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

[teamcullen]

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

Hi teamcullen and hello jodie, sorry have been caught up in things. tc I hope the meeting at school went well. jodie when i remember how I nagged at ds when he was starting school and didn't think he was concentrating on reading I could cry. You are definately not a bad mum. You are doing everything you can to help him. No where does it prepare you for how hard both physically and mentally raising children can be let alone when they have something like dyxslexia. But it can also be great fun and rewarding try to hang on to that when the going gets tough. Sometimes returning from junior school with both of mine they would sit me in a chair make me a cup of tea and put what ds called 'mums bad mood music' and leave me to stew for a while. After which I felt so guilty for being a bad mum I forgot what they had done to upset me. (Though I do remember the home shcool walk could be a nightmare). Are you able to have 'me' time and switch off for a bit?
Lisad did you do paired reading? and if so was it helpful? You should be really proud of yourself especially as you also had trouble translating when you were read to - I'd never heard of that.
Does anyone read AA Gill in the Sunday Times - he is an extremely successful columnist who is also extremely dyslexic he dictates all his work and says he gave up trying to spell when he realised the rest of us spelt phonics with a p. Bye.

Hi Dallyspots and welcome jodee. Ive had a bust few weeks with parents evenings, going to new schools and general life so heres a bit of an update.

Firstly DS1 got a beautiful report and excellent SATs results. He managed to get level 4 across the board and has gone up 4 sub levels in twelve months. We are very very proud of him and more importantly DS is very proud of himself. Its given him a great boost in confidence just before he sets off to high school.

His high school seems great. I went to see the Senco at the information night and she had already been made aware of DS. The school has the dyslexia friendy mark and they have a good system set up for year 7s.

They have an accelerated reading scheme and all children on the special education needs register get one hour per week one to one tutoring.

DS2s report was very good and very honest. His teacher has spoken about how he has gained confidence in class discussions and in small group work. She also said areas where he struggles such as, he is very good at answering questions in spanish if he has good eye contact or listening to a tape recording with clear speach, but if there is background noise he finds it difficult.

His work has really improved since he has had his tinted glasses and his teacher says on days that he forgets them, his work is noticably not as good. His support will continue next year and they are looking at other ways to support him.

At home he is still taking his eyeQ and they do seem to have helped. I am trying to get him to do eye tracking execises but we both keep forgeting I think once the hols start, we will have to make more effort. I still havent sorted out a morning routine and we seem to be leaving later and later so thats something else we have to work harder on.

jodee DS2 also has auditory processing problems. He drives me potty sometimes, especially in the morning. I hope it will be easier in September when DS1 leaves earlier. On top of that he will want to ramble on in great detail about something and nothing, then we get half way to school and he has forgotten something.

On top of all that I end up in arguments with his dad because DS is so clumsy and forgetful and DH doesnt see them things are related and tells me Im making excuses for him.

Hi teamcullen, what fantastic news! It looks like things are really going well for your boys. Sorry to read dad doesn't really understand that must be difficult for you because I expect you then have to try and explain to your son his dad's behaviour. Forgetfulness is a real problem mainly because you can't second guess what it is they are likely to forget or what they will remember. A dyslexic I know was half-way home from school in his mum's car when he realised he should be at school in detention.
The detention was because he kept forgetting things.

Its even worse when Im as bad as DS Dallyspots. I cant remember anything either and Im so disorganised, everything is left to the last minute.

I tried the Flylady website for a while to help me get a cleaning routine and it helped loads in everyday organisation. Im going to try again during the holidays.

Hello all my ds (year 3) has dyslexia and also has severe auditory processing, sequencing and visual verbal problems. I managed to get the school to use the Toe-by-Toe method in Year 2 after spending 3hrs on a parents night and paying £25 for the book and taking it into them. The toe-by-toe seems to be working - he is still using it. I went into school last week for his end of year assessment scores and he is still only Level 1 on reading, writing and numeracy which I am obviously really worried about. It a real problem trying to get him to pick up any pencil or pen just doesn't want to do any writing or drawing.

