They say ‘Children are wise beyond their years,’ and I think it is 100% true. Sometimes they come up with simple yet genius solutions to adult problems. And at other times, they use their unwarped perspectives to point obvious flaws in common everyday things. Like this kid who made a case against homework.
Another 10-year-old student identified only as ‘AO’, wrote a powerful piece on ‘Dyslexia’. Her teacher and Twitter user @Jb5Jane who assigned the task shared it with the world.
Today in Y6 we looked at poems that could be read forwards & backwards. I was stunned by this one written by one of my 10 year olds. Please share – I would love her work to be appreciated further afield. I wonder if it could even find a publisher? pic.twitter.com/tmEQpiRrhq
— Jb5Jane (@Jb5Jane) February 27, 2019
Cambridge dictionary defines the learning disorder, Dyslexia, as “a condition affecting the brain that makes it difficult for someone to read and write.” Due to the low awareness about this condition, dyslexic children don’t always get the proper encouragement and help they need.
The poem reflects this issue with the help of a palindrome. When each line is read forwards, it talks about how dyslexics are considered unintelligent and not cut out for success. Backwards, it reflects their strength, courage and conviction in themselves even if the world thinks differently.
“I am stupid.
Nobody would ever say
I have a talent for wordsI was meant to be great.
That is wrong
I am a failure.Nobody could ever convince me to think that
I can make it in life.”
People were floored when they read it and many got emotional saying that they could relate because they themselves or someone in their family faced the same while battling the disorder.
AO is brilliant, indeed. She has a way with words. And beautiful penmanship. Jane, you must be a great teacher too. Thank you, AO & Jane.
— 🎗⏳The Solitary Reaper🕉🍀 (@YonSolitary) February 27, 2019
thank you for sharing this. Inspiring stuff ! My kids agesd 10 and 12 were so impressed they're off writing their own poems .
— NJA (@NinaAbdali) February 27, 2019
What a little gem! Keep being your amazing self young poet! 😀#thinkdifferently #prouddyslexic
— SensoryWand (@SensoryWand) February 27, 2019
I can't stop thinking about this work. Such clever, insightful language that stays with you, and a strong empowering message. Brilliant poetry.
— Natasha Haberdasher (@MsNatashaPage) February 27, 2019
What a great poem. What a great idea. What a great poet. What a great teacher. 😀
— Gill (@Gillybean1961) February 27, 2019
Apart from the movie ‘Taare Zameen Par‘, there hasn’t been much that is being done to create awareness about Dyslexia in India. So, I’m going to share this little girl’s poem with any and every parent I know. I hope you will too.