In the world of education, information is power. This is particularly true if your child has a unique learning challenge, such as dyslexia. If you are homeschooling a child with dyslexia, whether it is because of dyslexia itself or another reason, you know the responsibility it involves and the challenges you face every day.
While students with dyslexia have strengths like any other student, they may have some difficulty in understanding and/or retaining the information they need to learn. This may be most evident in subjects such as Phonics and Reading, Spelling, Writing, and Math.
The good news, however, is that the one-on-one learning environment that homeschool provides gives you complete control over how your child is taught and the individualized attention that is so beneficial. You know your child best and are able to customize every aspect of their education, from curriculum to teaching style to materials used.
If you are just beginning your homeschooling journey, searching online for topics such as these will give you a good place to start:
How to Begin Homeschooling a Dyslexic Student
Best Homeschool Curriculum for a Student with Dyslexia
Teaching (Reading/Grammar/Writing/Math) to a Dyslexic Student
First Steps to Take to Begin Homeschooling a Student with Dyslexia
When you’re ready, here are some first steps to take to get you off to a great start:
~If possible, have your child evaluated by a specialist to get a clear picture of his/her strengths and weaknesses.
~Check for resources that may be available to you. Depending on where you live, you may qualify for access to special services.
~Be sure to comply with all homeschool regulations for your state/county.
~Choose a curriculum that is a good fit for your child.
~Begin your homeschool adventure!
Reading
It’s helpful to think outside the box here, since traditional reading methods may not work as well for your child as they do for others. Consider your child’s specific strengths and choose a curriculum that will best complement those strengths.
Writing
When teaching writing to your child, make the most of any learning tools or technology available to you. Becoming familiar with any and all resources can further help to customize and enhance your curriculum.
Grammar
Learning the finer points of grammar can be a difficult task for anyone, let alone a child with specific learning challenges. It’s important to look for teaching tools specifically focused on parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, etc. that will also engage your child enough to make learning fun.
Math
Reading and writing are the subjects that most often come to mind when considering a dyslexic student, but math can also be a challenge as well. Here, again, is where curriculum choice is so important. A program geared toward the strengths of your child will greatly improve his/her chances for success in math.
Dyslexia is a complex learning challenge that varies from person to person. As such, there is no single best method or curriculum to teach every dyslexic student. Tuning in to your child’s strengths and weaknesses, personal preferences and learning style will help you to be able to customize their homeschool experience to achieve the best possible results. Making use of current technology as well as other methods that you, as a parent, are comfortable with can provide a variety of activities to engage and stimulate your child to learn and grow and find personal success as a homeschool student.
