Dyslexia Awareness Week has just flashed by. Here are some teaching tips for teachers teaching a dyslexic pupil:
- Assess before you start so you can identify difficulties and measure progress
- Use structured programme of work so pupil can succeed at every level
- Adapt the pace of progress to the pupil
- Use multi-sensory methods and resources
- Allow lots of varied practice – revisiting the same skills through different activities
- Make activities short and successful
- Conclude lessons with what has been learned and start with a reminder of what was learned previously
- If they are failing to progress the teacher is moving too fast or not allowing enough overlearning
- Provide age-appropriate reading materials to boost self esteem
- Use context which is relevant to learner e.g. football, or TV soap opera
- Try to work in a cumulative way so that what has been learned is referred to along the way
- Intersperse lessons with short games (they do not have to be educational- just fun)
- After a while, show pupil evidence of progress
- Reward for effort in a way that is meaningful to pupil