Tips For Parents And Families Of Children With Dyslexia

Transcription

Tips for Parents andFamilies of Childrenwith DyslexiaHIDA’sM i s s i o n i s toIncrease awareness of dyslexia in our community, provide supportfor dyslexics, families and educators, promote teacher training, andimprove literacy for struggling readers.Website: www.dyslexia-hawaii.orgEmail: HIDA@dyslexia-hawaii.orgPhone: (808) 538 - 7007Toll Free: 1-866-773-4432To download this document, please visitwww.Dyslexia-Hawaii.org 2010 HIDARev. Dec. 2014

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i a1.Encourage All Kinds of Readinga.Tips for Parents and Familiesof Children with DyslexiaThis is a list of practical tips from HIDA members.Please note that these tips supplement - not replace Structured Literacy instruction and procedures to teachchildren with dyslexia to read. Also, please rememberthe list is an “a la carte” menu – you can pick and choosethings to try. Not every suggestion is necessary orappropriate for every child. HIDA hopes that sharingideas will help parents and teachers assist their childrenwith dyslexia.Note: To avoid the awkward “his or her”, the masculineand feminine pronouns have been used interchangeablythroughout this booklet.Every child is different.Explore possibilities.1b.c.2.Encourage the reading of all kinds ofmaterials, including a variety of difficultylevels and topics (e.g., comic books, graphicnovels, subtitles in Japanese cartoons, sportsor car magazines, tabloids, etc.).Choose books for your child to read to herselfthat are below her reading or age level. Thishelps build confidence and allows her toenjoy reading. However, read books to yourchild that are higher than her grade level.Look in the back of the book for thegrade level.Read books by Dr. Seuss. Children withdyslexia have difficulty with rhyming words.Audio Booksa.Encourage your child to listen to audio booksfor pleasure.b.Have your child read along while listening toan audio book.c.Choose audio books for your child that arehigher than his reading level.d.Load audio books on his iPod.e.Listen to audio books together in the car oncommutes and family vacations.f.Have your child listen to audio book versionsof assigned school books during thepreceding summer.g.Join Bookshare at www.bookshare.org (forscanned books-including certain textbooks).h.Join Learning Ally (formerly Recording for theBlind and Dyslexic) at www.learningally.org(for recorded books-including certaintextbooks).2

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o ni.Join the Hawai‘i Library for the Blind andPhysically Handicapped.(402 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815;phone 733-8444), where you can borrowbooks on tape and the required tapeplayers for free.j.Download audio books from the Hawai‘i StatePublic Library at www.hawaii.sdp.sirsi.netk.Download free public domain audio booksfrom the following websites:T i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i aIt is not cheating to usespell check or a calculator4.It is not a really big deal if your child cannot:a.erase pencil markings cleanly and completelyi.www.booksshouldbefree.comb.use scissorsii.www.librophile.comc.color inside the linesiii.www.voicesinthedark.comd.proofread his papers efficientlyiv.www.librivox.orge.spell t college textbooks in accessibleformat through AccessText(www.accesstext.org).Children with dyslexia often have difficulty with these taskswhich, while seemingly important in school, may have farless significance for them in the “real world.” Remember,spelling and good handwriting are not moral virtues.5.It is not cheating to:a.use an electronic dictionaryb.use phonetic dictionaries such as Gabby’sWordspellerReading Tipsc.use a calculatora.Have your child read aloud to herself.d.use spell checkb.Put a ruler or bookmark under text, or use aclear ruler with a “reading window,” to followthe lines of type when reading.e.type papers for your childc.Highlight every other line of text to follow thelines of type when reading.f.ask teachers for written notes and PowerPointpresentations for lectures in advance (tofollow along with the lecture)d.Read aloud to your child and point to thewords as you read to her. Have your childfollow the movement of your finger.g.ask teachers for help (see Annex 1possible strategies)h.use speech-to-text softwaree.Have two copies of the book so you can readside-by-side with your child.3These types of tools and strategies are used by adultsdaily. It often takes children with dyslexia longer tocomplete school assignments. Using such tools and4

