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Helping Dyslexic Students Succeed
Imagine if every time you picked up a newspaper or a novel, you didn't recognize any words or paragraphs, only letters that seem to organize themselves into jumbles. You could recognize the letters, but no words. It might seem like you were reading a foreign language. To different degrees, this is exactly what dyslexics face when they try to process written language.
For the dyslexic student, school can be a nightmare riddled with stress, frustration, and poor achievement. At the moment when most students are developing the coordinated literacy skills of reading, writing, and spelling, dyslexics struggle with a disability that specifically affects those skills in particular.
Effective teachers recognize the characteristics, difficulties, and strengths of dyslexic students. Challenged, yet equipped with knowledge and compassion, these teachers utilize a variety of teaching strategies to provide opportunities for dyslexic students to succeed.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that affects language processing functions. It manifests itself in a learning disability in handling written text. The word "dyslexia" literally means difficulty with words. The condition results in problems with letter-sound associations leading to difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling. No two dyslexics have the same learning problems, nor is the condition age-related or indicative of low intelligence.
Difficulties for Dyslexic Students
Students with dyslexia are typically of average or high intelligence, appear bright, but have tremendous difficulties reading, writing, or spelling on grade level. They may be slower to acquire and process language due to poor short-term memory capacities. They also may have difficulty remembering isolated sounds in words when attempting to write or spell.
Throughout school, students with dyslexia may have been assumed to be lazy, immature, unintelligent, or unmotivated. Unfortunately, most dyslexics are not diagnosed until they are between the ages of 11 and 17. By then, a dyslexic student may have experienced a multitude of failures, and thus have developed low self-esteem.
Strengths of Dyslexic Students
People with dyslexia have also been recognized because of the strengths they have developed as a response to the disorder.
Dyslexics are typically very curious, have good oral skills, and demonstrate vivid imaginations.
A Few Famous Dyslexics
Thomas Edison
Agatha Christie
Tom Cruise
Whoopi Goldberg
John Lennon
Walt Disney
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They frequently excel in art, music, architecture, engineering, science, and creative design because they think visually and usually have excellent spatial awareness. It is essential that these strengths be recognized; students with dyslexia can bring valuable insight and opinions to classroom discussions.
Teaching Guidelines
Effective teachers of dyslexics keep several guiding principles in mind. A student with dyslexia:
- can be a positive, contributing, and valued class member.
- is an intelligent person who does not learn in the same way as others.
- learns by doing.
- often has trouble remembering.
Strategies and Adaptations
Effective teaching strategies and adaptations can help dyslexic students be more successful. Consider how you might use the following ideas to help dyslexics build the skills they need to overcome the disability. Your initial goal should be to reduce the overall reading, writing, and spelling load, while increasing the self-confidence of the student.
- Provide a daily outline of schedules, goals, and lecture notes.
- Use a sans serif font (such as Arial or Verdana) to reduce clutter on visual aids.
- Print on colored paper to reduce glare.
- Boldface key words.
- Show the whole picture first.
- Break information into small, sequential steps.
- Conscientiously construct the classroom environment for success.
- Be welcoming and encouraging.
- Provide a seat in the front.
- Support interactions with a peer-helper.
- Nurture student's growth and learning.
- Utilize helpful technology for additional support.
- Tape record lectures with a cassette recorder.
- Video tape lessons and demonstrations.
- Use audio-taped versions of textbooks.
- Make interactive, multimedia learning opportunities available.
- Present multi-sensory lessons to maximize learning.
- Start each lesson with a review of prior learning.
- Utilize demonstrations, observations, and experimentations.
- Expand lessons beyond visual and auditory learning.
- Incorporate kinetic or sensory learning experiences.
- Provide hands-on learning activities.
- Evaluate homework procedures to lessen the literacy load.
- Write assignments in the same place daily or provide a written handout.
- Limit the amount to what is absolutely necessary for practice.
- Give credit for effort and achievement.
- Consider altering evaluation and testing procedures to reduce stress.
- Offer multiple-choice tests rather than short answer and essay tests.
- Read directions orally.
- Allow extra work time and rest breaks.
- Accept verbal responses, as well as written.
- Recognize all victories and accomplishments to help raise self-esteem.
- Praise and commend often.
- Help students to see their strengths.
- Provide opportunities to increase confidence.
- Do not tell students that they are not trying hard enough.
- Be responsive to your dyslexic student's needs.
- Seek teaching methods best suited to the needs of the student.
- Play learning games.
- Teach students to use logic, rather than relying on memory.
- Be flexible!
Be Part of the Solution for a Dyslexic Student
Teaching a student with dyslexia is sometimes a challenge for teachers, but it is also an opportunity to make a difference in a struggling student's life. There are several options for support, in addition to the adaptations you can make in the classroom. Don't hesitate to refer to the special education professional in your school for additional references and support.
Remember that school has probably brought many failures and struggles for dyslexic students. They deserve your attention to help them be as successful as possible. You can be a part of the solution in educating dyslexic students and helping them to achieve the educational goals of becoming independent and life-long learners.
Read More about Helping Dyslexic Students Succeed
Voice Recognition Software Helping Dyslexics
DYSLEXIA TEACHER
This Web site explores voice recognition software for assisting dyslexics in writing.
Overcoming Dyslexia Series
TIME Magazine Online
This comprehensive site from TIME magazine is devoted to the topic of dyslexia and investigates the disorder from many angles, including the physical evidence of dyslexia.
Dyslexia Online Magazine
This online magazine provides a wide range of articles about the disorder, including teaching methods, listening skills, diet, and memory.
This article was contributed by Mollie Crie, an educator with 22 years in the classroom. She currently teaches for Bedford County Schools in Forest, Virginia.
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