Why It Is Important
There are three simple steps you can take to make a very positive change for your struggling reader. Reading struggles are traumatizing for children. It not only lowers their self esteem but subjects them to embarrassment and ridicule at school. I know this first hand. My dad was dyslexic, I was, and my son was. I remember the embarrassment of being called on to read in class. I haven't forgotten the cold sweats and hot face while feeling everyone was snickering behind my back. I stumbled through reading words incorrectly and losing my place over and over again. However, it doesn't have to be like this. There are three things I have learned through experience and 5 years of research that ended in my son reversing his dyslexia.
1. No Aloud Reading in Class
This is a big one, nor reading in front of other children until they have done enough intervention exercises to read somewhat smoothly. Children are extremely sensitive to what others think of them, especially struggling readers. They are extremely intuitive. They are so fearful about public reading that it actually kicks their 'fight-or-flight' response into high gear. This is an uncontrollable reaction of the lower part of the brain to extreme fear. It gives them the cold sweats and drains the blood from their head and sends it out to their extremities. Furthermore, it also disengages parts of the brain used for reading while in this state. Talk about agony! You have the right as a parent to ask teachers for accommodations and this is one of the best to ask for.
2. Spend more time doing reading intervention activities than reading
Make your at-home time count. I spoke to a neurologist who specializes in learning disabilities. He recommended splitting up whatever time you have with them into 80/20. This is 80% of the time on intervention and 20% of the time working on phonics and reading. This will feel opposite to your plan, but the interventions will actually stimulate the parts of the brain for reading to higher function. As their word recognition and phonics area connects better, reading will automatically come easier. Learn more of that on our Free Training Videos.
3. Require less work.
Ask your child's teacher to reduce the amount of work expected, such as shorter reading requirements and half the problems on worksheets. Struggling readers should not be expected to do the amount of assignments typical readers do. They work twice as long and ten times harder to get the same assignments completed. Completing assignments quicker will give them a sense of accomplishment and give you more time in the evening to spend on interventions instead of homework.
How Will The Teacher Feel About This?
I have found teachers to be extremely willing to help. They want to see these kids succeed too. Furthermore, they are usually the first to see that the child is not learning in the same way the other children are. In our district, you don't need an official diagnosis of Dyslexia to get reading accommodations such as these. But if your school requires it, learn about official dyslexia testing.
Summary
Get these kids feeling better about themselves and stop the trauma. They do not have to be humiliated in class. Moreover, they do not have to have endless frustrating hours of homework and phonics to succeed. They are brilliant kids and learn differently. Our Free Video series has a whole video on the difference in how they read. Check it out.