Those of us who are dyslexic understand that our skills don't easily match up with the way that traditional teaching and learning happens in our schools. But I sometimes think about what would happen if success in school depended on being able to remember driving directions. This may sound silly but I can tell you that in my family, some (like my wife and oldest son) would have been in real trouble while my son Paul (who is dyslexic) would be a rock star.
Although she was an excellent student her whole academic career, my wife openly admits that she is what she calls 'directionally dyslexic'. When we walk out of a store or restaurant she always turns in the opposite direction that the car is parked. If we are lost we have learned to ignore or go the opposite way that she thinks is the right way.
My oldest son (also an excellent student) is clueless when it comes to driving directions. Recently, he asked me for directions near our house. I sent him a way that would be familiar since he had gone that way many, many times. As I described some of the landmarks along the way (The Burger King, the grocery store, etc) all I got was a blank look. He may have gone that way many times but it never stuck. For those of us with a good sense of direction, it is very hard to understand.
My son Paul (who is dyslexic), however, is uncanny when it comes to driving directions. When he was very young, we vacationed in the rural mountains of northern Pennsylvania. The second year we went, we came to an intersection that we passed once the year before. There were no street signs; just a small barn in the field. He immediately pointed out that if we turned right the road would take us to the lake and if we went straight it would take us to the General Store with the special licorice. His brothers and sister looked at him like he was crazy but as we discovered, he was spot on (and everyone enjoyed the special licorice).
There are probably more people like my wife and oldest son than like my son Paul. Why else would there be so many people with GPS's. I just worry that if school success were based on knowing driving directions, that some would think it was unfair to use a GPS.
But I do believe that we are all a little dyslexic. For my son Paul it's reading and writing. For my wife and oldest son it's driving directions. For you (and Einstein by the way) it might be balancing your checkbook. Just think if that's what they measured you on in school.
