Creative Techniques and Learning Disabilities

Many strategies for dealing effectively with learningOne example illustrates how sculpture can be used to
disabilities include multi-sensory approaches. Theteach students about geometric principles, while
thinking behind this is simple: the more ways you give aanother shows how acting can enhance students'
person to remember something, the more chancesvocabularies. Clear, detailed instructions allow readers
they have of actually doing so. One approach thatto put these techniques to use in their own homes or
works-particularly for the artistically inclined-is the useclassrooms. Smith makes the important argument that
of creative techniques to relay and interpret academicart is not only a fun way for students to express
information.themselves, but also culturally and scholastically
These techniques may include the integration of visualenriching.
art (such as painting, drawing, or photography), literary2. Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete
art (such as poems, short stories, or plays), music, orScience-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any
drama. Not only are these approaches entertaining forLevel, written by Sally Shaywitz
students, they also make use of different areas of theThis critically-acclaimed book uses science to give
brain, which promotes valuable cross-regionevidence that artistic techniques are an effective way
connections.to teach dyslexic students how to read. Shaywitz-a
There are two excellent sources on the subject, whichYale neuroscientist-looks at the structure of the
are profiled below.dyslexic brain and how it functions. Neurotechnology
1. The Power of the Arts: Creative Strategies forhas proven that those with dyslexia use a different
Teaching Exceptional Learners, written by Sally L.part of the brain to read than those without dyslexia.
SmithArt can be used as a means to create connections
The author of this revolutionary book is one of thebetween the two areas of the brain, thus enabling the
country's foremost experts on working with learningability to make sense of written language. Shaywitz
disabled students. She's the founder and director ofmakes the compelling argument that dyslexia should
Washington D.C.'s Lab School, an institution shebe looked at not just as a weakness, but also as a
created specifically for students with learningstrength. She points to the large number of highly
differences. Smith is also a professor of education atsuccessful artists who have struggled with and
American University and the mother of a child withbenefited from their dyslexia, including Pulitzer Prize
scholastic difficulties.winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein and bestselling
All of these qualifications make her well-suited toauthor John Irving.
providing parents, teachers, and other learning disabilityShaywitz provides in-depth case studies of these
specialists with information on the best techniques forartists to illustrate how dyslexia allows for increased
working with special needs students. This bookcreativity and comprehension, while at the same time
consists of interviews with faculty members of theinhibiting the ability to decode letters and punctuation
Lab School, who have found that incorporating art intomarks. She indicates that art can help to bridge the
their curriculum has made their lessons come alive forgap between these two types of skills, which can lead
their students.to great personal and professional achievement.