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i astrategies can free up time and preserve energy forother substantive aspects of education or enable thechild to pursue activities aligned with his interestsand talents.c.Get your child a laptop or other portabledigital device (e.g., iPad, smart phone) andwork with her to develop a system fororganizing all assignments (keeps everythingin one place).6.Display a laminated picture of how her deskis supposed to look when it is clean andorganized, instead of repeatedly saying“clean your desk.”7.a.Play PIG, HORSE, etc. in basketball.Use words your child has trouble learning.d.b.Play games like Bananagrams (like Scrabblebut done as a team instead of individually)or Hangman.e.Display a laminated picture of a proper tablesetting instead of repeatedly saying “the forkgoes on the left.”c.Play with objects such as clay, Lego, or sandto form new words.f.Give instructions in writing in the form of achecklist.d.Play Jeopardy-like games (usingmultiplication tables, names/capitols ofstates, etc.) or rhyming games on car rides.Start when your child is very young, and hewon’t realize he is studying.e.Make up songs, poems, or dances toremember needed information. Multiplicationtables or addresses can be sung; spelling ofneeded words can be made into a poem;the meaning of Latin roots can be expressedin a dance.g.Teach your child to make step-by-step lists oftasks (e.g., “brush your teeth, feed the dogs,put lunch money in wallet, etc.”; or “checklost & found for P.E. shorts, ask math teacherabout Problem #7,” “sign up for basketball,etc.”). Keep the lists in the same place.h.Teach your child to remind herself aboutthings by promptly leaving herself voicemailsor sending herself emails, and activatingalarms or reminders on a PDA.i.Encourage use of Google Apps since theyare readily accessible from any device withinternet capability. If he loses his phone,computer, iPad etc., just log on to Google andeverything will be right there since it’s “in thecloud.” Google calendar can be “programmed”to send email reminders of calendared events.j.Important: Give your child options and lether decide which systems work best.Play Word Games and ActivitiesGetting Organizeda.Show your child systems to:i.keep track of homework assignments,test and project due dates.ii. file notes, completed assignments, etc.iii.iv.b.quickly distinguish (in her folder)completed homework and othermaterials that have to be turnedin to the teacher.how to use an appointment calendaror day planner.Use colors to organize as much as possible(e.g., colored post-its and folders).58.Textbooksa.Get two sets of textbooks. Leave one set atschool to take to class, and one set at homefor studying and homework. This eliminatesall sorts of “forgetting” problems. Someschools will loan extra books, but all will holdyou responsible for lost or damaged books.6

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o n9.b.Break up textbooks and rebind them bychapters to make them less intimidating.c.Color code textbooks to match notebooksand folders.d.Join Bookshare (www.bookshare.org). (forscanned books-including certain textbooks inconnection with text-to-speech programssuch as Kurzweil or Read & Write Gold).e.Use audio versions of textbooks (see websitefor Learning Ally at www.learningally.org).Homeworka.Purchase an assignment notebook.Your child should write down eachassignment for each class each day.If there is no assignment then he shouldwrite “No Homework.”b.In school find a study buddy. Help eachother by studying together and exchangingclassroom notes with one another.c.Ask the teacher to give assignments inwriting (not to be copied from a chalk/writing board).d.Have your child use his cell phone to take apicture of assignments (written on chalk/writing board).e.Break down long-term projects or lengthyreadings into smaller, moremanageable tasks.f.Have your child repeat the instructions outloud before he begins an assignment.g.If your child has to write an assignment, havehim dictate it to you. Then he can re-copy it.h.If your child has to write an essay and doa related PowerPoint presentation,have him do the PowerPoint first(it can act as an outline for the essay).i.If your child has to write an essay, have himuse a graphic organizer such as Inspiration7T i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i asoftware (www.inspiration.com); it helpsorganize ideas and details, and generatesan outline.j.If your child has problems keeping arithmeticcolumns in a line, use graph paper. Ifgraph paper is not available, turn linedpaper sideways.k.If your child asks how to spell a word, spellit for him. Or get him a phonetic and/orelectronic dictionary.l.For long reading assignments, considerLearning Ally or other audiobook sources,or Bookshare or other scanned bookstogether with text-to-speech software suchas Kurzweil or Read & Write Gold. Even ifyour child uses recordings, make certain hereads along in the text. The next option isfor someone to read to him. The third optionis to take turns reading one paragraph at atime. However, sometimes when studentsread out loud, their energy goes intodecoding the words and very little room is leftfor comprehension. Reading aloud can alsoslow the process down.m.Teach your child that homework is notcomplete until your child puts everything intohis backpack ready for school the nextmorning, and then turns it in to the teacher.10. Computersa.Get your child a laptop or PDA and help hercreate a system for organizing assignments(keeps everything in one place).b.Have your child learn to type at an early age.Be sure he learns full finger typing, nothunt-and-peck. Try computer games for veryyoung children that teach basics of typing—Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.c.Try using larger fonts or increase point sizewhen reading or typing text.8

