Wednesday, 9 January 2013

What is dyslexia?

A cartoon drawing of a girl sat at her school desk, confused.
Dyslexia affects the way you recognise the sounds that groups of letters make. It can make it hard to read and write amongst other things.
It doesn't affect intelligence and it's not a disease or illness - it's a condition you're born with.
Some people learn special techniques to help them cope with dyslexia whilst others need special support.

What's it like for someone who has dyslexia?

Not everybody with dyslexia has the same experience.
Some people suffer with reading and writing, others with maths. A lot of people also struggle to remember things.
It can make simple things like going to the shops difficult. You might not remember what you wanted to buy and can't read your own shopping list.
Some children say words move about the page when they try and read. It makes school work difficult to complete and some children fall behind without special help.
Unfortunately some kids get bullied because of their dyslexia.

How do people with dyslexia cope?

Mollie King and Una
Mollie King from The Saturdays (left) has dyslexia
There are lots of different ways children manage their dyslexia.
Some children who struggle to remember things use a voice recorder to set reminders. CBBC star Dom Wood says he learns his scripts by repeating them over and over!
Children who have trouble reading sometimes put coloured overlays over text which can help them read.
Others benefit from special learning techniques or personal tutoring - but not all schools provide it.

How many people have dyslexia?

Dyslexia is very common - about 1 in every 10 people in the UK has it.

What causes it?

Sir Richard BransonSir Richard Branson is a very successful businessman with dyslexia
Dyslexia is caused by differences in the language areas of the brain and the connections between them.It often runs in families and can affect people of any age from any country.

Is it curable?

Dyslexia can't be cured and people who are born with dyslexia have it all their lives.Luckily it can usually be managed and people with dyslexia can go on to be hugely successful - like business tycoon Sir Richard Branson!
From CBBC News

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Guide: Albums to look out for in 2013

Rihanna, James Arthur and Jessie J


With One Direction, Emeli Sande and Labrinth all releasing massive albums last year you probably thought music couldn't get any better.
Well think again. Because 2013 is going to be huge.
This year will see albums released from some of the biggest artists in the world.
So, check out our guide to the music that you could be dancing around to in your bedroom over the next 12 months.

Monday, 7 January 2013

Cambridgeshire family find wallaby in garden

A family has found an unusual guest living in their garden - a wild wallaby!

The creature, which is normally found in Australia and parts of South East Asia, had made its home at the bottom of the Heathcote family's garden in Cambridgeshire.
Jane Heathcote said her family first spotted the animal the day after they moved in.
But nobody believed them until they took photos.
Reports of escaped wallabies living wild in the UK are not new.
There have also been sightings in Devon, Cornwall, East Sussex and Scotland.

Wilf the wallaby

When the family got in touch with the RSPCA, they told them it probably had a burrow nearby.
"They said he seemed happy and healthy and we should just keep an eye on him," Ms Heathcote said.
The family have named their new neighbour Wilf and say he likes to eat the food they throw out for birds and even plays with the local cats!
From CBBC News

Friday, 4 January 2013

Giant duck floating in Sydney

Rubber ducks are usually found swimming in bathtubs - not in one of the worlds most famous harbours!A giant yellow duck floated around Sydney Harbour on Thursday in a rehearsal for a Sydney Festival event which organizers say will turn the harbor into a "giant bathtub
But that's what's happening in Sydney, Australia where a 15 metre high rubber duck has taken to the water.
The duck is floating in the water as part of a rehearsal for a festival at the weekend.
Its creator Florentijn Hofman said he made the duck because "the global waters are our bathtub, so it joins people."
The giant toy will remain in the harbour until 23 January.
Imagine trying to share a bath with that!
From CBBC