Problem:
Imagine a student suffering from Dyslexia in your classroom. The child's guardians plead for help having done everything in their power to support reading skills with few wins. The child struggles to make grades in every subject as a result. This year, you are responsible for teaching the child 3rd grade science, and you do not give up on your students. What do you do?
What the Research Says:
Having to support a teacher in this exact situation this year, I did some research, reading Dyslexia: A Very Short Introduction by Margaret J. Snowling. The introduction was not very short, but the findings were insightful. Dyslexia defies definition as it does not have a clear diagnostic profile with boundaries between ‘dyslexia’ and ‘normal’ reading. Even more challenging is the fact that it also lacks a clear cognitive cause with accepted theories postulating verbal, auditory, visual, and phonological deficits. The icing on top? Evidence-based treatments are limited when it comes to dyslexia making it a lifelong condition (Snowling, 2019). All that being said, here we are with a 3rd grade student with dyslexia, who deserves the opportunity to learn.
The Solution:
"When interventions fail to make a difference, compensatory strategies should be considered." (Snowling, 2019, p.119). One tool that can support the child is the Chrome extension Read and Write for Google. It's a tool that reads on screen text to a child without the help of an adult. Most assessments and assignments in the modern classroom are (or can be) done online meaning the tool is versatile and available anytime anywhere. Providing the child with this simple tool will provide independence and empower them to tackle assignments without feeling alienated by their disability.
References:
Riffle C. (2021, March). Supporting Children with Dyslexia. [Video]. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TdJBKAqbkmMAmbyvmw0Y4eTEHN4eRHdJ/view?
Snowling, M. (2019). Dyslexia: a very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
Comments