How Do I Help My Dyslexic Child Learn to Read?

How do I teach my dyslexic child to read? Is it even possible? Yes, it is!

There is a myth suggesting children with dyslexia are incapable of reading. It is true that some traditional methods of teaching reading might not work for dyslexic learners, which likely contributes to the myth that they cannot learn, but with the right reading program, you can help your child reach his full potential.

What Is Dyslexia?

Let’s start by looking at what dyslexia is. Understanding what causes challenges with processing language is a big clue to what dyslexic children need to learn how to read. Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by difficulties with decoding words, reading comprehension, and spelling. The International Dyslexia Association defines it as “a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” (Dyslexiaida.org, 2002)¹

Essentially, dyslexia is a miswiring of the neurons in the brain that are responsible for carrying signals between the regions of the brain and connecting letters to their sounds. This affects a child’s ability to process groups of letters into words. For an in-depth understanding of dyslexia and the brain, A Parent’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Dyslexia will give you an accessible and thorough explanation. A specific teaching approach can help form new neural connections, which enable a child to decode words easily. We’ll talk about that in a moment.

When a child has dyslexia, they struggle to remember that the letter “s,” for example, makes the “ssssss” sound. With dyslexia, letters are just shapes with no meaning attached, which impedes the ability to attach a sound to that shape. A student’s ability to quickly recall each letter’s sound, sound out words, and read fluently is impaired.

The effects of dyslexia vary widely, so the impact on overall learning can be different from person to person. Some of the more common areas affected are:

• Word recognition
• Expressing their thoughts clearly
• Fluency in reading and comprehension
• Spelling – missing letters, putting them in the wrong order, or adding unnecessary letters.
• Writing – struggles to form letters, letter sizes are inconsistent, writes letters in the wrong direction, starting at the bottom of a “g,” for example.

For a more in-depth look at dyslexia and its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments, check out this article on What is Dyslexia.

What are the Signs of Dyslexia?

You might suspect dyslexia if your child has any of the following signs that persist after months of consistent, structured reading instruction:

• Unable to recognize letters or their sounds
• Difficulties in learning nursery rhymes
• Transposing, adding, or omitting letter sounds when reading
• Difficulties with pattern recognition or sequencing (such as keeping days of the week in the correct order)

We recommend this free download for a complete checklist of the symptoms of dyslexia.

Why Traditional Reading Methods Might Not Work for Dyslexic Learners?

Remember that earlier in this article, we said understanding dyslexia helps us know how to teach reading to a dyslexic student. It is not with traditional approaches. Teaching dyslexic children to read requires an educational approach that allows the brain to build new wiring connections to compensate for the miswiring that creates dyslexia problems.

Traditional reading instruction often involves learning many sight words and memorizing word lists. If it does include phonics, traditional programs rarely provide higher-level phonics instruction. They also don’t include multisensory, individualized, or explicit lessons, sequential and incremental instruction, or cumulative review, all of which must be present to enable the brain rewiring needed for dyslexic students.

These are seven critical features of the Orton-Gillingham Approach that make it so effective for teaching dyslexic learners:

1. Multisensory

   

   Multisensory instruction that encompasses all three channels of learning: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic.

2. Sequential

   

   Sequential, intentional, logical lessons allow children to connect what they already know with the new information.

3. Incremental

   

   Incremental, step-by-step mastery of each lesson so there are no gaps in learning.

4. Cumulative

   

   Cumulative and reinforced learning means that everything the student mastered is reviewed regularly.

5. Individualized

   

   Individualized instruction allows you to move at your child’s pace, as fast or as slow as necessary to help them grasp the material.

6. Based on Phonograms

   

   Phonograms that also teach the rules and patterns of how most words are spelled.

7. Explicit

   

   Explicit lessons that assume nothing. Lessons give students clear instructions explaining what they are learning and why.

Learn more about the Orton-Gillingham Approach and receive a free ebook that explains how the OG Approach works with all learners.

Both All About Reading and All About Spelling are complete phonics programs that cover all seven essential features of the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

8 Tips for Teaching Kids With Dyslexia to Read

1. Start with a reading program specifically designed for students with dyslexia. While it’s tempting to try whatever reading program your friends use, children with dyslexia need you to plant the right seeds by following the teaching method geared toward their learning style. Starting with the right program reduces the frustrations and failures contributing to low self-worth.

2. Use a spelling program incorporating the same concepts as the reading program. For younger children, you can start All About Spelling after they complete All About Reading Level 1. Older children who have already experienced some struggles with reading should start All About Spelling lessons about one-third of the way through All About Reading to provide additional practice with the new concepts they are learning.
3. Use a multisensory approach. Programs like All About Reading include color-coded letter tiles so children can build words kinesthetically, handling the tiles, and visually seeing the letters come together to form words. Then, they say the words aloud to engage auditory channels. All About Reading also includes flashcards to look at and review while saying the words.
4. Teach concepts slowly and incrementally. Master each concept one at a time before moving on. This approach keeps the student from falling behind and getting frustrated.
5. Do daily, cumulative reviews of material already learned. The key to success is regular review to reinforce the learning and help the information move from short-term to long-term memory. Is memory work hard for your child? Here’s a free ebook with tips to help your child’s memory.
6. Use short, consistent lessons. Shorter lessons are less taxing. You avoid frustration and burnout by keeping learning time to an age-appropriate length. Doing 20 minutes daily is more effective for comprehension and retention than longer lessons done irregularly. Here are some guidelines to help you decide how much time you should spend on reading.

7. Focus on a sequential, step-by-step process that doesn’t assume anything, leaving no gaps in the material. Plan lessons to build on the lesson before it and intentionally structure them to ensure there are no gaps that require the student to make intuitive leaps in learning. Fortunately, All About Reading has done all the planning for you.
8. Be an encourager. One of the primary reasons children with dyslexia struggle is discouragement. With your encouragement and understanding, your child will believe they have what it takes to learn. Believing you can do something makes learning easier. There is a unique relationship when the parent is also the teacher. Here is a helpful article on ways you can be the teacher your child needs.

What Reading Programs are Best for Dyslexia?

First, be sure to use an Orton-Gillingham-based program like All About Reading. The Orton-Gillingham Approach has successfully helped students with dyslexia and other reading challenges for over 80 years. An OG program makes learning to read easier with instruction that is multisensory, sequential, incremental, cumulative, individualized, based on phonograms, and explicit. Students with dyslexia need lots of academic and emotional support. Although kids with dyslexia are often very smart, they may need positive encouragement to persevere with reading and spelling.

Our lightly scripted reading and spelling programs guide you every step of the way, with no special training required. We teach the phonics, rules, and strategies your student needs to become a proficient reader and speller for life. Our color-coded letter tiles and hands-on activities provide instruction through sight, sound, and touch logically and incrementally. Explicit, step-by-step lessons are customizable, with lots of review to help learning stick.

Unsure where to start? Use our placement tests so you get the right program the first time.

All About Reading Placement Test

All About Spelling Placement Test.