How to Teach Dyslexia Reading and Worksheets

Cecile Faubert - March 7, 2022 - Reading Worksheet

Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading, writing, or spelling. People with dyslexia have difficulty identifying spoken words and converting them into letters or sentences.

Dyslexia is a neurological disorder in the part of the brain that processes language. This condition can be experienced by children or adults. Although dyslexia causes learning difficulties, this disease does not affect the level of intelligence of the sufferer.

How to Teach Dyslexic Children to Learn to Read and Write

Before teaching a dyslexic child to learn to read and write, you need to find out as much as you can about dyslexia to see what you can do to help your child. However, always make sure that the information you get comes from a trusted source, such as a pediatrician or child psychologist.

Here’s how to teach a dyslexic child to learn to read and write effectively:

1. Exercise Regularly

Invite children to do reading and writing exercises regularly. Things that are often done will usually turn into habits, or in a proverb called “can because you get used to it”. However, do not pressure or force them because it will make children lazy to learn. Give support, patience, and understanding to children so that they feel comfortable in learning.

2. Make Lessons More Interesting

Children with dyslexia have difficulty understanding words, especially if what they are trying to read is a book with long text. Therefore, in facilitating the learning process, you should teach how to read and write more interestingly. Use a variety of media, such as sound, images, videos, or animations to invite children to recognize letters, syllables, numbers, spelling, reading, and writing.

In addition, you can also invite your child to read their favorite book or illustrated comics to make them interested in reading. Next, you can ask him to retell or write the words in the book at random to practice his skills.

3. Sing a Song and Paste the Alphabet Number Poster

Dyslexic children can have difficulty pronouncing the alphabet. By often singing alphabet songs, especially using videos that also show the shape of the alphabet, it can help children to easily remember the shape of the alphabet and its sequence. You can also post letters and numbers posters in your child’s room so that they always see the posters.

4. Give Children Time to Rest

Although you must be firm in teaching your child to learn and read, you must also give your child time to rest. Don’t make your child feel different so you have to keep learning. It would be better if after learning to read and write, you give your child time to rest. In addition, you can also give him their favorite food or invite them to play so they feel happy and excited to learn again.

5. Writing in the Sand

Not only helping dyslexic children to read and write fluently but writing in the sand can also make children feel happy because they think of it as something unique. The method is quite easy, namely, flattening the sand on a table or tray. Then, ask the child to write a word using their fingers. When your child writes, tell him to name each letter he wrote. Then, after the child has finished writing, encourage the child to read the entire word aloud.

6. Using Folded Paper

Cut the folded paper, then shape the paper into various letters. When it has formed into sharing letters, ask the child to name the letters you are holding or the words you are compiling. In addition, invite them to compose a word that you mention. This can help him to remember letters and read them fluently.

7. Using Letter Blocks

Letter blocks can help children recognize letters or arrange letters into a word. Instead, block letters have different colors to indicate which letters are vowels and which are consonants. When the child is composing words, ask them to spell the word and say it in full when it is done.

8. Reading Together

You can read with your child. When you read a book, your child can follow it. Then, ask the child to underline the words they don’t know how to read so that they can be taught later. This can make it easier for children to learn.

9. Using Ice Cream Sticks

You can read a storybook with your child, and if you have, ask him to pick up colorful ice cream sticks that have questions about the story. Children will also practice reading and answering questions.

10. Read, Arrange, Write

Use a piece of cardboard, then make three columns consisting of reading, arranging, write. Write one word in the reading column, then read it together with the child. After that, ask the children to arrange words in the stacking column using letter blocks by mentioning the letters. Then, ask him to write the word in the writing column using a marker. When finished, do it repeatedly.

Conclusion

Until now, there is no way to prevent dyslexia. However, people who have a family history of dyslexia are advised to do premarital counseling before planning a pregnancy. The goal is to find out how big the risk of children experiencing dyslexia is. Although dyslexia is classified as an incurable disease, detection, and treatment from an early age are proven to be effective in improving the ability of sufferers to read. The following are examples of dyslexia reading worksheets that you can apply to your child.