Need help with a student who is dyslexic

I have a fourth grade student..and I feel like I am not doing enough for him in my class. He is really struggling with his writing....can you share any best practices or strategies that I can try with him? He is already recieving out of classroom help in Wilson....

Thanks

Re: Need help with a student who is dyslexic

Ugghhh... I just replied with a lot of ideas ( i am a 4th/5th special ed. Teacher and certified wilson instructor) and lost the Post b/c my.phone died. I will re post again tomorrow. If i forget, feel free to fm me!

Re: Need help with a student who is dyslexic

Posted by donegal419

Ugghhh... I just replied with a lot of ideas ( i am a 4th/5th special ed. Teacher and certified wilson instructor) and lost the Post b/c my.phone died. I will re post again tomorrow. If i forget, feel free to fm me![/QUOT


Thx i really appreciate it.....i feel like i am failing him!

Re: Need help with a student who is dyslexic

Bumping...anyone?

Re: Need help with a student who is dyslexic

Hi...sorry, I'm back! Thigns have been insane and I haven't been on LIF in the past couple of days.

Okay, here are some things you can try overall to help him in the classroom setting:

1. Have you differentiated his spelling program? For my Wilson kids, I give their classroom teacher a list of words that correspond with the substep they are currently on in Wilson. What the other kids are doing in spelling makes no sense to them because they are always words with rules and concepts not covered yet in Wilson. Also, dyslexics have poor visual memories for a task like spelling, so why have them memorize a meaningless list of spelling words that will only frustrate them when it doesn't correspnd with what they are learning in Wilson....KWIM???? I would ask the Wilson teacher to generate that list for you each week. Also, dyslexics have difficulty again with visual language, so some of the high-frequency words can be nearly impossible for them to spell. Therefore, I always include a few of those each week on their spelling lsits for reinforcement.

2. Writing: do you have access to a voice to text software in your school? Let him talk out his writing first and then the computer can generate it. Or he could draw pictures/sketches and then write about them. Also, allow access to "spell check" AFTER he is done typing. (you can disable the spell checker in word and then add it back after the writing is done). all the red squiggly lines that will appear will just be frustrating and may hinder his output because he might perseverate on all the errors. let him type or write what comes out naturally and then he can use the spell checker on word or have an adult help with handwritten misspellings. Often, I just circle the words that are misspelled (dyslexics often don't know they spelled a word wrong) and then let them use a spell checker to check on their own. also, i knwo the Wilson program very well, so I can get them to spell the word correctly by knowing what step they are on and those concepts and then scaffolding my questions with skills i know they know that will help them spell the word right. Perhaps you can have the Wilson teacher help you with this. Give her a piece of writing (maybe during the eidting process) and have her help him correct the spelling mistakes using WIlson questioning and techniques.

3. Graphic organizers. Dyslexics have difficulty with organizing written language in their heads.... planning out writing using a graphic organizer or some other strategy that works to lay out ideas first.

4. organize his writign notebook. I only let my kids write on the left side of the notebook when they are writing a story. the right side is always left blank. that way, when they want to add a paragraph, or another sentence or correct things, etc. they do it on the right side of the page without having to rewrite everything else that is still "good." then it is all put together at the end for publishing.

5. also a written list of vocabulary words in his notebook is helpful. so for example, say you are learning about the Native AMericans. You mgiht generate a list of important vocabulary/spellign words for that unit: Iroquois, clan, confederacy, etc. That list can be taped into their notebook or left in a folder and shoudl be used as a reference so that he can spell them correctly during homework, classwork, tests, etc. Depending on how low he is with his reading, you mgiht need to add pictures so he can recall what the word is. Definiteyl review the words with him so he knows what they say.

reading is almost easier for dyslexics in the classroom setting ;) you can do books on tape/CD, programs like Kurzweil, Bookshare, etc. it is the writing and spelling that is harder to help them with sometimes.

I hope these ideas make sense..... i know i babbled. please let me know if i can help you further.

Re: Need help with a student who is dyslexic