I forget to mention - my ds is on the waiting list to see the Ed Psyc again for testing - teacher has a meeting with her in Sept but can't confirm he will make the list although after his results they have pushed him up. She suggested I may want to get my own test done which is £450!!!!

My children are dyslexic and we use computers a lot. I have bypassed handwriting a bit and gone straight on computers. I am Swedish and find the UK very backwards and old-fashione din dealing with dyslexia....

Hi Sandy. It looked like DS2 hadnt improved much this year according to his SATs scores but his teacher explained that a lot more is expected to get a level 2 in Y3 than in Y2. She also said one of the tests was really hard.

Why is he getting assessed again, Is it so they can find other ways to help him?

Hi Team: he first got assessed at the age of 6 using the Lucid Rapid Dyslexia Test which threw up all his weaknesses and since then they have put things in place for him but they said because he was under 7 they felt they needed to repeat this test again and we are still waiting.

Ahh.. I wonder if thats the test DS had in Y2 which identified the Irlens Syndrome.

I hope you get his assessment soon.

What is he like at home in everyday things. I find it really interesting that it effects everyday life.

Hi Team: I'm not sure which test it is but I really hope it happens this year if not I will have to pay - I can't possibly wait another year.

He can't ride a bike - we have tried countless times - I can ask him to do a couple of things but when he has remembered to do the first thing he has forgotten about the other two and he is very easily distracted. It's a nightmare trying to get him to do any kind of homework at all. He just doesn't want to write or draw - he finds holding pens & pencils very uncomfortable but he is happiest playing with lego on my windown ledge [simile]

The bike riding thing is funny isnt it. DS2 has been taking Eye Q omega suppliments for a good few weeks now so we are going to have another go at learning to ride his bike in the holidays.

Im going to try a reward chart to help him getting organised. I think it might just be me running around saying you need to do this and that on your chart but we will give it a go.

There is one for DS1 too, which is designed for starting secondary school.

As for DD who is not dyslexic, she just needs to get off crappy vampire roleplay games and a bomb up her arse and we might just get somewhere

I couldn't ride a bike till I was 11, and then I was rubbish, and I still can't swim- a lot of the things on this thread are very very familiar, right down to being able to tell if something is spelled wrong by looking at it. I was diagnosed at 18 as dyslexic and dyspraxic. I'm going to watch this thread for ideas, especially since I have two DDs, and it can be hereditary.

My DP doesn't beleive me that I have problems too- he says I'm just being lazy as I can, for example, pronounce the "s" sound if I concentrate but not in the middle of a sentence.

Team: many thanks for the reward chart link . I also bought some Eye Q tablets after reading about them on here.

Your welcome Sandy

Butterpie, I never in a million years would have thorght I might have been dyslexic. I learnt to read easily enough, I was not a great speller but good enough, But when I was reading up about it I would think I do that. Like not knowing left from right, the Bs and Ds thing and adding letters when you know they dont belong there.

I have short term memory and have trouble remembering things. I think I definatly have Auditory processing disorder. But knowing I have to do all I can for DSs is making me think of the techniques Ive used and also try learn some new ones.

I was reading at the age of 2 (apparently), I did literature at uni (and was heading for a first until I quit), I sell books for a living- I am the last person you would think is dyslexic. When the ed psch put that coloured plastic down and the letters stopped wobbling around though...

haha... DS has Irlen's as well as Dyslexia. He never used to complain about the words moving off the page but now he has tinted glasses he wont even attempt to read more than a few lines without them.

Its a pity I didnt suspect it when I was in uni, I could have got all the tests done for free, extra help/time and I might have finished my degree and been a qualified child nurse now.

finally read this whole thread - put it on 'watch' list when it started and forgot about it

can I ask about the Toe By Toe thing? it's quite expensive but from everyone's reviews seems more than worth it.

my 12yo DSD finds reading immensely difficult, has had various inconclusive tests, but whatever is causing it, she basically cannot decode for spelling or reading.

now if she lived with us, I wouldn't hesitate to buy this book and use it daily (though in fact we would've done something years ago and she wouldn't be as far behind!).

problem is, she lives with her mum, who doesn't encourage her at all, and now DSD has pretty much given up on any form of reading/writing (though she is actually enjoying school, especially science).