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nd.If she is interested, encourage her to learna computer language or program such asScratch www.scratch.mit.edu/ (manyindividuals with dyslexia are great at this).11. Foreign Language Requirementsa.Consider Latin - it may be easier for somechildren with dyslexia to learn because manyEnglish words are Latin-based and roots willbe familiar. However, some Latin coursesemphasize the written (rather than spoken)language or focus on vocabulary memorization – this can be very difficult forchildren with dyslexia.b.Consider Italian or Spanish - since theirspelling patterns are more regular andpredictable, they may be easier for somechildren with dyslexia to learn than otherlanguages.c.Hawaiian may also be a good language toconsider because of its limited alphabet andphonetically regular structure.d.Consider American Sign Language – itis often easier for children with dyslexiato learn, and can provide real careeropportunities. However, check into college“entrance” requirements – will they acceptAmerican Sign Language or other creditsinstead of foreign language requirements?e.Consider taking an abbreviated foreignlanguage class during the summer, or askingfor a language waiver in a high school – someprivate schools have granted these.12. Assistive TechnologiesAttend HIDA’s “Amazing Technologies” workshop.Consult these organizations for assistivetechnology information and resources: AssistiveTechnology Resource Centers of Hawai‘i(ATRC; www.atrc.org; 532-7110)9T i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i aCenter on Technology and Disability(www.ctdinstitute.org)a.Kurzweil Education Systemswww.kurzweiledu.com(scaffolded reading, writing, and study skillssolutions for struggling learners, includingtext-to-speech software)b.WYNN Literacy (text-to-speech nal Federation of theBlind Readers(K-Reader Mobile Products)www.knfbreader.com(text-to-speech software loaded into a KNFBReader Camera or compatible cell ech)e.Read & Write Goldwww.readwritegold.com(text-to-speech software)f.Intel Readerwww.intel.com(portable hand-held ch feature; enlarged font)h.Reading Penswww.readingpen.com(portable, text-to speech)i.Iris Pen Scannerwww.irislink.com(portable, hand-held scanner)j.Wizcom Technologieswww.wizcomtech.com(portable, hand-held scanner)k.Dragon Naturally Speakingwww.nuance.com(speech-to-text software)l.IBM ext dictation software)10

