Empowering the Dyslexic Child in the Classroom

Hello! So today we will be finishing our blog discussion on dyslexia by discussing some ways you and your student’s teachers can help them overcome some of the challenges they face daily. These are simple accommodations that give them the opportunity to reach their full potential in the classroom as well as at home when they are doing homework!

• Extra Time

    Students with Dyslexia are typically not fluent or efficient readers however they have great intelligence and thinking skills.  Therefore, extra time is required for them to decode words, use context clues, and apply their thinking skills in order to complete an assignment to the best of their ability.  

• Quiet Space

Outside noise can be distracting to anyone while they are trying to focus. A calm, quiet space where the student’s mind is allowed to fully focus on the work at hand could make a world of difference in the comprehension and quality of the work. Don’t have the space?  Try a pair of noise cancelling headphones!

• Recorded Texts

    Having an audio version of a book or classroom text to use in conjunction with the written word often helps students access the content of what they need to know without getting bogged down in the painstaking process of decoding text.  Resources to look into include BookShare and Learning Ally. Some students are finding books on YouTube as well!

• Speech-to-text Software

    Completing written assignments can be a daunting task for those students with Dyslexia. There are many apps available where the student is able to dictate their work, then go back proofread. This could save loads of time, stress and anxiety for these students especially when it comes to homework! You might try an extension called Google Read and Write.  Kami is another wonderful Google extension.

• Essay Tests

    On a multiple choice test the student must be able to decode every word in the question in order to answer correctly.  These are also typically very black-and-white responses. By providing an essay test, a student with Dyslexia is able to use context and is more likely to be able to demonstrate his or her understanding, knowledge, creativity, and high level of thinking abilities.

• Text-to-Speech Software

     There are many apps that will read text aloud like NaturalReader and Google Read and Write.. These apps and extensions will read audio books, emails, web pages etc. so that the student can listen to or read along with the spoken words. To be able to use this for handouts in the classroom, your child would need a tablet/computer and their teacher would need to email the information prior to the lesson.

• Access to Recorded Lectures

    Many teachers willing to go the extra mile for their students. Asking your student’s teacher to pre-record the lecture or an audio recording of them explaining a handout could be a great tool to help with comprehension in the classroom.

• Notes Provided Prior to the Class

    By having notes prior to the class, a student is able to preview words he or she isn’t able to read or pronounce.  A parent or tutor can review the content prior the lesson by talking it out which is usually a more beneficial way of learning for students with reading and writing challenges.  

This is not an exhaustive list by far but a good step in the right direction for many students.  If you need help determining specific accommodations that may benefit your student reach out to us today at [email protected]! ​