Jul
23
How can I help my kids with reading/spelling?
By
nahyonga questioned:
I have three daughters with dyslexia. They only qualify for Title 1 reading help. I don’t see any improvement and want to help them do better. I need advice!
The ages are 11,7 and 6; and the severity is at least 1 grade level behind for each. I’m just worried because they don’t qualify for spec. ed. svcs.
Making Math More Fun – Math Games Package
I have three daughters with dyslexia. They only qualify for Title 1 reading help. I don’t see any improvement and want to help them do better. I need advice!
The ages are 11,7 and 6; and the severity is at least 1 grade level behind for each. I’m just worried because they don’t qualify for spec. ed. svcs.
Making Math More Fun – Math Games Package
TALK WIT DA TEACHER
Certainly start with some material they can relate with. Find something they “delight in” learning about. It can be ANYTHING not just books. Magazines, comic books, small articles, but learning is learning. Start with having them relate a photo with a caption and and so on….Excellent Luck!
Read with them daily, home help is often better than the help they receive at school. Always have lots of different types of reading material around the house (books, comics etc). Question the school for a copy of the “100 most used words” and the list of blend words, then copy these out separately onto bright coloured pieces of cardboard and use these as flash cards.
The only way to help is to work with them yourself. Get their books and have them read to you out loud. Read for 15-20 mins., then make a spelling list from what they just read and have them write out the spelling words 4-5 times then give them a small test. Excellent luck.
The most vital thing you can do with your children is have them read to you/read to them. Practice!!! I cannot stress this enough for parents of children in my special ed. program. Question your teacher if she knows how to do Direct Instruction reading. I have found that program to be extremely helpful, it teaches alot in a small time. Tutoring programs such as Sylvan are also helpful if you have the resources. If you could tell me the ages and severity of the reading deficit, I could be more helpful.
Both my daughter and I are dyslexic, and we both have dyscalculia (maths).
My daughter and I found the following very helpful.
Keep a dictionary (children’s) on hand to check words that we don’t know or new words, and write them down in a note book to help remember them.
Print off a copy of the most common spelling mistakes, and frequently confused words (which get me all the time).
Spelling rules such as I before E except after C (I only learnt this a few years ago).
Homophones is handy too, as it is not unusual to confuse similar sounding words such weather/ whether. I would laminate them and keep a copy on the fridge, and give a copy to each daughter.
For reading try different coloured overlays, to see if it make reading simpler. My daughter has Irlens lenses which we noticed made a huge difference.
Learn the letters of the alphabet using bright coloured magnetic letters, and learn their placement in the alphabet, and their sounds and practice spelling basic words.
Teacher support
Teachers to write each paragraph in different colours, so students can keep track of were they are if copying from the board. (some teachers were more than pleased to do this, other not so).
For the older student, same as the above and with the following;
Class handouts to be on coloured paper, for my daughter and I its a cream or buff colour (you will have to experiment with colours).
Where possible use a computer to do assignments etc, ensuring the use of spell check to keep spelling mistakes in check.
When given an assignment start them as soon as possible, so you do a small bit each day, rather than leave it until the last minute.
I hope the information I have given will help, the last link gives you and others what a dyslexic sees when reading (I see the rivers, halo, blurry and swirl but it depends on how tired I am as to which I see).