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What are 5 strategies for a regular teacher to teach students with dyslexia?
I am a regular education teacher trying my best to be truly inclusive. What 5 things can I do with a dyslexia student in my class so that they can learn effectively?
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#2 written by Edwina 2 years ago
You don’t say what grade level you teach, but here are some things that work in upper elementary, middle school, and secondary classes.
1. Reduce the processing load. When possible, give shorter reading assignments to your students with dyslexia; reduce the number of multiple choice options on tests and quizzes.
2. Allow students to listen to text on tape when it is available.
3. Allow students to use manuscript instead of cursive, and allow them to word process any assignments possible.
4. Increase the font size of print materials. Most people with dyslexia find reading larger print easier. You can print out copies of teacher-made materials in a large font and enlarge assignments from your textbook etc. on the photocopier.
5. If students must read aloud, allow all of them (not just your students with dyslexia) a chance to read through the text they are responsible for first, asking you any questions they might have before they are required to “perform.”
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#5 written by missyvecc 2 years ago
Hmm… five?
1) Create (or buy) reader strips – It highlights one line of text at a time and looks like a bookmark (when it’s vertical). Encourage all of your students to use one, not just students that may have dyslexia, because we all have trouble staying on our line and jumping to the next.
2) Work on kinesthetics – this depends on age – younger kids can uses devices they make for impressing letters onto clay/sufaces (which look like art projects and have great multi-sensory purposes) or work with older students to help them combine the movement of the letter with the recognition of the letter (helps letter inversion).
3) Allow students to modify their texts – let them write on or draw on their texts. Some students will take a b and draw the second loop to make a capital B and it’s easier to differentiate. Some draw little pictures along the way if the text is really long, it’s their own cue system. Many students, especially older ones, have their own mechanisms, so encourage those.
4) Rhyming spelling rules and devices are excellent. A little rote, but good internalizations. Word lists and dictionaries are good, too.
5) Allow the student to read aloud, to oneself in a quiet voice. Always acknowledge that sometimes it take more than one reading to understand – first reading for word recognition and vocabulary, second reading for comprehension and interpretation.
I’m glad you’re open to strategies. Collect them all, because some work like miracles with some students, and other students make you go through seventeen until you find the right one. Good luck.
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1. Students with reading problems need to learn a strategy of how to get through reading assignments that are written above their reading level. Here’s two of my favorites – RAP and DISSECT.
2. When teaching a unit, make them responsible for learning the big picture. When you plan your lessons, think what do I want everyone to learn, most to learn, and some to learn. This will help all your kids – even the gifted!
3. Reinforce the students when they are using strategies. You can cue them and then help them to generalize.
4. Run an effective behavior modification program for all students.
5. Teach them to keep an agenda/calendar of upcoming and current assignment. I suppose that depends on the grade level.