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i am.Inspiration softwarewww.inspiration.com(graphic organizer software)h.If reading out loud in front of othershumiliates your child, ask the teacher tosubstitute other tasks.n.LiveScribe Smart Penswww.livescribe.com(note-taking and recording pen)o.Franklin Electronicswww.franklin.com(portable “talking” spelling checkers,dictionaries, thesauruses, translators)i.Keep records of your interactions withteachers and schools, and learn the rulesof the educational system so that you canadvocate for your child.p.Co:Writerwww.donjohnston.com(interprets spelling and grammar mistakesand offers word suggestions)j.Be prepared to have the same conversationsover and over each year, as your child hasnew teachers who need to be educatedabout dyslexia.k.Remember to thank them early and often.q.WordQwww.wordq.com(suggests words to use and provides spokenfeedback to help find mistakes)13. Write and talk to your child’s teachers at thebeginning of each school yeara.Educate them about dyslexia - assume theyknow little or nothing about the subject.b.Enclose the HIDA dyslexia brochure and“Teachers’ Checklist.”c.Invite them to a “dyslexia simulation”(see Item 24).d.Give specific examples of how your child’sdyslexia may affect him in the classroom.(e.g., difficulty copying assignments from theblackboard, reading aloud, taking notes,spelling, calculations without acalculator, etc.)e.Discuss the list of “Things to not say or do” inItem 19.f.Ask them to tell you if your child is havingdifficulty with class work or homework, orwith other students.g.Tell them you will be helping your child bytyping reports, reading out loud to him, etc.1114. Special Procedures to Facilitate Learninga.Advocate for your child, and explain to yourchild what you are saying/doing and WHY, soshe will learn how to advocate for herself.b.Consider asking your child’s teachers andschool for special procedures to facilitate yourchild’s learning. Examples are listed inAnnex 1. Not all of the procedures will beappropriate or available in each instance,and the list is not exhaustive. It is intendedto give parents ideas to discuss with teachersand schools.c.Teach your child to advocate for herself.15. Effective Instruction - Structured LiteracyStructured Literacy (also known as Multisensory StructuredLanguage or MSL) is instruction which is explicit, systematic,cumulative and supported by research. This instruction isevidenced-based and integrates all aspects of literacy listening, speaking, reading, and writing.a.Find schools with structured literacy trainedteachers in early elementary school programs.b.Find public schools with DOE structuredliteracy programs.12

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nc.Consider private structured literacy tutoring.(download list of private, fee-for-servicestructured literacy tutors atwww.dyslexia-hawaii.org)d.While it is preferable to have anotherstructured literacy trained educator workwith your child, if this is not an option (orto supplement the work done by thatperson), consider getting trained instructured literacy strategies to help teachyour child to read, write and spell.16. Have your child assessed by the DOE, apsychologist or private testing/assessmentorganizationa.If your child is assessed as eligible forspecial education services, he may havethe opportunity to participate in a DOEstructured literacy program, or to receivecertain remediation from the DOE.b.If your child has a special education orspecific learning disability assessment, letthe school and teachers know. Even if yourchild attends a private school that maynot be equipped to provide remediation,your child may be entitled to reasonableaccommodations. See Item 15 above forpossible sources of remediation. See Annex1 for possible accommodations. The schoolmay require formal determination of requiredaccommodations from a professional.c.Private school children may qualify for DOEassessment and possibly DOE private schoolspecial education projects. Assessment andparticipation is arranged through the schoolthe child would be attending if he was inpublic school.d.Take advantage of programs (e.g., tutoring,student services, seminars) that are offeredby the DOE.T i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i aCurrently, the DOE assesses for “specific learningdisability,” which includes dyslexia. LDAH, Hawai‘i’sParent Training and Information Center, holds smallgroup sessions and larger educational workshopsto help parents of children with special needs tolearn about their child’s disability, understand lawssupportive to children with disabilities and prepare forIndividualized Education Program (IEP) meetings withthe child’s school under the Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation Improvement Act of 2004. Individualizedassistance for parents is also available by phone,via email or in one-to-one mentoring sessions. Tomeet the most critical needs, LDAH also providescase advocacy. (www.LDAHawaii.org ; 536-9684).18. Speech TherapyIf your child needs speech therapy, apply for anassessment and services from the University of Hawai‘ispeech clinic (free of charge). Other possibilitiesmight include services for very young children(0 – 3 years old) from the Hawai‘i Department ofHealth, DOE special education preschool services,Scottish Rite Preschool for speech disorders, the ElksClub Service project and private speech therapy.19. Things to not say or doa.“This is easy.”b.Put unhappy faces on her paper.c.“Get your act together and learn to do itright.”d.“You’re just not applying yourself.”e.“Try harder.”f.“You knew it yesterday.”g.Humiliate her in front of the entire class.h.Say in front of the entire class that “everyoneis dismissed except for .”20. Transitions17. Take a workshop from Learning DisabilitiesAssociation of Hawai’i13a.Plan for transitions (especially for entry intomiddle school, high school or college).14

