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On this page I am going to write about all the things that my teachers have done to make things much easier for me at school. Please note that I wrote this page when I was still at St Bede's Prep School in Eastbourne (up to July 2002) so things are probably a bit different now. My teachers at Charterhouse are just as nice and also make things really easy for me!

• MY IBOOK
  

  I just could not manage without my iBook and the teachers are really cool about letting me use it whenever I want to. My brother (his writing and spelling are like mine!) is 13 years older than me and he said that when he was my age he always got into trouble for being untidy. I am really lucky as all my teachers say how neat my work is when I do it on the iBook and they seem to like the way I do it. They never make a fuss if I hand my work in after the rest of the class (as I have to print it out) They also don't mind that I use paper instead of the usual books to write on. It makes such a difference that the teachers are friendly and encouraging rather than just critisising - it really helps me to work hard. I have even got a teacher who does not like to spoil my work with red marks and so she marks it on the back of the paper instead!

  
  
  
• BIG DESK

  It was much easier when I was given a slightly bigger desk. I can now fit my laptop on it and all my work as well. I am also allowed to use this desk in exams and it is moved into the exam hall for me.

  
  
• COMPREHENSIONS
  

  Whenever it is possible the teachers read the passage out loud to me. This makes loads of difference and I can then get on with the questions rather than spend ages just trying to wade through the passage. I also use a highlighter so that I do not lose my place when I answer the questions

  
  
• READING OUT LOUD

  The teachers never make me read out loud in class - this is really nice of them. In fact I now sometimes ask to read and nobody seems to mind if I am a bit slow. I don't have to worry about being made to feel stupid. It is now 2002 and I am 12 and I will be reading in the Chapel service in about 2 weeks time. I am actually looking forward to it and I am going to practise with Mrs Jenion in Learning Support.

  
  
• READING BOOKS

  I do struggle when we are told to read a book over the holidays. I always get the book on tape so that I can listen to it instead of reading it. We are given such difficult books to read and I just cannot wade through them. Most of my teachers know I do this and don't mind but I think some of them think that I actually read the book - I only wish I could. The last one that we were supposed to read was 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman - it was a brill story and we listened to it as we drove to France.

  
  
• COPYING OFF THE BOARD

  Copying off a white board is hard as I often lose my place and it is so much easier when I am given a handout rather than having to use this method.

  
  
• LINE SPACING

  When I have to translate or read passages I find it much easier if it is printed out using triple spacing. In fact when I translate my Latin I actually retype the passage before I attempt to translate it. (I gave up Latin in 2001 when I was 12 but this line spacing did really help me)

  
  
• EXAMS

  I am allowed extra time in my exams and also my Learning Support teacher is around to make sure that I can read the paper properly. This means I am tested on what I know not on my reading

  
  
  
• LANGUAGES

  Instead of worrying about the national curriculum I have been allowed to give up French (September 2000 when I was 11). This has made things much easier as I really did find French incredibly hard. I tried really hard to keep going with Latin but I have now also given this up (September 2001 when I was 12). I was really struggling and when I got back to school for the new year I discovered that we were going to learn Greek as well. My teacher had been very kind and she kept encouraging me to try and keep going but I just couldn't manage any more!! I am now doing some French conversation each week which is actually quite fun.

  
  
  
• LEARNING SUPPORT(This was at St Bede's Prep where I was until July 2002)
  

  We have a brill Learning Support Centre. I seem to spend ages there each week. Most of my free lessons that I have because of not doing languages are spent there. Our school have made little work stations that our very good. There is an electric socket so that I can charge up my iBook if it needs it and I can get on with my work. These work stations have made my life much easier - when I first gave up French I used to search for a free room and I even went to the Chapel sometimes because that was the only space that I could find. Now I feel I have a place where I am welcome and it is nice to be.

  
  
  
• SPELLING
  

  When I was younger this seemed to be such an important issue. Now I realise that I am never going to be a good speller. I am improving but I have now got various ideas and ways of coping with this problem. The spell checker on the computer is brill and also the teachers are happy for me to use it. I really cannot see the point of handing in History work with lots of spelling mistakes. I hope the teachers are looking at what I have written not at my spelling. My teachers are great about this.

  
  
  
• SQUARES
  

  Squares in a maths book. I used to find it difficult to use as my numbers just wouldn't stay in the boxes. I now just ignore the squares!

  
  
  
• GAMES LESSONS(This was at St Bede's Prep where I was until July 2002)

  I find rugby really hard and because I wear glasses I can't see very well when I take them off. The school is very nice now and rugby is optional. Sometimes we go down to the beach which is fun. I think there must be lots of other people like me who nag their mums to write "off games" notes so that they don't have to suffer rugby. I don't have to do this any more as our games lessons are usually fun now.

  
  
• SETTINGS (This was at St Bede's Prep where I was until July 2002)

  If someone is lopsided like me it seems to be difficult for schools to work out sets. Even at my school which has been really kind and helpful there is a system which means that I cannot do maths and Science with the top group of my age. This is because a small group has been chosen to to be a scholarship group but someone like me cannot get in this group because my English and other languages are so bad. I could not possibly do English or languages with this group but I know I could do Maths and Science. Actually the maths and Science teachers have been really helpful and have set me extra work but it is not quite the same as being in the top group.

  
  
• LOCKERS (This was at St Bede's Prep where I was until July 2002)
  

  The school secretary is kind and I keep my laptop in her office when I am not using it. I suppose it would be brill if schools could provide good lockers for people like me and then it would not be necessary to keep going in her office. Actually mrs Goff has been really helpful and I would miss not keeping it with her!

  
  
  
• HIGHLIGHTERS
  

  When I write an essay from notes I always highlight the bit that I have just used so that I remember what I have written. If I want to keep the notes I use a poly pocket and use a board pen on this and then the notes inside the pocket remain clean.

  
  
  
• ELECTRIC SOCKETS

  It is good when there is an electric socket near my desk in case my battery runs out.