I would happily buy her the book but I know for a fact it wouldn't get used. none of us can afford any help like specialist centres. any ideas please?

MathsMadMummy: I personally think the toe-by-toe has done wonders for my son but he uses it mostly at school so probably wouldn't be worth you buying it as it needs to be done each day. I don't have any ideas - maybe dad could speak to the school??

thanks. told DH and he agreed it's not worth it, we know that his ex wouldn't use it with her. we'd wondered about doing it here when she stays but then she may end up resenting being here. it's such a shame, I know her living with us wouldn't magic her problems away but we feel she would've been better off with us, a more positive environment etc. not going to happen though.

DH offered to speak to the school but DSD said no. she gets such negativity off her mum that she thinks there's no point. just now DH said his ex thinks DSD is a 'lost cause'

have told DH about Irlen's syndrome as it's quite possible DSD has that, so we're going to try some overlays soon and see if it makes a difference. where's the best place to buy them? looked at this but it's very expensive if we were to try all the colours. will any coloured see-through stuff work?

also from another thread somebody suggested a dictaphone so I've got one on my amazon wishlist. she's a budding author, such a wonderful turn of phrase etc, but she can't write as fast as she thinks so it all gets jumbled!

Hi, I hope you don't mind my coming out of lurkdom and jumping in?

My ds is almost 6 and we are pretty sure he is dyslexic and his reception teacher also feels that this is possible but as you know, we can't get him assessed till he is nearer 7.

I have been sat nodding along to many comments so far in this thread! He has been having swimming lessons for 1 1/2years now and still cannot swim though better than he was! He is desperate to do karate with his big brother and does go along to the class but it totally unco-ordinated and in what seems to be a world of his own, however.. he can ride a bike!

His last report shows he is doing well at school (he's in reception) in all areas but reading but one comment that comes back (which we echo at home) is "one day he seems to have got it and we think YAY! but the next he is totally blank!" It has taken him a long time to learn his colours, in fact I had originally thought he was colourblind!

What would you say is the best thing to help ds now with his reading and memory? Is there any of getting him tested now?

Hi Mathsmadmummy. Try here They have a pack of 10 smaller reading rulers which work out at £10.56. You can use them to see if they help DD. They work out cheaper than buying the big ones seperate.

Both DSs have used an online reading programme called Easyread for the past twelve months and have had a lot of success with it. The only problem is it is expensive and DSs were only lucky enough to do it because my mum paid for them out of her retirement fund. However it worked out much cheaper than if I had paid for tutors for them both. They have a lot of information on their website though about why some children dont learn to read. It might give you a clearer idea to what prblems your DSD is facing. Its definatly worth a read before buying overlays.

Sorry that link above took you to the same page as before try here If that doesnt work look at the plain reading rulers pack of ten colours on the link above.

I also meant to say, look at the 7 simple reasons on the Easyread link.

Hi Daisychicken. DS1 could ride a bike early and catch a ball and swim etc.. His problems were just in the classroom. DS2 on the other hand seems to struggle much more but can remember facts in great detail of things he has seen. Have a look at the 7 simple reasons in the Easyread link above. It helps understand why some children find it hard to read.

DS2 ticks the box for about 4 of those reasons whereas DS1 ticks only one or two. That helped me understand why they were different.

thanks teamcullen! a tenner is affordable for us so we'll ask DD today if she'd like to try the pack of 10 different colours. we'll look properly at that 7 reasons thing later too.

she is improving it seems. she read her report out to me quite fluently! and the main thing is, she told me she really loves secondary school and has enjoyed her first year, and feels she's done well. I honestly never thought I'd hear her say that