Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difference which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.
It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently. Many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.
Tips
- It is important to encourage children to recognise and pursue the areas in which they excel (do more of what they enjoy) and support them with the areas they find difficult.
- Allow children to use a word processer to complete some written tasks. This highlights spelling errors and offers alternatives. If they can’t type, encourage them to learn, so that they are able to use a word processer with more speed and fluency.
- Play games to support memory and retention e.g. pairs, Go Fish etc. (see resource links for more ideas)
- Enable children to access age related audiobooks to develop a love of reading. Encourage (don’t force or push) them to share what’s happening in the story and share their excitement, wondering aloud what will happen next. This will also develop their vocabulary and comprehension, without them even realising that they are learning.
- Don’t make reading a fight. Encourage them to read one page and you read the next page. Read some books to them for pleasure and invite them to read a section if they want to (don’t push if they don’t want to). By developing a love of books and stories children will naturally want to learn how to read, so make the experience as pleasurable as you can.
Resources
Typing club:
Free Phonics games:
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
https://www.weareteachers.com/working-memory/
Free audio stories:
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Useful Websites
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/how-can-i-support-my-child