“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn”.
On a general note, it is difficult for most parents and teachers to figure out the right learning style and pattern for their children. The situation gets even more complex if children have learning challenges like dyslexia.* Children with such learning challenges struggle with coping up with their peers. Most often, these go undiagnosed, and the students are branded as lazy or incapable. The smallest bit of help you offer could be what changes the students’ whole life. So, let us look at how some of these learning challenges can be overcome.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning challenge that affects one’s ability to read, write or speak due to the parts of the brain that process language not functioning properly. Such people find it hard to identify and connect letters and words to how they sound. Hence, it is also called a reading disability.
Dyslexia is linked with genes that affect the brain’s ability to process speech. So, if a person has a family history of dyslexia, there is more chance for them to have it. Also, certain factors like premature birth, exposure to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or even infection during pregnancy can be risk factors that might cause a change in brain chemistry for the children.
Symptoms:
For different people, the effects may vary. You need to get a consultation with a child health specialist to get it diagnosed. Some factors indicate the possibility of these challenges. You can look out for them and schedule a consultation if you think your child exhibits such symptoms.
- Being late to speak and learning new words can be an early indicator of children having dyslexia or other learning challenges.
- Even after reaching a certain age, the child fails to properly form words and even mix up how they sound.
- Reading well below the expected level for their age
- Spending a lot longer than their peers to complete tasks related to reading or writing
- Shows dislike to reading activities or even possible aversion to it.
- Difficulty with math and often seems to mix up the numbers.
Even if the child exhibits all these symptoms, it might not be that they are suffering from a learning challenge. So, don’t decide that a child has dyslexia due to any of the above-mentioned symptoms alone. It requires an expert diagnosis to confirm the same.
How can you help them learn?
Dyslexia isn’t something that can be cured. But, the sooner they are diagnosed and offered coping mechanisms, the better they will fare.
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Talk to the children and their family
The first thing you need to do is to try and understand the child’s circumstances and whether they or their family is aware of such a condition. If you think a student might have a learning challenge, ask their parents to get a consultation with an expert. Some parents might find it offensive to hear that their children might have a learning challenge and will ignore your suggestion. It is the main reason many children go undiagnosed.
If they are aware of the child’s condition, talk to them and the child to see how much the degree of the effects are. Understand what they struggle with and think of strategies to help them cope.
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Targeted educational methods
There are different targeted educational methods and techniques proven to help children with dyslexia learn and cope better. You can research them and form a teaching plan that incorporates such methods.
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Make use of technology
You can use recordings to help them learn instead of forcing them to learn by reading. There is also text-to-speech functionality in most devices these days. It can be a great boon to students with reading problems. Also, there are apps and online resources that help children with such challenges to practice learning and identifying the sounds of letters and words.
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Emotional and mental support
Teaching children with dyslexia can be hard, but it is even harder for the person with the learning challenge. To them, no matter how much they work hard, it would seem that there is no result for them to show. They will often fall into despair. Children with learning challenges are more prone to depression and stress. So, be patient with them and offer them the support they need. You can’t expect all the children to be fast learners or perform similarly. Give them enough time and space so they can learn at a pace comfortable for them.
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Make use of practical examples and experiments
Children with dyslexia only have problems processing language. If you can get them to learn by showing by other means such as making use of multi-sensory learning methods, they will fare a lot better. Use more visual and audio aids as part of your teaching module. You can also include practical examples, experiments, and activities to help them.
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Keep track of progress
Help the children review and assess their progress and see where they are lacking. Help them take measures to make up for it. Encourage them to keep a journal. It can help them get more practice with writing and also help track their progress.
We hope this article helped you understand more about dyslexia and the means through which you can help children suffering from it and cope up with it in an effective manner. We wish you and your students all the best! 🙂
*88tuition does not believe in labelling a child, hence we respect that children may need different teaching methods to overcome their different learning challenges.
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
Exam Smart Tip #2 – How to avoid carelessness?
Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
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