See Jane run. The dog says woof! I before E, except after C.
These popular phrases come easily for most of us. But for a child with dyslexia, mastering even simple sentences like these can be difficult. A different neural pattern within the brain makes it harder for dyslexic children to process letters, numbers, and other text.
How do you help your child learn at home when he has a learning disability like this? Many homeschooling parents of children with dyslexia benefit from multisensory techniques.
Using a multisensory approach is one of the most effective teaching methods for kids with dyslexia. This type of teaching involves the use of multiple senses to relay information more easily. For example, the combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic uses visual aids along with audio activities and items that your child can touch and manipulate.
Visual or auditory processing in dyslexic children may be limited, making it more difficult to store what is seen or heard into memory. However, by adding kinesthetic, or tactile, activities to learning, a dyslexic child is better able to absorb the information conveyed to her.
For instance, when processing letters for spelling, reading, or writing, you might show her pictures of the letters while singing the alphabet, and then follow this with writing letters in textured materials. This multisensory approach allows the child to see, hear, and feel the letters rather than just use one sense.
Multisensory methods create a better learning environment. Lessons that appeal to some or all of the senses simultaneously seem to have a more lasting impact, not to mention the fact that these learning activities can be more fun. When learning is fun, your child is more engaged, more focused, and more relaxed-all of which aid in the success of your dyslexia homeschooling curriculum.
Find visually appealing ways to teach difficult subjects, like reading and math, through the use of multimedia software, graphics, etc. Videos, audio presentations, music, and rhymes can make auditory learning easier. Games and hands-on activities help pull it all together while adding more excitement and interest.
Remember, learning takes time. Especially when you have a child with a learning disability, patience is key.
If you have a child with dyslexia or another learning disability, you may want to look into Verticy Learning as a way to help your child learn. Verticy specializes in home-based curriculum for struggling readers and utilizes many multisensory techniques. Learn more about Verticy Learning on the Calvert website.