Dyslexia is a learning disability among kids. It’s a learning difficulty where kids find problem in understanding speech sounds and relate it accordingly with words. Such kids have normal intelligence but different way of brain functioning because of which they face difficulty in learning. If this problem is analysed before hand, these kids can also read and write properly.
In a classroom there are different types of students, some of them learn fast while others are slow. In such cases, the teacher has to come up with new ideas where both types of kids could benefit from classroom learning. There are teachers who specialise in such cases, but nowadays a general teacher also has to learn different tactics to teach such kids.
As a teacher, how can we help a little to kids who are facing dyslexia?
Students with dyslexia are mostly slow learners as they get confused with speech sounds and relate them to words accordingly. They need individual attention while studying. Extra help and care are needed both in school and at home for such kids to learn.
Start the studies with an activity:
Various things can be taught through different activities. Involve the child with dyslexia in the activity and let them learn while performing the activity. Many a time things which are not understood through reading or through explanation can be understood better through activities.
Show videos of various speech sounds and how they are related to words:
Videos on different speech sounds can help them understand and remember the sound. Sometimes kids don’t learn from normal reading, a video or visual aid can help them to learn the sounds clearly.
Provide them with extra assistance while writing:
As a teacher, we want our students to excel, isn’t it? In a classroom there would be mostly one or two students with dyslexia. Sit with them and read out the spellings of words which you want them to write. Also, keep a check while they are writing to know whether they are writing correctly or not.
Keep away the distracting objects from the class:
Students with dyslexia easily get distracted. Try to keep away from distraction while you teach as it’s very hard to grab their attention. Once they start concentrating, help them understand the concept deeply.
Do not overburden them:
It’s always good to break a single topic into various small ones so that students understanding is clear on it as well as they are not over burdened. The idea is not to finish the syllabus but to make kids understand and grab what we are teaching.
Be their friends:
Kids with dyslexia might find problems socialising or in making friends. Be their friend, talk to them and don’t let them feel that they are alone. Try to make other kids also understand and help them become friends.
Record what you taught in the class:
Recording a class helps us to listen to the same thing again and again. So record your class and give access to the same to your students so that they can listen to it again and again and learn something from the recordings.
Teach four to five words a day:
As we could not overburden kids with dyslexia, it is good to teach them four to five words daily. This will help them to learn as well as they will not be overburdened.
We all know slow and steady wins the race. These kids are slow, but this doesn’t mean that they cannot learn. They will learn but slowly.