Dyslexia is a common form of learning disability that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. It is classified as a type of directional confusion, and people with this disability often see and write letters and numbers upside down or backward. People with dyslexia often struggle in school, though they understand the material when it is presented in verbal rather than written ways. There are many tips for dealing with dyslexia in school that allow a student better control over his learning experience and aid teachers and other educators in ensuring the affected students are able to reach their full potential. Organizational aids, special considerations at home and in the classroom, and positive reinforcement are known to be useful tools for children with learning disabilities.
Problems with organization are common in people suffering from dyslexia, and they often need help keeping assignments and even school supplies in place and ready to use. To assist those with dyslexia in school, it can be useful to offer homework assignments on a handout so the student isn't responsible for writing it down. Helping the student formulate a schedule of assignments conveniently located on the desk or in a binder for easy reference can be helpful as well. These techniques help the student feel prepared and cut down on feelings of anxiety.
Children and adults with learning disabilities often find schoolwork easier when it is presented or can be completed in ways more compatible with their unique brain functions. Many educators who work with children living with dyslexia in school offer strategies including allowing more time for assignments and tests, rephrasing questions to aid in greater understanding, and allowing for answers to be given orally when possible. Some schools allow for test questions to be read to the dyslexic student to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings; some also overlook grammatical and spelling errors and focus on the content when grading. It can also be useful for educators to assign different classwork to a dyslexic student than the rest of the class that plays to the student's areas of strength.
Helping students coping with dyslexia in school may also include ensuring the student has access to teachers trained in aiding those with learning disabilities. These resource teachers have been educated in techniques to help students overcome dyslexia both at home and in school. They are also equipped to assist other teachers in modifying assignments and tests to ensure that dyslexia plays little to no role in how the student is assessed and rewarded academically.
