Alan & Brenda Leonard

on 7/25/02 21:34, [email protected] at
[email protected] wrote:

> He attributes this reading handicap to being
> left-handed, and says it's the same way with my younger son, who is also
> left-handed. We know other kids who have reading/learning difficulties and
> most if not all just happen to be left-handed and it goes along with his
> theory - that left-handed people have a harder time learning things in
> general, at least in "normal" ways. Well, I don't know if that's true or not
> and I tell him it's not fair to generalize and stereotype people that way.
> But that's his opinion.

I'm left-handed, and read fine, having been taught the phonics-way from my
Mom, at 3. I can't say that it's ever seemed to me that I have a harder
time learning things, in fact, it's often seemed that things came easily.
Sorry to shoot at his theory...

Is it possible that because of the way different hemispheres of the brain
support different things, that left- and right-handed people have different
strengths, and each learn certain things more easily? However, I do
remember reading (a long time ago) that the arts is right-brain, language is
left theory was under attack, due to further research on people with damage
to 1 side or the other. Science is not particularly my interest, tho, so I
could easily be off on that one.

brenda

Karin

>> I'm left-handed, and read fine, having been taught the phonics-way from
my
> Mom, at 3. I can't say that it's ever seemed to me that I have a harder
> time learning things, in fact, it's often seemed that things came easily.
> Sorry to shoot at his theory...

Left-handed BOYS then, possibly?
The people we know (who I referred to) are boys.
But it's great that you've gotten along so well as a lefty! I'm trying to
tell him that not ALL lefties have such hardships and turn out slightly
"messed up". <g>

> Is it possible that because of the way different hemispheres of the brain
> support different things, that left- and right-handed people have
different
> strengths, and each learn certain things more easily? However, I do
> remember reading (a long time ago) that the arts is right-brain, language
is
> left theory was under attack, due to further research on people with
damage
> to 1 side or the other. Science is not particularly my interest, tho, so
I
> could easily be off on that one.
>
> brenda
>

Yes, my dh has taken a few of those left-brained/right-brained (LB/RB)
tests. I think it showed that since he is left-handed, he is right-brained,
and he likes reading about various LB/RB studies that he finds. What he's
trying to do is finally figure out why he is the way he is. All these years,
he remembers teachers and peers alike picking on him because he was so
"different". He says he remembers acting, thinking, and just seeing the
world differently than most. He thinks it's because he's a lefty. He also
says that even today, it's very challenging for lefties to get along in this
world, because so many things are designed for right-handed people. I have
stopped to think about it more and more and I've got to admit he's right (or
is that left ;-). Why, even the mouse for OUR computer is on the RIGHT side
of the keyboard. But he is much more ambidextrous than me (I'm a righty).

Unlike most right-brained people (which I *think* studies show), he is not
very artistic or creative (so he says). So that part of his leftiness does
not concur with "studies".

Karin

Dona Baker

Hi All:

I have been lurking and thought I would throw in my two-cents regarding handedness and brain dominance. Coincidentally, I just finished reading what I think is a tremendous book by Dr. David Sousa. It is called, "How the Brain Learns." In the 5th chapter he discusses brain dominance as it applies to learning. Here is what he says about the hemispheres and handedness.

He explains that the left-side of the brain is the logical hemisphere and deals with information in a factual way. It is responsible for the literal undertanding of language, generates speech and is time-sensitive. The left-brain controls the motor functions of the right-side of the body.

The right-side is intuitive, deals with spatial perception and interprets language through gestures, emotions, body language etc. The right-brain controls the motor functions of the left-side of the body.

All people use both sides of their brains because they are both necessary. In fact, the two-hemispheres are well-suited to operating simultaneously. This is why people can drive a car (right-brain spatial process) and talk (left-brain language process) at the same time. (This function improves when both hands are on the wheel !! Right and Left brain motor control)

However, because the left-side of the brain is also largely responsible for processing details, if we talk while we drive, we may notice that we miss our exit. Talking and dealing with outside stimuli, ie. watching the road, are both left-brain functions which can cause interference (and accidents!)

If a person is described as left or right-brain dominant it is a huge generalization that is usually referring to a specific event in a given moment. (You walk into a room and the first thing you sense is how the people in the room are relating, even though they haven't said anything, is an example of a right-brained cognition.) Whether you do this every time you walk into a room or not, forms the basis of preference. The fact, that you will also consider what the people say to each other and you, demonstrates that your left-brain is also very active in the process.

Also, identifying someone's hemispheric preference can't predict how a person will think or behave. Two people who share a preference for right-brain thinking will express themselves in very different ways. Our hemispheric preference is only one element out of a multitude of personality and learning style indicators.

Having made that disclaimer, there is a small correlation between left-handedness and right-brain thinking dominance. That is, 30% of left-handed people have been found to be right-brain dominant, whereas only 5 - 7% of right-handed people are right-brain dominant.

That means that the majority of people (70% of lefties and 93 - 95% of righties are left-brain dominant) making handedness, a highly unreliable indicator for indentifying right-brain dominant thinkers.

I love this stuff! I teach workshops on personality and learning styles to companies and educators, so I have a vested interest in people getting correct information. I recommend Dr. Sousa's book as it is comprehensive and easy to read. There is a very good section on reading that can help people who's children have been identified as having a reading disability.

'Bye for now,

Dona Baker



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Karin

donabak@... wrote:

> I have been lurking and thought I would throw in my two-cents regarding
handedness and brain dominance. Coincidentally, >I just finished reading
what I think is a tremendous book by Dr. David Sousa. It is called, "How the
Brain Learns." In the 5th >chapter he discusses brain dominance as it
applies to learning. Here is what he says about the hemispheres and
handedness.


Thank you for this information and book recommendation, Dona! I will look
for it.

Karin