Trying to complete school work can be a very frustrating and discouraging experience for a student who struggles with dyslexia. Even just trying to read directions and figure out what to do on an assignment can be a huge barrier, never mind having to read complex texts and complete writing tasks. School can quickly start to feel like an obstacle course and can feel very isolating to a child
Although you aren’t at school with your child while they are struggling through textbook reading or feeling flustered by how quickly they are expected to complete assignments, there are certainly many things that you can be doing at home to support your child in the classroom.
Your child will likely need to work with a reading specialist or tutor on a long term basis in order to strengthen and develop reading skills, but here are some strategies that will help school seem more manageable while they are receiving those services:
1. Focusing on Organization
Students with dyslexia tend to need longer amounts of time on assignments, and also may have difficulty quickly switching tasks. Teaching your child to value organization is a great way to counter this issue! Having a neatly organized binder will allow your child to find assignments and class notes without wasting any of that precious time or becoming frustrated when they are already doing something that is difficult for them. Developing lifelong organizational habits will help any student in the long run, but your child may need it more than his or her peers.
2. Creating a Productive Environment
For any child, eliminating distractions is an important part of creating an environment that is conducive to completing homework. For a dyslexic child, it is absolutely crucial, especially if the dyslexia is coupled with ADHD or a sensory processing disorder.
When your child is doing homework, make sure that they are in an area that is free of clutter and distractions. Sounds, movement, other people, and technology can all take your child’s attention away from their work. If you need to, it might be a good idea to take your child to the library or create a designated area in the house for homework.
3. Reading Directions
For children, getting started on assignments can be the hardest part of completing them. This is especially true if they feel like they don’t understand what is expected of them or how to go about something. You can help your child get started on homework and reduce their frustration levels by verifying that they have fully understood the directions.
If your child has a high level of anxiety about homework, you may consider asking their teacher if it is okay for you to actually read the directions aloud and have him or her focus more on completing the assignment. If it is important that your child practice reading the directions independently, you can have your child read them aloud to you and then verify the accuracy. If the directions were read inaccurately, have your child reread them one sentence at a time and then check for understanding so that they are broken down into steps.
4. Providing Breaks
For a dyslexic child, reading is a lot of work. Reading for extended time can cause mental exhaustion, which essentially means that no more learning will occur in that sitting and the rest of their work will be done at a slower pace. Mental exhaustion also increases the chance for errors and misinterpretations, which can be very counterproductive for your child’s grades.
In order to prevent this exhaustion as well as taper any frustration that is building, have your child take breaks in between assignments. The break doesn’t have to be long; it can merely consist of getting up to get a quick snack, taking a moment to play with the dog, or relaxing for a few minutes with eyes closed. Getting into this practice will help your child increase stamina and avoid meltdowns.
5. Using Color
For a child who may take a long time to locate headings, key words, and any other important information, color coding can be a great tool. Not only will this technique help your child with visual memory, it will also provide quick access to the information that he or she is looking for.
You can also use color at home by highlighting sections of text that are the most important, using colorful binder tabs, post-its, and colored sheet protectors. Some dyslexic students do better with reading when they use translucent reading color strips to highlight the line that they are currently reading.
Any way that you can incorporate multisensory learning will help your dyslexic child, so be creative!
Before using these or any new strategies with your child, it’s always a good idea to consult with his or her teacher, tutor, or reading specialist to make sure that you are supporting what is being done in the classroom.
Remember that the most important thing that you can do help your child in school is to encourage them and celebrate their successes! I hope these strategies help!