraging my son, Harry, to ensure he has
Is it a good idea to repeat a grade?
Education systems usually have a one-size-fits-all approach, and it is challenging to go against the social norms of a child’s peer group to repeat a
50+ Free Dyslexia Resources
Access some of the best free dyslexia resources Anyone who has read my book, ‘Dyslexia. Wrestling With An Octopus’ will know how highly I rate
3 Tips for Helping a Child’s Slow Processing Speed
What is slow processing speed? Processing speed is nothing to do with any whizzy equipment on your kitchen bench. It refers to the time it
Welcome to dyslexia octopus
I’m sure you are wondering why I’ve called my blog ‘Dyslexia Octopus’. Like most people with dyslexia, I am a picture thinker. I see
Beth Beamish
THE AUTHOR
Hi, I’m Beth. When I discovered my son had dyslexia, I had a ‘light-bulb’ moment and understood this explained many of my own difficulties. Ever since, I’ve been on a mission to discover the best ways to wrestle, what I like to call, the dyslexia octopus.
Featured Posts
This is what kinesthetic learning looks like
Kinesthetic learning, also known as hands-on or physical learning, is a learning style often suited to children with dyslexia. Learning
Why I’ve made an audiobook about dyslexia
Why did we have to wait so long for the audiobook about dyslexia? Finally, my audiobook about dyslexia is available.