Making a Mark!: Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari

Rooted in research, this educational resource combines the life story of internationally renowned sculptor Mark Stoddart with facts about neurodiversity, creating a journey of creative learning, perseverance and triumph.

Making a Mark! Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari is an educational resource in a story format. It highlights neurodiverse learning profiles – particularly dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia – while weaving in educational themes like grit and the growth mindset through its characters and their experiences.

The book uses world-famous sculptor Mark Stoddart’s life and art as inspiration and through powerful analogies shows that learning can be adventurous and safari-like. Learning is process-oriented and messy, just as the art of bronze-making is. At the heart of learning is the brain, which – like a garden – can grow and flourish under the right conditions. These analogies serve as powerful messages and take-aways for readers to reflect upon.

The first section of Making a Mark! Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari is written in story format. It tells the educational journey of Mark and his neurodiverse friends, from being misunderstood at school and feeling that they were failures, through to finding teachers who understood that some people learn differently and helped them to realise that with the right methods everyone can learn.

The second section provides information on how the brain works and neurodiversity and enables readers to reflect upon their own learning profiles: their strengths and challenges alike. The discussion questions at the end of the book, invite students and educators to embark on their own conversations and learning safaris together, just as the students in the story do with their teachers.

Making a Mark! Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari can be read independently or to children aged 9-14. It has been carefully designed with neurodiverse students in mind, with fun cartoons and comic strip style illustrations to break up the text and support visual reading.

The book can be easily integrated into a classroom setting aimed at supporting neurodiverse students while also benefitting neurotypical learners in helping them build a balanced understanding about cognitive learning differences. Additionally, the engagement exercises provided at the back of the book make it ideal for integration into tutoring sessions or educational conferences or workshops.

While there are many books out there about dyslexia, there are not many about cognitive learning differences like dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia that often accompany dyslexia. Moreover, there is no other book geared for students with relatable characters that teach about the fact that every single brain is unique, and therefore neurodiversity is ‘normal.’ Making a Mark! Discovering the Power of Neurodiversity on a Learning Safari will encourage all children to embark on a journey of creative learning, perseverance and triumph.

Katrin ‘Kate’ McElderry, is a program director for dyslexia outreach programs and a learning specialist for language and literacy skills. She works at The Odyssey School, a unique evidence-based school in Baltimore County, Maryland for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

Mark Stoddart is a world-renowned sculptor and dyslexia champion. This book tells the story of his life, which has really been safari-like. Struggling with dyslexia and related learning differences, he never thought his life would amount to anything. Everything changed once Mark became equipped with the tools and experiences that released his potential and built his confidence.