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nb.If needed, take off the first week of eachschool year to help your child transition tohis classes.c.Growth spurts, hormonal and other changescan create temporary “set-backs” in thingslike organizational skills. Take a deep breathand start again – your child will get backon track.Encourage the reading of allkinds of materials.21. Read books recommended by theInternational Dyslexia Association(www.interdys.org) includingPROUST AND THE SQUIDBY MARYANNE WOLFOVERCOMING DYSLEXIABY SALLY SHAYWITZMany of the books listed in RecommendedReading for Parents may be borrowed from theHIDA library.22. Check out these websites with informationon dyslexia, learning disabilities ingeneral, etc.T i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i ve effort between PBS and WGBHEducation Foundation, presenting someof Mel Levine’s work in ways easy tocomprehend)e.www.allkindsofminds.org(Mel Levine’s website on understandinglearning problems and identifying sources/(Communication and Assistive Technology forPeople with Disabilities including iPad appsfor learners with dyslexia)g.www.lincs.ed.gov(Literacy Information and CommunicationCenter is a national dissemination andprofessional development system, providinginformation on literacy research, practice,and resources.)h.www.cec.sped.org(Council for Exceptional Children: SpecialEducation (generic) website)i.www.childrenofthecode.org(Website addressing “the code and thechallenge of learning to read”)23. Download Free IDA Publications for Families andTeachers at www.interdys.org and share withyour child’s teachers and other family members.a.IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every FamilyShould Knowa.www.interdys.org(International Dyslexia Association)b.Dyslexia in the Classroom: What EveryTeacher Needs to Knowb.www.ldonline.org(“All-around” website sponsored by WETA(public broadcasting), Washington, D.C., inassociation with the Coordinated Campaignfor Learning Disabilities)c.Knowledge and Practice Standards forTeachers of Readingc.www.NCLD.org(National Center for Learning Disabilities)24. Consider attending conferences/symposiato listen to experts and learn new ideas/cutting edge techniquesa.15HIDA professional development conferences16

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i ab.International Dyslexia Association annualconference at www.interdys.org30. Identify famous people with dyslexia;Expose your child to role modelsc.Brain and Learning Conference atwww.edupr.comAlbert EinsteinThomas EdisonLeonardo da VinciAndy WarholCharles SchwabJames Earl JonesBruce JennerPablo PicassoGreg LouganisMagic JohnsonJackie StewartWill SmithErin BrockovichJay LenoHenry FordSalma HayekAviRichard Branson25. Dyslexia simulationsa.Attend HIDA’s Dyslexia Simulations Workshop.With more insight into the challenges yourchild faces, you may be better able to assisther in finding “work-arounds” for her difficulties.b.See the simulation located atwww.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodmindsWhoopi Goldberg Agatha ChristieOrlando BloomDanny GloverJewelHenry WinklerGeorge S. Patton Ansel Adams26. Watch the film, JOURNEY INTO DYSLEXIA(HBO Presentation)27. Watch EMBRACING DYSLEXIA Directed byLuis Macias(www.embracingdyslexia.com)Robert KennedyAlexander Graham BellTerry BradshawDavid Murdock(www.dislecksiathemovie.com)29. Join or form a parent support group toencourage each other, and share informationand experiencesa.Create a blogb.Join LinkedIn, subscribe to groups such asIDA, LDOnline, and post discussion questionsor comments.c.Join Twitter and follow tweets fromprofessionals in the field such as Lou Salzaof Lawrence School and Carolyn Cowen(educator and social entrepeneur), etc.(They are prolific readers and share a lotof resources).17John LennonBella Thorne31. Focus on your child’s social-emotional healtha.28. Watch the film, DISLECKSIA: THE MOVIEDirected by Harvey Hubbell VDwight D.EisenhowerTake a “mental health day”. Kick back andhave fun with your child after a difficult partof the quarter or term.b.Give your child time, every day, to dowhatever he does best - running, skating,drawing, singing, etc. Don’t prohibit yourchild from doing a fun activity as punishmentfor poor academic success. Also provide timeand opportunity to explore and pursuepassions and interests as a necessarycounterbalance to academic challenges. Itis in these endeavors that effort pays offwhereas such may not always be the casein the classroom.c.Encourage your child to keep private journals– to express herself without being graded orjudged. If your child dislikes writing, shecould record a journal orally.d.Look for the gifts in your child – his dyslexiais “a weakness in a sea of strengths.”18

