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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

What are your best tips on helping a dyslexic child at home?

59 replies

teamcullen · 29/05/2010 11:01

Ive been trawling the web but most information just says read with your child every day and repitition with homework etc..

But there is no real advise on how to keep your child motivated (unless they are trying to sell you something) or ways to keep their mind on track and get them into routines.

So does anybody have any tips on surviving homework or morning routines helping DCs become more independant or anything else that you might have had problems with.

Any advice or useful websites would be really apreciated. Thank you

OP posts:
Dallyspots · 30/05/2010 10:50

Hi, I'm sorry I have no good news on the gettingout of the house in the morning front I found it the most stressful job I have ever done, but, I don't think it is reserved for children with SEN. But somedays are better than others and it does get better in time. My ds was diagnosed at the age of 6 and has therefore always had teachers who were aware of his condition. I was told that dyslexics work as hard in 20 minutes than non affected children in do in 2 hours, this means they get very tired and fractious and lose concentration and can often get into trouble at school. As wide a time gap in getting home from school to doing homework can help. In year 4 I came to an arrangement with his teacher that I would see him every fortnight and discuss any problem area that may have come up sometimes the weren't any but it really helped I developed a good rapport with the school and any problems learning or behavioural could be sorted out. We also found that if ds could answer a question orally he could give a far clearer and to the point answer. Check if the school would be willing for you to write a dictated essay or coursework. My ds dictated his year 6 SATS and got highter marks than expected. If your children have not been assessed by the school for special needs ask the school to do so and get a an Individual Education Needs plan this will involve both parent/carer the special needs asseossor and the school. Always get in writing what the school propse to do. If the school cannot provide the level of help needed the assessor should be able to give you advice on how you can help at school. Ds had a book calld Toe by Toe which he did most days either with a parent helper at school or at home. This worked very well for my son it did not help a great deal with spelling but it did with reading, he also used Spelling Bee. At home we had always read to ds even as a baby. Read anything they are interested in we read a lot of history and anything on ships as well as childrens stories. Audio books are a great boon too although they can be rather expensive they can be got through public libraries.

Original poster
teamcullen · 30/05/2010 10:32

crash away flumparoo The more the merrier

OP posts:
Original poster
teamcullen · 30/05/2010 10:27

ItsAllaBitNoisy Some mornings I will send him to brush his teeth and he will stand staring at the sink for 10 minutes until I come and shout prompt him to move himself.

cornsilk He gets quite a lot of homework set over the weekend. Literacy will be linked to what they are doing in class and can be quite demanding. It would take the able members of the class an hour to complete. The teacher asks that they work independantly and for no longer than an hour. But DS will usually skip to the maths questions rather han tackle the literacy.

He is working his way through Easyread at the moment which has brought up his reading level a lot over the past 8 months.

We live in quite a small house and I think I need to create an area for him to work which is away from distractions, but then as I say, he is distracted by his own mind as much as things going on around him, so I could really do with some strategies to help him keep his mind on track. Does this sound familiar to you or is it just my DS?

OP posts:
ItsAllaBitNoisy · 30/05/2010 10:08

I was told my also severely dyslexic dd would have been entitled to a Special Needs Assistant, but because of cutbacks here (Ireland) she can't have one.

It would have been bliss..

flumperoo · 30/05/2010 10:05

Sorry to gatecrash your thread team cullen, sorry, I don't have any advice.

Dallyspots, I'm really interested in what support your son is getting at school. Does he attend a state school? My severely dyslexic teenager attends school abroad and I'd like to know what, if anything, she is missing out on in terms of specialist support.

If you'd rather email, my address is flumperoo @ hotmail.com

Cheers

cornsilkcottagecheese · 30/05/2010 09:59

I used to use a hand puppet to get ds to do his work at that age (alas it doesn't have the same effect any more). You have to pick your time carefully, he'll be very tired after school. Is the homework set reasonable?
I also used numbershark/wordshark with ds bought from Whitespace - numbershark is better. I also like Units of sound (although ds didn't really like it many chn do)- very plain screen and does the job. You can get a usb pen with it on from Dyslexia Action for about £70. You can download a trialversion I think. I used to get him to read the stories on cbeebies as well!

ItsAllaBitNoisy · 30/05/2010 09:58

Teamcullen, I will watch this avidly. My DD is the same, recently diagnosed, she's 9.

Mornings are a nightmare aren't they?

As for homework - ARGH!

Dallyspots, well done your boy!

Original poster
teamcullen · 30/05/2010 09:54

Dailyspots he is almost 8. He is not serverly affected but he also has irlen's syndrome.

Your ds sounds as if he has done really well. You must be really proud.

I think i'm a bit overwhelmed at how much effort we are all going have to put in just to make sure he reaches his potential, as some mornings it can be a battle to keep him focused long enough just to get through the morning routine.

OP posts:
Dallyspots · 29/05/2010 18:10

My seventeen year old severe dyslexic is taking AS levels at the moment in History, English Language and Photography. How old is your child? My son and I would be happy to help where we can.