Because it’s teaching to the weakness, not to the strength
Rote memory comes hard for those with dyslexia. However, I’ve known many students who put in phenomenal effort to memorize all the letter sounds, blends, syllables, and rules of the English language. Unfortunately, the payoff was NOT carefree easy reading! Automatic word recognition just didn’t happen for them as it does for most of us. This dyslexia instruction left students frustrated and painfully sounding out words instead of enjoying reading.
Phonemic awareness is a place to start dyslexia instruction. Students need to know the letter and blend sounds. But if the student knows these things and words are still bricks to them, it does no good to re-teach the same material over and over. Phonemic awareness is THE defining weakness for many dyslexic students. Naturally, using only the weakest skill ensures failure.
Because it’s not effective dyslexia instruction to bore bright dyslexic students to death
In fact, too much repetition of basic phonics can destroy a student’s will to try. Books far below the intellectual level of the student — at their tested reading level — do not motivate. The boredom factor for students with dyslexia gets in the way of progress. Most dyslexic learners also exhibit high intelligence. So, going over the same material for years can kill all desire to read. None of us like to be bored and none of us like to be stuck.
Because dyslexia instruction with only one tool results in slow painful reading
Even if dyslexia instruction manages to explain all the hundreds of letter sounds, blends, and rules of English pronunciation it is often not enough to produce ease in reading. If the student spends years watching others read easily while struggling to sound out words, the emotional toll is horrific. Many educators believe that dyslexic readers will always read slowly and painfully. This incorrect belief further damages the student’s self-image and will to try.
Because most dyslexic readers are able to read so much faster and easier using other methods
I’ve heard far too many reading tutors proclaim that it’s too bad dyslexic students hate reading class so much, but it’s necessary because they must learn to read. However, the only tool offered in the classes is more phonics. And the results of this approach are anything but encouraging. Adding new tools makes all the difference.
What? There are Other Dyslexia Instruction Tools?
I’ve seen students who had given up hope come to life and sparkle when shown how to use Speech-to-Text to produce written work they were proud to hand in. Some students’ reading speed and comprehension leaped ahead by several years in just a couple of months because I showed them that tracking along with an audiobook was part of dyslexia instruction. They felt so starved for this kind of learning that they spent every possible moment practicing and the results were astounding. These are just two of the 27 tools explained in Dyslexia Tool Kit. Why would you do everything with one hammer if you had an entire tool kit at your disposal?
by Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.
www.dyslexiakit.net
@GrahamYvonna
Accessing audiobooks for students is easy-peasy. Classics are available for free on Librivox. Find professionally read newer books at Audible for $15/mo. Also, don’t forget to check your public library!