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o ne.Don’t fixate on fears of your child being“labeled” as dyslexic. It is often a great relieffor a child to finally have a name for theirsituation, and to realize it is shared withmany other people.f.Say “I love you” every day - Often childrenwith dyslexia are singled out daily. Many arelaughed at for making mistakes or being“stupid.” Those three words of comfort shouldcome from those who love themunconditionally.g.Get SAM App to help your child understandand manage their anxiety at:www.sam-app.org.ukh.Do not allow your child to be defined byhis diagnosis.i.If you embrace his learning difference,he will too. Kids take their lead fromtheir parents.j.Self-acceptance is critical to self-awareness,self-advocacy and ultimately, resilience.Parents can do a lot to inoculate their kidsagainst the potential negative impactresulting from ignorance.k.Read This: www.ldsuccess.org/parent guideT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i a32. Thoughts for Parentsa.Trust your instincts – you know yourchild best.b.Just because a student qualifies for anaccommodation doesn’t mean that sheknows how to use it. And even if sheknows how to use it, it doesn’t meanthat she will. This is why self-acceptanceand having other accomplishments areso important!c.Get over it - it’s about them, not you.33. Hawai‘i Branch of the International DyslexiaAssociationa.Website: www.dyslexia-hawaii.orgEmail: hida@dyslexia-hawaii.orgPhone: (808) 538-7007Toll Free (neighbor islands): 1-866-773-4432b.Get a free copy of A Resource Guide aboutDyslexia for People in Hawai‘i written byKathy Ferguson, Ph.D.c.Search and visit “Hawai‘i Dyslexia Facebook”.d.Join the discussion on Twitter(@HawaiiDyslexia).e.Join us at HIDA. We can all share ideas,insights and hope, and work together toimprove education and services for children,youth and adults with dyslexia.Dyslexia is “a weakness ina sea of strengths.”1920

H awa i ’ i B r a n c h o f t h e I n t e r n at i o n a l Dy s l e x i a A s s o c i at i o nT i p s f o r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l i e s o f Ch i l d r e n w i t h D y s l e x i aThings you may want to discuss withyour child’s teachers or school:1.Allow use of a pocket calculator to assist withbasic calculations as your child learns higher levelmath concepts.2.Allow your child to count on fingers while doingmath and or sub vocalize while reading.3.Partial credit if your child’s mathematicalprocedures were correct, but the answer wasincorrect due to errors in computations.4.Do not require them to always show their work.5.Read word problems aloud.6.Minimize drill, repetition and rote memorization.7.Minimize timed tests.8.Give your child advance notice so that he canpractice at home or after school before beingcalled on to read aloud in class; or not requiringyour child to read aloud.9.Shorten assignments to focus on mastery ofkey concepts.10. Shorten spelling tests to focus on mastering themost functional words.11. Provide alternatives for written assignments(posters, oral/taped or video presentations,projects, collages, etc.).15. Allow student to use a keyboard if handwritingis poor.16. Allow student to dictate answer to essayquestions.17. Reduce copying tasks.18. Give your child a written copy of homeworkinstructions.19. Give lecture notes to your child before the class sohe can highlight them beforehand. Then he canwork on listening instead of concentrating on thenote taking itself.20. Send homework and instructions by email.21. Allow extra time to complete projects, termpapers, book reports, etc.22. Allow extra time to complete a test.23. Allow your child to dictate test answers.24. Allow the test to be read to your child.25. Allow your child to give oral answers to essayquestions.26. Allow rephrasing of test questions.27. Allow use of electronic dictionaries, books on tape,spellchecker, etc.12. Seat student close to teacher in order to monitorunderstanding.28. Allow student to observe others before attemptinga new task.13. Provide a print outline with videotapes andfilmstrips.29. When you ask the child a question in front of theclass, say his name first so he knows the questionis coming up.14. Grade only for content not spelling or handwriting– give more weight to content than format.2122

2. Audio Books a. Encourage your child to listen to audio books for pleasure. b. Have your child read along while listening to an audio book. c. Choose audio books for your child that are higher than his reading level. d. Load audio books on his iPod. e. Listen to audio books together in the car on commutes and family vacations. f.