Learn about dyslexia

People with dyslexia can learn to read but it requires a lot of concentration and energy and it isn't just about reading. Upworthy did a nice write up about dyslexia to help people better understand and dispel some misconceptions about this disability. People with dyslexia have difficulty with organization, sense of time, thought processes and writing as well. This site by Victor Widell will give you an idea what reading might be like for a person with dyslexia. Strategies that I've tried over the years to help students with eye tracking difficulty include:

• putting a small red dot in the middle of words on a flash card to help the eye stop. (Some people only 'see' the beginning and end of words and often guess what the word is).

• Using a colored page overlay or print on colored paper. (For some people changing the color of the paper helps them attend to the words more effectively).

• Using a reading tracker or index card to isolate the sentence being read.

• Use larger post-it notes to mask (cover) areas you don't want to focus on. This is also great if students need to copy words when writing to help them find their place easier and faster.

• Change fonts. There are some fonts which claim to be dyslexia friendly. This is a personal preference to be explored.

• Make some samples using the above strategies and ask the student what works for them!

• Record lessons so they don't have to take notes and can re-listen for information.

• Record Verbal directions as well.

• Write simple check lists to help with task completion.

• Above all be patient and understanding. Give breaks and make sure your expectations are reasonable for each task.

Some similar disability links to explore are: Dysgraphia: written expression and Dyscalculia: Math and number concepts

#learning #dyslexia #teachingstrategies #modification #accommodations