[Readerforlife]

I have a 6th grade student who is dyslexic. What tools, skills, remediations can I do with the student to help the student be successful?

Do you work with the student on building fluency?

Do you use flashcards? If so, how?

I am in desperate need. I want to help this student, but I just don't know where to begin.

I don't have the assistance of a reading specialist.

Any and all thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[mumstheword]

I have at least 2 in my Intensive Intensive block--we've tried colored overlays where they can put the paper they're reading behind the color overlay. Remember, some colors work for some kids and others don't--trial and error. If you're using electronic readers that are black and white only, try switching the contrast from white page/black writing to black page/white writing. Typing might help them, too. When writing using a whiteboard, use different colors to break things up.

HTH

[maryteach]

from a NEUROLOGIST? If not, you cannot assume dyslexia. You cannot take a parent's word for it. "Dyslexia" is thrown around as a face-saving maneuver a lot and is thrown around a lot without a neurologist's diagnosis. Merely having trouble with reading does not qualify one as dyslexic.

I've taught reading for 11 years now, to almost all below-level readers, some many years below. I've taught close to 1300 or 1400 struggling readers. I have yet to come across even one dyslexic.

You cannot use hit and miss remediation with them, though, if you indeed have one. Only a neurologist can help you with remediation. Your reading specialist isn't trained and neither is any teacher of your acquaintance.

Unless you have a diagnosis from a neurologist (and I don't care what the IEP says, you MUST have a neurologist's diagnosis), you should just remediate as you would any struggling reader.

Side notes about dyslexia--there are at least 3 types--dysphonetic dyslexia, in which one cannot associate sounds with letters or groups of letters, dyseidetic, which means no, or few, sight words, or a combination of the two.

Some experts claim there are as many as 150 different kinds of dyslexia. If true (and I doubt it) there is no way in the world that a mere reading teacher can diagnose and/or remediate.

Some experts actually claim there is no such thing as dyslexia, that supposed "dyslexics" are merely struggling readers, but that there is no neurological basis for it.

Anyway, Proteacher is probably not the place to get help, if what you have is indeed a dyslexic student. Look to neurological websites or websites put up by really reputable people in the field. There is evidence that colored sheets work with some so-called dyslexics, but it's not just any color and it's not just put anywhere.

But unless a neurologist says this kid is dyslexic, you cannot assume it's so. You cannot take a parent's word for this, or the SPED department's word. The SPED dept. is always full of great people, but if they're telling you they know about dyslexia, they're pulling your leg.