Fabric Blocks Will Assist in Fundraising During Dyslexia Awareness Week

To further the work the St. Joseph Vinnies began in Term 1 looking at famous people with dyslexia and putting together artwork and information based around these people, the St. Joseph Vinnies began the term by creating fabric blocks which will be part of the fundraising drive during Dyslexia Awareness week later in the year in raising money to assist students suspected of having a specific learning disability from families in need. The Vinnies also had a visit from Susie Cowper to start the term who came back to play a variety of phonic games with the students showcasing the variety of learning materials that teachers who work with students who have learning disabilities use.

Visit by Kathy Surridge from the 3D Learning Programme

On Wednesday 11 April, the St. Joseph Vinnies had a visit from Kathy Surridge who runs the 3D Learning Programme at St. Joseph's working with students who have a different learning style and therefore find fitting into the formal education system a little more challenging. She shared with us a story about Timmy - showing pictures of what life was like for Timmy as a preschooler and how this changed once he reached school. She also shared with us about the wonderful achievements of people who are predominantly right-brained thinkers and their contribution to almost every sphere of society once they had left school. This really backed up the work we have been doing this term on famous people with dyslexia.  

Famous People Portraits and Information Complete

The St. Joseph Vinnies have now completed their artwork and information about famous people with dyslexia which will go on display during Dyslexia Awareness Week later in the year. Here are the finished results...

Famous People with Dyslexia

   Throughout Term 1, the St. Joseph Vinnies have been hard at work learning about famous people who have overcome having a specific learning disability. Amongst the famous people the Vinnies have chosen to do are Sir Richard Branson, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Leonardo Da Vinci and Marco Pierre-White. Here they are painting the portraits of these famous people that will go on display during Dyslexia Awareness Week later in the year. 

Vinnies Receive a Visit from Susie Cowper, SLD Coordinator

  
 On Wednesday 28 February, the St. Joseph Vinnies received a visit from Susie Cowper, SLD Coordinator who came to talk to them about specific learning disabilities and show them some of the resources that SLD teachers use with the students that they work with. The Vinnies also watched 'Like a Dyslexic' a short video clip put together by a 14 year old dyslexic student who wrote to Sir Richard Branson, well-known not only for being an international entrepreneur but also someone who himself is dyslexic. The Vinnies discovered through this video clip that a number of famous people have dyslexia. We will be working on this topic more throughout the term. 

Fabric Blocks Assist SPELD

   During Term 4, the St. Joseph Vinnies also created fabric blocks in which reminder notes, telephone messages, inspirational quotes and school reminders can all be pegged to. They also make great hair clip holders for little girls or can be used by 'big girls' for their dangly earrings. These will be sold along with the Christmas cards the St. Joseph Vinnies put together at the Christmas stall SPELD is holding in early December to raise funds for resources that will assist them in their work with students who have specific learning disabilities. SPELD is a non-profit organisation. 

Christmas Cards to Assist the Community

   In the lead up to Christmas, the St. Joseph Vinnies have been creating Christmas cards for the community.  Some of the Christmas cards will be given to SPELD, a non-profit organisation that assists children with specific learning disabilities to sell at the Christmas stall they are having – the proceeds will help them in raising funds for resources that will assist them with their work. The rest of the Christmas cards will be given to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to be put in the Christmas hampers they are putting together for people in need in the community.