Published: April 5, 2023
Dyslexia is a learning disorder affecting a child’s reading, writing, and spelling ability. Children with dyslexia need extra support and attention in their academic pursuits to succeed in school. Tutoring is an excellent way to provide individualized support to children with dyslexia. In this article, we will explore seven ways to effectively tutor kids with dyslexia.
Setting Goals and Building Trust
When tutoring kids with dyslexia, you need to establish goals and build trust. Children with dyslexia may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and discouraged. Therefore, it’s essential to create a safe and supportive learning environment. The tutor should take the time to get to know the child and understand their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Setting achievable goals and celebrating small wins can build the child’s confidence and motivation.
Multisensory Approach
Dyslexic children have difficulty processing information through traditional teaching methods. A multisensory approach engages multiple senses, including sight, sound, touch, and movement. For instance, a tutor can use visual aids, manipulatives, and hands-on activities to teach phonics, spelling, and reading comprehension. A multisensory approach can make learning fun, engaging, and memorable.
Phonemic Awareness Activities
Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in words. Many dyslexic children struggle with phonemic awareness, which can affect their reading and spelling skills. A tutor can use games, songs, and exercises to help the child develop phonemic awareness. For example, a tutor can ask the child to identify words’ beginning, middle, and ending sounds, blend sounds to form words, or segment words into sounds.
Explicit Instruction
Dyslexic children need clear, concise instruction that breaks down complex concepts into manageable steps. A tutor can use explicit instruction to teach phonics rules, decoding strategies, and reading comprehension skills. For instance, a tutor, such as Orton-Gillingham or Wilson Reading System, can use a systematic, structured, and sequential approach to teach phonics.
Reading Fluency Practice
You can also effectively tutor kids with dyslexia by providing reading fluency practice. Dyslexic children often struggle with reading fluency, affecting their comprehension and enjoyment of reading. A tutor can use repeated, timed, and choral reading to improve reading fluency. For example, a tutor can ask the child to read a passage several times, gradually increasing the speed and accuracy. The tutor can also read with the child to provide modelling and support.
Writing Practice
Dyslexic children often struggle with spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. A tutor can use scaffolding, graphic organizers, and sentence frames to support the child’s writing skills. For instance, a tutor can provide a word bank or a picture prompt to help the child generate ideas. The tutor can also model sentence structure and provide feedback on spelling and grammar errors.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology can provide dyslexic children with tools and resources that make learning more accessible and enjoyable. For example, a tutor can use text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, or audiobooks to support reading and writing skills. A tutor can also use apps and games that target specific academic skills, such as spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Dyslexia-Friendly Environment
Lastly, you need to create a dyslexia-friendly environment. Dyslexic children may feel anxious, frustrated, or embarrassed about their learning difficulties. Therefore, creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment that accommodates their needs is essential.
Conclusion
Tutoring kids with dyslexia can be a rewarding and challenging experience. Effective tutoring requires a tailored approach that addresses the child’s unique needs and strengths. With patience, empathy, and creativity, tutors can help dyslexic children achieve their academic potential and thrive in school.
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