A DYSLEXIC schoolboy is celebrating after making it through to the finals of the National Poetry Competition.
Year 6 pupil Sky Schwartz, 11, is a student at specialist dyslexic school Moon Hall College and Burys Court, in Flanchford Road, Reigate.
Sky from Oxted told the Mirror because of his condition, he thought he would have no chance of winning when he entered.
But his poem, about “our wonderful world”, was shortlisted along with nine others from 2,500 entries nationwide.
He told the Mirror: “I have to try harder to write than most people my age and I didn’t think I would do very well. I have to concentrate.
“The poem took me two days to write – it was pretty difficult. But I was happy with it. And when they said I had got through to the finals my mum and dad were delighted.
“As part of the prize I got to go to Old Trafford and it was great to see the ground. But I’m not a Manchester United fan – I support Chelsea.
“But I guess this makes me the best poet in the school now, so I’m happy.”
Delighted head teacher Berry Baker said Sky’s achievement has shown that a dyslexic child “may have difficulties with reading and spelling, but can produce high- quality creative writing”.
Anita Pinnock, Sky’s English teacher, added: “It just goes to prove having dyslexia doesn’t mean you can’t be successful at English.
“What helped Sky was focusing on a particular picture, and to all of our surprise, he came out with these amazing images. He created a beautiful poem.
“Because our classes are so small we are able to be creative in our approach to English, especially poetry and story telling.
“For the poem, we spent a lesson walking in the grounds getting ideas of sounds, smells and textures.”
Friday, July 15, 2011
