Research-Based Learning Materials for Children with Dyslexia
Does your child struggle with learning due to dyslexia? It is estimated that around 15-20% of the population have dyslexia, meaning you are not alone. There is a way for your child to experience success and love learning!
Studies from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development have shown that for children who have difficulties learning to read, a multi-sensory teaching method is the most effective approach.
This is especially crucial for children with dyslexia. But what does it mean? Using a multi-sensory teaching approach means using materials that engage more than one sense. Most teaching in schools is done using either sight or hearing (auditory sensations). The child’s sight is used in reading information, looking at diagrams or pictures, or reading what is on the teacher’s board.
The sense of hearing is used in listening to what the teacher says. A child with dyslexia may experience difficulty with either or both of these senses.
"These cards (607 SnapWords® Pocket Chart Cards) have been a complete game changer for our dyslexic 7 year old daughter. Before ordering these cards, no matter how hard we practiced or how creative we were with different teaching methods, she wasn't able to read or remember words that she would study. The moment we started using SnapWords to learn sight words and letter sounds, it was literally like watching a light bulb turn on right before our eyes. She was not only able to learn the words rapidly, but she was also retaining what she learned and having fun at the same time! At the beginning of this school year our daughter could only recognize ONE sight word out of the dozens of words we had spent countless hours learning. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to say that since we began using these cards, her class has been tested on 57 words and our daughter has not missed a single word on a single test!!!! Thank you!!!!" -Charlie S.
We address the needs of children with dyslexia because we integrate:
- colorful visuals
- hands-on activities
- body movement
In short, multiple regions of the brain are accessed at one time, providing a child with dyslexia with several avenues for learning.
One approach to teaching has become the yardstick against which every child is measured, and those who do not measure up are labeled with a disability. A large percentage of the children who have been branded disabled are not disabled at all. Somehow we, as a society, must lose the idea that there is only one right way to teach. I have spent a lot of one-on-one time with kids who had been sent to special education classrooms and have seen the resulting emotional pain. They carry the disability label as a brand on their hearts and minds. It colors everything in their world. By labeling children with disabilities, the intention is to identify children who need special help, but too often the process undermines the children's belief in themselves.
Reading Resources
SnapWords® are a collection of 643 curated high-frequency words that comprise over 90% of words found in children’s text. SnapWords® had its beginnings in the late 1990s in response to the need of visual and kinesthetic learners to make sense of the phonics concepts they were struggling to learn.
The SnapWords® System teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, orthographic mapping, instant word recognition, spelling, writing, comprehension, and fluency, delivered in a way that utilizes the three primary learning modalities: visual, kinesthetic, and auditory.
While perfect for beginners, Easy-for-Me™ Reading also makes reading possible for children who struggle to learn to read in any other way. Easy-for-Me™ Reading Kits make learning to read possible for many types of learners because they provide a completely multisensory learning experience.
This means that hooks for learning and triggers for remembering are purposefully included in the design of each step in the daily lessons so that learning happens all over the body. Reading skills are taught simply and directly with clear and easy instructions for the teacher or parent.
Math Resources
Because math is abstract and symbol-heavy, children who are visual/spatial processors thrive when they have access to an approach that expresses the meaning of symbols and procedures in ways they can easily grasp. This means an approach that relies on images, stories, patterns, and hands-on activities, transforming learning math skills into a process that makes sense to them. It also means showing them clearly what is happening when we solve a problem. They need to understand the action if they are to remember how to solve the problem. Right-Brained Math is actually a whole-brain approach that utilizes all the right-brain elements that come naturally to visual/spatial and kinesthetic dominant kids. Reach for our resources and experience the difference!
Conclusion
Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of a multisensory approach to teaching, especially for children with dyslexia. Here at Child1st, we have heard from many parents and teachers about the success they have witnessed when their students discover their strengths, have confidence in their abilities, and experience a love for learning!
Start your student on their multisensory journey today!