Getting a dyslexic to read and write. Good luck! Ideas from a dyslexic teacher.
As a parent, you might have asked yourself: How can I help my child learn to read? What’s the best way to teach spelling? How can I get them to do their homework? I’ve seen countless posts online from parents seeking answers to these questions. If you're struggling, you're not alone—this post is for you.
I want to share what helped me as a child and what I’ve found effective in teaching children who face challenges like I did in school. I hope these tips and personal insights can make the process a bit easier for both you and your child.
How Can I Help My Child to Read?
What Didn't Work for Me
When I was a child, reading just didn’t click for me. No matter how many times someone explained the ‘ai’ sound, it never stuck. I’d forget it the moment I walked out of the classroom. I remember sitting in support classes, frustrated and anxious. I was constantly told to “keep trying,” but nothing seemed to work.
Flashcards and workbook drills felt like a waste of time. I was nervous, and the more I struggled, the worse I felt about myself.
What Might Have Worked for Me
I’ve always been energetic and loved collaborating. If learning had been more active—more hands-on, more engaging—I think I would have had a much easier time. If I had fun activities that let me move around, compete with myself or others, it might have made a huge difference.
For example, if I could have learned words through games like hide-and-seek, darts, or scavenger hunts, I think it would have been a game changer. Making the learning process physical—by finding letters, shooting targets, or writing words after playing active games—might have helped me focus that energy in a productive way.
Here’s an idea: Take the word ‘because’. You could:
Hide the letters around the room and have your child find them.
Create a dartboard game where you throw darts at the letters in the correct order.
Use large paper to paint the letters.
Arrange magnetic letters to spell out the word.
Write the word down while saying a fun phrase like “Big elephants can always understand small elephants.”
Here Are My Ideas to Help Your Child Read:
The key concepts to keep in mind are:
Little steps
Make it a game
Keep it fun!
Reading & Dice:
Prepare a wipe dice with words that you’ll find in the book you're reading. Depending on the child’s level, you can either read together or take turns. Roll the dice before or after reading to find the words on the page. Turn it into a game where you can create a tally of how many words were on that particular page.
Battleships Reading:
Both parent and child have the same book (or a photocopy/screenshot of a page). Highlight words that the other person has to find. Adjust the difficulty by selecting more or fewer words. For example: “Third line down, four words across—‘the.’”
Orienteering:
Photocopy pages from a book and highlight words you want your child to learn. Hide the pages around the room and give your child a map. They’ll search for the pages, writing down the word they find and where it’s located.
Writing: It’s Impossible!
Writing can feel like an overwhelming task, especially when you’re trying to do everything at once—handwriting, spelling, grammar, and creativity. But writing and handwriting are two separate skills, so it's best to tackle them one at a time.
Start with One Skill at a Time:
Focus on one aspect of writing before moving on to the others. For example, work on handwriting first, without worrying about spelling or structure. Once your child is comfortable with that, you can focus on writing ideas and organizing them.
Writing Can Be Fun with Small Steps:
Writing involves so many skills—generating ideas, organizing thoughts, structuring sentences, and keeping the reader engaged. To make it manageable, break writing into smaller, simpler tasks.
For example, when your child is asked to write a summary of their favorite book, try these options:
Copy the blurb: If your child is practicing handwriting, have them copy the book’s summary and then add one sentence about their favorite part.
Question and Answer: Help structure their writing by asking specific questions about the book—like character descriptions or plot details—and have them answer.
Discuss the Book First: Before writing, talk about the book so they can use the vocabulary you’ve modeled.
Watch the Film Version: Sometimes watching a movie based on the book can spark ideas and help with vocabulary.
By making reading and writing fun, active, and broken down into small, manageable steps, you can help your child build confidence and skills. Remember, every child learns differently, and finding what works for them is key. It might take some trial and error, but you’re not alone and progress, even small progress, is a win!
