Case Study: The Story of Lois Letchford: From Dyslexia to Ph.D. at Oxford "Using Neuroscience to Inspire Learning"

<p>Welcome back to the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, EPISODE #136 I'm Andrea Samadi, a former educator who has been fascinated with understanding the science behind high performance strategies in schools, sports, and the workplace for the past 20 years. If you have been listening to our podcast, you will know that we’ve uncovered that if we want to improve our social and emotional skills, and experience success in our work and personal lives, it all begins with an understanding of our brain.</p> <p><a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbPHDazXB5c'>Watch the interview on YouTube here.</a></p> <p>My goal with this podcast is to bring the most current neuroscience research to you and make it applicable in your life whether you are a teacher in the classroom, or using these ideas to improve productivity and results in your workplace. As I am researching and learning new ideas, I’m also implementing them myself, and making connections to past speakers, so that we can all benefit from the research that is emerging in this new field of educational neuroscience.</p> <p>Today’s episode features Lois Letchford<a href='#_edn1'>[i]</a>, the author of the book <em>Reversed: A Memoir<a href='#_edn2'>[ii]</a></em>, that tells the story of her son who failed first grade in 1994. His prognosis was dire. Testing revealed he could read 10 words, had no strengths, and a “low IQ.”  The first few chapters of her book are painful for a parent to read, and even worse if you’re a teacher or a coach, knowing how important your role is for shaping the lives of the students who come before you.</p> <p>Her book sets the stage for just how chilling, and impactful their story is. I’ll read it slowly because there’s lots to think about here.</p> <p>Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.  —THE IMITATION GAME</p> <p>I have to spoil the story, and tell you there is a happy ending, with Lois’ son defying the odds he was given at an early ag