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A Simple Teaching Guide for Dyslexia

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Dyslexia is the most common form of learning difficulty

Children with dyslexia are taught in schools all over the world. The teaching methods and strategies used to support them can be very different from those used to teach non-dyslexic students. Most teaching procedures focus on increasing student comprehension and reading skills, enabling them to keep up with their peers and to learn comprehension strategies that will help them build up their own resilience and independence. Teaching children with dyslexia requires special teachers who can understand the best way to support their learning, as well as being able to identify possible cases of dyslexia in the classroom.

Teaching dyslexic children means supporting them with how to read, how to understand written information, and how to comprehend different types of literature by reading it through themselves. The main challenge when teaching children with dyslexia is helping them to read fluently. Dyslexic students can learn how to recognize words by sight or sound, but a common problem can be identifying sentences and paragraphs. Similarly, when teaching dyslexic students reading comprehension, students can find it very difficult to interpret what he or she is reading.

An essential teaching strategy to support dyslexic children is to ensure that the students fully understand the underlying concepts that will be present throughout the study of a particular topic. For example, when learning mathematics, children with dyslexia must not only be helped to get to grips with the main math facts of the day, but also be prepared to understand abstract thinking procedures, such as finding an area through multiplication or working backwards from a problem's end result. This two-pronged technique can also be used by teachers to help many other types of learners, including those with ADHD, Asperger's and Cerebral Palsy.

But what exactly is a learning difficulty?

A learning difficulty refers to 'a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive, process and send information'. In other words, it is an umbrella term used to describe any mental or physical problem that interferes with the acquisition and use of knowledge.

It is important for teachers to evaluate all students' progress in order to be aware of how each child's work has developed over time. They must also monitor each child's individual progress against their own personal standard growth rate.

Unfortunately, dyslexia still often remains undiagnosed in schools, and even when a child is diagnosed, their teachers can have a tough time supporting them because of the extra resources and planning time required. However, being aware of the effects dyslexia has on the brain can help teachers recognize this condition more easily and give them greater inspiration about how they could make a lesson more accessible and engaging for dyslexic pupils. The following are just some of the symptoms associated with dyslexia:

  • Difficulty identifying symbols that represent words
  • Confusion when writing letters or numbers
  • An inability to spell correctly
  • Reading slowly
  • Sensitivity to bright lights as well as loud noises

How can I make an impact?

According to the National Centre for Learning Disabilities, 1 out of 6 children have a learning difficulty that affects their ability to understand and retain knowledge. To help make a difference, you should consider starting a career in special education today. You could be that one inspirational person to help a dyslexic student reach their full potential and change the world. A teaching degree is not required for teaching special education, but can be very helpful both in terms of your professional development and in opening up more opportunities as you progress through your career. To find out what types of teaching experience you will need to get hired at a school in your area, please check out our latest roles in SEN.

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