How can I help my dyslexic learner at home?

We know that it is difficult for a parent to watch their dyslexic child struggle with reading, but there are things that you can do to help.

Read with your child.
Make reading aloud a joint venture. This demonstrates the relevance of reading in our world by reading text that we see at any point in the day: sports page, science magazines, crafting books, recipes, instruction manuals. 

Model the joy of reading for your child.
Let them see how you enjoy reading a novel, the paper, or a magazine. Dedicate 15 minutes after dinner when all devices are turned off and each family snuggles on the sofa together, reading their own book.

Read to your child.
Reading to your child becomes even more important for a struggling reader. Model how to decode or ‘unpack’ a new word. Point out little words within larger words. Ask questions as you read to develop an understanding of the text: who, where, why, when, how, and ‘what if’?

Listen to your child read.
It is important that you listen to your child read aloud.  For a child to read fluently, they must build a list of words that become automatic. This is accomplished by reading the word correctly multiple times, preferably in context. Reading a word incorrectly short circuits this process. Listening to your child allows you to gently correct any misread words.  If the text is overwhelming and the meaning is being lost, try reading every other sentence.  Switching back and forth gives them a quick break and allows them to stay on top of the context.  

Help your school support your child.
Ask your child’s teacher if you can read any in-class oral reading at home the night before.  Take turns reading the section together. This will lead to a better understanding of the subject matter and increase confidence for reading aloud in front of peers. 

With longer reading assignments it may be a good idea to use audiobooks. Your local library will have many available for use. 

Obtain evidence-based tutoring using the Orton-Gillingham method
Online Reading Tutor is dedicated to helping children and adults become proficient readers. Through our Orton-Gillingham program, we have helped people all over the world reach their reading goals!