Dyslexia Is a Superpower || A Chat with Laura Bloomberg, Specialist Dyslexia Teacher
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Intro
If you’re a mother who has ever sat beside a child in tears over reading, spelling, or homework (wondering what on earth is going on here) you are not alone. For many families, learning struggles don’t look like a neat diagnosis. They look like exhaustion after school, meltdowns over writing, or a bright child quietly switching off. What sort of dyslexia support is there for parents?
In this episode of The Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast, I’m joined by Laura Bloomberg, a specialist dyslexia teacher with over 30 years of experience, to talk honestly about dyslexia, learning differences, and why the way we educate children so often misses their brilliance. This is a hopeful, practical conversation for mums who sense their child is wonderfully capable… just not in the way The System expects.
About the Guest
Laura Bloomberg is the founder of Dyslexia Understood and has worked for more than three decades across state and private schools. She is a specialist dyslexia teacher (Level 5 OCR), former assessor (Level 7 OCR), visiting lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, and an accredited trainer in evidence-based reading comprehension interventions.
Laura works closely with schools, local authorities, teachers, and parents to remove barriers for children with specific learning difficulties (SpLD), including dyslexia and dyscalculia. She also brings a holistic lens to her work as an NLP mindset coach, EFT practitioner, and hypnotherapist, helping families rebuild confidence alongside skills. You can find her at www.dyslexiaunderstood.co.uk.
Episode Highlights
Dyslexia Isn’t a Deficit. It’s a Different Way of Thinking
One of the most important reframes Laura offers is this: dyslexia is not a sign of low intelligence or laziness. It’s a processing difference. Dyslexic learners often think visually, creatively, and laterally; qualities that are poorly rewarded in traditional classrooms but deeply valuable in real life.
“Dyslexia is a superpower.”
Laura explains how many well-known creatives, leaders, and innovators were dyslexic; not despite it, but because of it. When children understand why learning feels hard, shame gives way to confidence.
Why School Can Be So Exhausting for Dyslexic Children
A recurring theme in the conversation is exhaustion. Dyslexic children often spend the school day working twice as hard just to keep up; decoding language, holding instructions in their working memory, and masking confusion.
Laura describes dyslexia primarily as a processing difficulty, particularly around mapping speech sounds to written language. This constant mental effort explains why many children come home dysregulated, emotional, or resistant to homework.
“It’s not boredom. It’s overload.”
Understanding this helps parents respond with compassion rather than frustration.
Working Memory, Copying, and Why ‘Just Write It Down’ Doesn’t Work
One of the most practical insights Laura shares concerns working memory. This is the brain’s mental workspace. Many dyslexic learners struggle to hold multiple pieces of information at once, which makes tasks like copying from the board disproportionately demanding.
“Copying is the biggest sin.”
Laura explains how copying large amounts of text often has little learning benefit and places unnecessary strain on a child’s cognitive capacity. Simple adjustments, such as printed instructions, fewer steps, alternative ways to demonstrate learning, can dramatically reduce stress.
Multi-Sensory Teaching, Thinking Outside the Box and Dyslexia Support for Parents
Laura advocates strongly for multi-sensory teaching: learning that engages movement, sound, visuals, and conversation so not just traditional pen and paper.
Whether it’s dictating work instead of writing, using audiobooks, or turning homework into a game, the goal is always the same: access. Learning should meet the child where they are, not force them to conform to a single method.
This is particularly relevant for homeschooling parents, but Laura emphasises that these strategies benefit all learners, not just those with diagnoses.
Confidence Is the Greatest Gift Parents Can Give
When asked what parents can do immediately, Laura’s answer is simple and powerful: build confidence.
She names three “free gifts” every dyslexic learner needs:
- Understanding — knowing how their brain works
- Time — space to process without pressure
- Compassion — from adults who believe in them
“Confidence is built on understanding.”
When children are supported rather than rushed, resilience naturally follows.
Why Parents Must Advocate (and Collaborate)
Laura is clear that parents know their children best. If a child is coping at school but falling apart at home, that information matters to forge a framework for dyslexia support for parents and their child.
She encourages parents to keep communication open with teachers, advocate for reasonable adjustments, and document concerns. Collaboration, not confrontation, is key.
“Teamwork is dream work.”
When parents and educators work together, children are far more likely to thrive.
Quick Takeaways
- Dyslexia is a processing difference, not a lack of ability
- Many dyslexic learners are highly creative and intuitive
- School can be cognitively exhausting for children with SpLD
- Working memory plays a major role in learning challenges
- Copying tasks often hinder rather than help learning
- Multi-sensory teaching benefits all children and is the foundation of dyslexia support for parents
- Confidence, time, and compassion are essential supports
Now What?
Listen to the full episode of The Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with Laura Bloomberg If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with another mum who’s quietly wondering whether her child is “falling behind”, when in truth, they may simply be wired differently.
Because every child is wonderfully complex… and learning should honour that.
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