OVERWHELMING

Maybe it would be better to go back to denial. Now that I have decided to face Dyslexia, I have so many questions and no idea where to start! All of a sudden, the task of unraveling Dyslexia seems very overwhelming.

I decided to take a few deep breaths and refer to the 8W’s of Information Inquiry developed by Annette Lamb. The 8 W’s model is outlined below as provided at http://virtualinquiry.com/inquiry/ws.htm.

• Watching (Exploring) asks students to explore and become observers of their environment. It asks students to become more in tune to the world around them from family needs to global concerns.
• Wondering (Questioning) focuses on brainstorming options, discussing ideas, identifying problems, and developing questions.
• Webbing (Searching) directs students to locate, search for, and connect ideas and information. One piece of information may lead to new questions and areas of interest. Students select those resources that are relevant and organize them into meaningful clusters.
• Wiggling (Evaluating) is often the toughest phase for students. They're often uncertain about what they've found and where they're going with a project. Wiggling involves evaluating content, along with twisting and turning information looking for clues, ideas, and perspectives.
• Weaving (Synthesizing) consists of organizing ideas, creating models, and formulating plans. It focuses on the application, analysis, and synthesis of information.
• Wrapping (Creating) involves creating and packaging ideas and solutions. Why is this important? Who needs to know about this? How can I effectively convey my ideas to others? Many packages get wrapped and rewrapped before they're given away.
• Waving (Communicating) is communicating ideas to others through presenting, publishing, and sharing. Students share their ideas, try out new approaches, and ask for feedback.
• Wishing (Assessing) is assessing, evaluating, and reflecting on the process and product. Students begin thinking about how the project went and consider possibilities for the future.

Watching, I felt was a step I had already completed. In the first post of this BLOG, I tell the story of my “becoming more in tune to the world around me,” with a particular focus on family needs, more specifically the needs of my son as he was diagnosed with Dyslexia.

Moving on to Wondering….I decided to brainstorm and organize a list of questions that I have about dyslexia. Surprisingly, it actually took me a little bit to start the list. I think the problem is that I know so little to begin with that I am not sure what to ask. Or, maybe it is that, I have so much to ask, that I am not sure where to start. Regardless, here is the list I brainstormed.

When I was able to begin formulating questions, I quickly started noticing four categories of questions emerging: Causes of Dyslexia, Dyslexia in Schools, Characteristics of Dyslexia, and Accommodations for Dyslexia.

At this point, I am not so sure that putting my thoughts and questions down, was very beneficial. I am more overwhelmed now, than I was before. I have formed my questions; but, I do not believe I am yet ready for the next step of Webbing.

I will regroup and decide how to proceed for my next post.