Do you have a dyslexic child? If the answer is yes, then you know the challenge that comes with caring for them and educating them as well. This is why you would have to employ certain techniques to make sure that the child may be able to read as well as can be expected from children with such conditions.
Fortunately for you, here are some useful tips on how to teach a dyslexic child to read sight words. However, before we go any further let us first define what dyslexia is so that we can understand why we need to learn new ways of teaching our dyslexic children have to read.
Dyslexia refers to a general term that denotes a disorder when it comes to reading letters and words thoroughly. Children with dyslexia often have difficulty interpreting the words that they see which can sometimes lead to miscommunication problems especially to those who are not aware of the child’s condition.
To combat this problem, you have to educate your child using different techniques as much as possible. Take needs that can make it easier for him to understand what he is reading and how to pronounce it correctly.
In answer to this predicament, we have prepared some tips on how to teach a dyslexic child to read properly. Here are some of those tips as follows:
7 Tips to Teach a Dyslexic Child to Read
1. Spare No Detail
First, you have to go into full detail when telling a story or reading. A child that has dyslexia sometimes has difficulty understanding individual words and concepts. Therefore, when discussing this story, make sure to describe every single detail that you can about the main character.
For example, if she has red hair, try to be as descriptive as possible regarding the red hair. This will teach your child to understand what the word red means. Once he understands the meaning of the word, you will eventually be able to learn about it much more easily.
2. Take Note of Your Pronunciation
If you’re going to teach him or her how to spell, make sure that you read the word or letter that you are teaching out loud while showing the letter to him. After this, you can teach him the proper pronunciation of the word as well.
Make sure that he or she sees how you pronounce the word or letter that he sees on the page. This way, he will be able to associate the pronunciation with the letter or word that you are trying to teach him or her.
3. Use Mnemonics
Another thing that you can do to teach a dyslexic child how to read is to make sure that you create a memory aid. These are what you call mnemonics. It will help the child remember essential words he may find challenging to understand at first.
Try to find any object that you can attach to the word for your child to remember. Sometimes, it would also help to compose a song about the word you’re trying to teach. Either way, you should find a way to make it easier for the job to remember the words as soon as possible.
4. Be Creative
Dyslexic kids will be able to remember the words more easily if they can associate it with a colorful picture or someone with an even brighter personality. You can do this by following the steps below:
You can write a practice word down on an index card. After this, you can ask your child to draw on it. Use this particular drawing to introduce the word to the child. You can read it out loud so that he or she could see and hear how you pronounce the word correctly.
As soon as she can read it on her own, try using another index card with the single word on it.
You can also use different colors when introducing words to children. That way, they will be able to associate color with certain words.
This goes into the next tip which is to employ the different kinds of senses that the human body has.
5. Utilize the Different Senses
According to research, children with dyslexia can learn faster if they can use different senses while learning. You can use pop up letters and allow your child to touch them while teaching them how to read.
By doing this, you will teach a child how the different corners of the letter feel. Once he or she remembers how it feels to touch the letters, she will then be able to write it down without difficulty. Eventually, the child will also be able to say it out loud.
Just make sure to show your face when you are trying to pronounce the word so that he can understand what he is trying to say. This way, he will be able to hear you say the words while seeing your lips move.
6. Memorize the Word
Ask the child to look at the word intently. Now, you can easily make him remember the words in his mind. Tell your child not to forget the word in his head. After this, you can take the card away.
Now, you can ask your child what letters she would see in her mind. Inquire how many letters she sees if she counts. If we’re dealing with a word, you should make the child remember the letters that she indeed saw first in the scene.
What are the letters or vowels that he or she sees? If she can visualize the word, she may yield more clues as to how you can help her as a dyslexic child.
You can also ask your child to write the words themselves. Of course, this comes after rigorous hours of training on how to read and write. Now, this would not be done in just a few days. You ought to be patient enough to wait until things happen for your child.
Make sure to practice some crucial words that you encounter with your child outside the home. This way, he will be able to associate the words that she is required to practice with a tangible memory.
It’s always easy to learn more when you can attach memories to the tangible things that you enjoy doing.
7. Explore Where the Word Came From
Learning more about the history of the word being used would be a great teaching tool for the child. Once they understand the origins of the word, he or she may end up doing more research on his own. If this happens, if he will not only learn about the practice word itself, but also about many other things regarding History and Geography down the line.
Final Words
These are just some of the many ways for you to teach your child how to read if he or she is dyslexic. Always remember that they are not slow learners. These children just have a different way of learning about words.
Using words accompanied by pictures can make it easier for a dyslexic child to read. By keeping this in mind, you will be able to help the child develop down the line.
