Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that typically causes problems with reading, writing, and spelling. In some cases, people with dyslexia also have difficulty with their memory, which can impact math and organization skills.
Experts believe between 5 and 10 percent of people suffer from this language-based learning disability. Although the condition does not fade over time, there are teaching approaches and strategies that can be applied to help people manage the challenges that come with it.
Many individuals with dyslexia have difficulty with the following:
Personalized learning plans are meant to build an individualized teaching environment focused on understanding a student’s strengths and weaknesses. In order to meet the student’s needs these lesson plans usually include:
Designing such plans for people with dyslexia requires addressing their individual phonological weaknesses. This involves any issues that impact reading, speaking, writing, spelling, and math. Ultimately, the goal of a personalized learning plan should be reading fluency.
However, teachers must first realize that for a dyslexic person, learning to read means first understanding that spoken words can be pulled apart into the different elements of speech and that each letter in a written word represents a sound.
An effective plan should have:
Visual aids can be used to help supplement auditory or tactile learning, which can involve both the reading of text, as well as visual arts. Some examples are:
Students with dyslexia may benefit from the option to “read with their ears” by using audiobooks and text-to-speech applications. Effective literacy does not just depend on reading text—with practice, listening to different materials can be as effective. Examples of auditory learning include:
Tactile learning involves anything related to touch. While there is some overlap with kinesthetic learning, tactile teaching techniques focus on engaging fine motor skills. Examples of tactile techniques include the following.
Kinesthetic learning techniques rely on a combination of both fine motor skills and gross motor skills. This style of learning focuses on allowing students to learn through motion and physical actions.
Assistive technology is defined as any item, equipment, or system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities.
Text-to-speech technology makes it possible for text on a screen to be read aloud by the program to the individual in an environment that is both safe and comfortable. Headphones can be used in public settings. This technology also helps with word prediction and dictation, which can provide additional help when challenges with spelling and/or reading aloud occur.
One symptom of dyslexia is memory issues. Voice recordings and notes can help mitigate this problem by simplifying note-taking. When a student can record their thoughts right away, it eliminates unnecessary frustration, confusion, and rushing before they forget the information.
This technology involves a wide range of software tools, including:
These different tools allow students with dyslexia to:
Prior to working with a reading tutor, students should expect to complete a screening test that will help identify their current needs. These tools are designed to determine the type of intervention required for the student to benefit from the lessons.
These tools may include the following:
Typically, these types of screenings take up to an hour to complete. They are done before the initial tutoring session begins and cost approximately the same standard rate.
Once the assessment is finished and the student starts the tutoring sessions, they will be continuously tracked and monitored to ensure the lessons align with their current needs. A regular progress-monitoring process includes:
As the student moves through the various stages of tutoring, post-tests will be administered to ensure they remain on par with the expectations.
One of the keys to success in a classroom is effective collaboration between students—both those with and without dyslexia. Some ways to cultivate this type of environment are as follows:
Tutors can help students with dyslexia develop the necessary skills and tools for improving their reading, writing, and memory. Through the application of multisensory learning and structured language approaches, tutors use various instructional models to create the most effective learning space possible for their students.
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