Can you guess what the following people have in common?
• Orlando Bloom
• Tom Cruise
• Robin Williams
• Albert Einstein
• Thomas Edison
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Nolan Ryan
• Agatha Christie
• Winston Churchill
• George Washington
If you guessed that they are all famous…well yes you are correct; however, on their way to fame and fortune they had to overcome a road block that could have stopped them in their tracks…dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to recognize and comprehend written words. Some examples of what a student with dyslexia may see:
• When they look at the letters that make up the word “fish” they may see “hsif.”
• Some letters may appear backwards or upside down.
• Have a hard time telling the difference between letters that are similar in shape such as o and e and c.
• She / He might be able to connect the letters and sound out words, but not recognize words she has seen before. Every time the student sees the word it is like seeing it for the first time.
The above examples are not an absolute with every person who has dyslexia. Some persons with dyslexia can read with no problem, however find it extremely difficult to write or spell. This learning challenge is called dysgraphia, but is believed to stem from a form of dyslexia.
HOW DO I HOMESCHOOL MY CHILD WHO HAS THIS LEARNING CHALLENGE?
First, evaluate where your child is in regards to spelling, writing, reading, and comprehension. You might want to consult an educational psychologist to confirm that your child has dyslexia and then ask the psychologist for specific recommendations.
According to The International Dyslexia Association’s Michael Minsky, who is a clinical teacher at The Greenwood Institute in Putney, Vermont, suggests the following:
“Language remediation often requires daily spelling and oral reading. Spelling generally should move from the letter or syllable to word, phrase and sentence dictation during a single lesson. The lesson should include new words displaying a similar spelling pattern as well as review words and recently taught sight words. Techniques such as writing on a rough surface or in the air, clapping syllables, using cards to make words, arranging written syllables into words, and direct instruction concerning mouth positions for language sounds provide a multisensory basis for learning. Students should read aloud on a daily basis from a book which they can read with relative accuracy. Before the students read aloud, they should review the passage and ask for help with words that may cause difficulty. Parents should select challenging words from the passage and explain their pronunciation and meaning before the student reads aloud. A warm-up reading of words and phrases on flashcards or from lists is often useful. Reading errors should be recorded to serve as a basis for future instruction.”
DON’T GIVE UP!
There will be times when it seems like nothing is working. Your child may not pick up the material as quickly as you would like and you both may start to get a bit restless. Success is not going to be achieved overnight. Set meaningful goals for your child to accomplish and hang in there. You may be educating the next Thomas Edison or Winston Churchill!
Your child’s success will come with work, patience, and love in a supportive homeschooling environment.