Dyslexia and

 

Your student learns differently. You’ve studied and trained and adapted your homeschool to help your little one shine. There’s only so long you can protect them. But there comes a time when things like reading and writing take over the educational spotlight. This happened to our family last year.  We belong to a  community of classical learners and at nine our students are asked to migrate from clapping and chanting into discussing and asking questions.  While a totally optional part of the program, my student watched her peers merge into this writing and grammar intensive course.  She counted up their birthdays and noticed she was a year older than they were and “should” be attending alongside them.

So with much prayer and gut-churning worry, her principal (my husband) and I decided to give the Essentials class a whirl. One condition:  I would be her tutor.

My girl sighed with relief.  Mom understood and surely wouldn’t be putting her in the hot seat.  Mom wouldn’t be carting unnecessary and undecipherable worksheets to class and making everyone fill them in.  No, Essentials was different.  Rich learning with a conversational friendly approach.

I trained, again.  I asked many, many questions and jumped in.  Here’s what we learned, together:

 

1-  You don’t have to complete every assignment! 

The curriculum is a guide and a tool.  It is not your master.  Pray. Aim for growth, not perfection. It worked much better, for my family and the other families I asked if we slowed down.  Every other writing assignment is still an amazing goal.  Especially, if mom needs to scribe for her fast-talking visual learner.  It was best to cut out a few essays and work on fine-tuning and mastering the ones we attempted.  Rushing led to tears, frustration, and not a lot of intellectual education.

2- Use songs and hand motions.

With many different disorders and disabilities in my classroom, using tactile and kinetic approaches were the most helpful to all my students.  They absorbed the information. They lit up with pride when they could recite charts and answer questions in games.  The real gem moments took place toward the end of the year when they sparkled with understanding.  They began to see how to use what they’d memorized.  They sparkled with each new discovery.  It was a blessing to behold.

3- Celebrate each success. 

It doesn’t have to be extravagant.  Sometimes a smiley face on a post-it and a thumbs up in the middle of class can spur on a struggling student.  We all need to be seen.  Most out of the box learners feel either invisible or scoffed at. Let your kiddos know you see them and their efforts.  This doesn’t mean everyone gets a trophy.  It means everyone is met at their own level and cheered on as they persevere and make new connections.  Tutors can do this really well if the parents communicate with them and explain their family expectations.

4-Being the tutor isn’t always the best solution.

I LOVED tutoring this program.  In fact, it was hard to move on. However. tutoring wasn’t the ultimate accommodation.  Yes, I knew what was coming and could prepare my girl.  Yes, I could control how class time proceeded.  Yes, I received deeper training than the other parents.  Although none of that mattered much on days when my student felt stressed and scrutinized.

She really needed me beside her, not in front of her.  She needed a friendly face and a listening ear when she was confused and struggling. Other moms tried to help when they spotted her sinking.  But what she really needed was a big hug from mom.  As the tutor, I had to interact with everyone.  It was awkward to stop and zoom in on only my student.  As a result, there were days we barely made it home without falling apart.  Sure, we snuggled and healed at home.  But the pressure was already overwhelming and it leaked into the week’s studies and strained mom-and-me relations.

5- Lead the way.

Dive into your own learning.  Be fearless about asking questions and making mistakes.  Have fun and keep your excitement high.  Special students are extremely intuitive.  They’ll know if it’s all an act.  So pray and stay positive.  Keep God at the center of all learning.  Our intelligence and the ease we memorize new information (or don’t) aren’t dependent on our own strength.  They are gifts from God.  If the work comes easy, give Him praise.  If the work is a battle, ask Him for backup.  Either way, it’s an opportunity for greater relationships. Us and our kids.  God and our family.  Our family and our learning community.  Treat it as the blessing it is and rely heavily on the Lord.  No class can teach dependence on God, only experience and example.  Lead your learner in humility.

6- Learning with good friends is key.

They can take the fear out of the schoolroom and add the fun. Make opportunities for students to get up and mingle.  Sometimes the only thing holding a student back is literally the desk.  Get them up and get them moving.

7-Talk it out.

As the tutor, there are so many times physically writing in necessary.  There are sentences to diagram, outlines to fuse, and paragraphs to decorate.  All this takes place on a whiteboard.  However, for the student who can’t follow along with the written word, it can be a nightmare.  They may be able to answer questions thoughtfully but being unable to read what’s already up on the board can slow them down.  Even though it can feel redundant, and you may lose your voice from time to time, say everything you write down.  Once as you write it and then again as you talk it over. This simple step can make the entire process less intimidating and awkward for everyone.

Our family’s final result.

Though the journey was tough and we had horrid no good days, my learner left essentials with new confidence.  To paraphrase our conversation she said- Even though she can’t read or write, well, yet, she knows she’s a great thinker and communicator. And she’s ready for the next adventure in learning.  This mama couldn’t be more pleased.

 

Let me know what you think in the comments below. How do you guide your struggling learner through compositions?

 

Can I pray for you and your struggling learner?

Shoot me a private email (under contact me tab) or leave a note in the comments.

It would be my honor to pray for you!

 

Sarah