| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Homeschooling Special Situations Homeschooling with Dyslexia or Problems with Visual Skills by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Some children learn to read early, others learn along with their classmates at age 5 or 6, still other children struggle with reading, or show no interest, and do not read well until they are much older. There is a lot of natural variation in when each child is "ready" to learn to read. But when a child continues to struggle with reading or spelling, even with one-to-one help, parents should consider the possibility that the child may have dyslexia, or a problem with visual skills, or both. Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it hard for children to learn to read and spell. Children with dyslexia have trouble recognizing words and read slowly, they have poor spelling skills, and have a hard time sounding out a new word. They have trouble (and are often embarressed by) reading aloud, and may also have trouble with handwriting and writing out math equations. Dyslexia isn't the only issue that can make it hard to read. Children may have vision problems that affect how well the two eyes to work together as a team, especially when reading. A child may have 20/20 vision, yet have trouble reading because, for instance, her eye muscles don't glide smoothly across the page. Children with these types of vision problems may also have trouble reading aloud, be slow readers, tire easily, and get headaches from reading. They may also have trouble with handwriting, writing out math problems, and copying from a book or blackboard. Problems with such visual skills can be diagnosed by a specially trained Behavioral Optometrist, and vision therapy may help. Homeschooling can be a good option for children with dyslexia or visual skills deficits. Parents can seek out and implement the latest and most appropriate treatment methods for their particular child, without fighting for school cooperation. Essentially, you can create your own "IEP" by researching the types of Dyslexia and the various possible problems with visual skills, arranging for private assessment, and comparing notes with other families in similar situations to find the best treatment options. There are several dyslexia remediation approaches available to homeschooling families. You may opt for private treatment or you can train yourself to use one of the variety of special reading curriculum available today. It isn't as hard as it may sound -- many families have succeeded and they are happy to share their knowledge and get other families started on the right path. Be sure to join a support group, such as "Learning Abled Kids" (listed below) to get the support you'll need and to hear about the latest in research and techniques. Dyslexia Information Dyslexia Symptoms and Checklists What is dyslexia? -- from the LD-Online website What is dyslexia? -- from Dyslexia Institutes of America, includes a summary of different types of dyslexia. Dyslexia and Reading -- from "The Mislabeled Child" book website Dyslexia Symptoms -- Where to Start? from Learning Abled Kids Dyslexia Checklists -- for children in K-1, grades 2-12 and for adults, from the Dyslexia Institutes of America Understanding Dyslexia The Gift of Dyslexia a book and website by Ron Davis -- an approach that is not "...based on tutoring or drill, but actually resolves the root causes of problems experienced by individuals with language-based learning difficulties...", lectures, workshops, and forums, available In the Mind's Eye: Visual Thinkers, Gifted People With Dyslexia and Other Learning Difficulties, Computer Images and the Ironies of Creativity by Thomas G. West -- looks at the unique strengths of individuals with dyslexia, and their past, present, and future contributions to society, includes the role technology will play in future successes Dyslexia May Involve Both Vision And Hearing -- research shows that dyslexia may stem from the processing of both sight and sound Dyslexia and Transdisciplinary Thinking from Fernette Eide Dyslexia Treatments and Strategies A List of Homeschool Reading Programs that Help with Dyslexia from the Learning Abled Kids website Home Schooling Children with Dyslexia from the AHomeEducation website, based in the UK How To Reach and Teach Children & Teens with Dyslexia by Cynthia M. Stowe -- practical advice and techniques for teaching reading, spelling, math, etc, with a chapter for each subject, includes suggestions for ADD/ADHD, geared toward school environment, but still very useful for homeschoolers Lexia Learning: Strategies for Older Students -- interactive software for students 9 and older to improve reading and spelling skills, starts from the very beginning, with basic vowel sounds, but allows students to proceed at their own pace Dyslexia Institute of America treatment program -- DIA uses a multi- sensory approach based on Orton-Gillingham and currently has clinic locations in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The DIA of Ohio director, Joel A. Greff, will be happy to get you in touch with the facility nearest you. The International Dyslexia Association - tons of good articles Online Support for Dyslexia Learning Abled Kids -- an informative website full of links to resources, curriculum, and tools to help your bright child with dyslexia and other learning differences Learning Abled Kids Forum -- a Yahoo! support group for parents homeschooling children who have Dyslexia, vision processing difficulties, or other learning differences, discussions include appropriate reading and spelling programs, vision therapy, "hi-low" readers, etc. Can "Good Readers" Have Dyslexia? Yes! Be alert to problems with reading out loud, spelling of new words, and handwriting issues... they may be signs of "stealth dyslexia" Visual Skills Issues and Vision Therapy Vision and Reading -- from The Optometrist's Network, explains the various problems with vision and how they affect students Visual Processing Problems: When it's Hard for the Brain to See by Fernette Eide -- interesting brain imaging info and good comments, too screen your child for possible vision problems -- from the Cook Vision Therapy website An explanation of vision therapy -- from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development EyeCanLearn.com -- a website created by a Developmental Optometrist that lists fun activities for improving vision skills A Yahoo! Online support group for vision therapy Reading Comprehension Resources I Read It, but I Don't Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers by Cris Tovani and Ellin Oliver Keene -- written conversationally, this book addresses the reasons students struggle with reading comprehension and offers strategies and examples to help them get past their difficulties Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts (4–12) by Kelly Gallagher -- "...strategies that enable your students to accept the challenge of reading difficult books and move beyond a "first draft" understanding of the text into deeper levels of reading..." 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It! by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins -- written for both parents and teachers, from a review -- "[this book]...successfully isolated the processes which are used (subconsciously) by natural readers in order to make the leap from phonics to understanding. Each one of these processes receives a full treatment, containing conceptual, demonstrative, and pedagogic angles..." Related Resources: Storynory: Children's Audio Stories for Free -- free narrated stories to play online or download to iPod or MP3 player, text available for printing, too. Excellent narrator! Beginning to Read -- what pre-reading skills do children need? Diner Resources for Learning to Read Diner Resources for Learning to Spell Trouble with Writing, too? Could it be Dysgraphia? Could trouble with math be due to Discalculia? Is Your Child Gifted? Dyslexia in the Gifted Child blindhomeschooler -- for those homeschooling children who are visually impaired You may also find this Diner page to be helpful: Curriculum for Reading Struggles, Reading Remediation and "Catching-Up" |