Homework and Dyslexic Students

Homework time can be an extremely stressful time for a dyslexic child. But, there are simple ways to help relieve some of that stress. The first and most important way is for you to remember that the child is not lazy. Your child’s school teacher may have told you that they just need to try harder, but this may not be true. He or she is working extremely hard to complete the homework that has been given.

How to Help the Dyslexic Child with Homework

So, how you can you help the dyslexic student get through the hassles of homework? That will depend on your child’s age. An early elementary child may need your help reading directions for homework and understanding multi-step directions, while an older elementary, middle school or high school student may require assistance in reading chapters, writing essay answers, or short answers.

If your child has multiple choice homework, he or she may need your help reading this to keep them from getting too tired which can make any remaining homework that much more difficult. You should also ask your child’s teacher for a word list for any fill in the blank questions. With upper elementary, middle school, and high school students, and even some college students, getting text books on tape will greatly assist the child in their ability to understand and retain the information.

Making sure your child has the correct information for homework is always a challenge. Try working out something with the teacher where they check to make sure that your child has written homework instructions correctly. Some schools offer online homework assignments which is an incredible help for dyslexic students – use it!

Once you have the correct homework assignment here are some strategies to try:

Help Your Child to Organize

Helping your child learn to organize homework is a skill that can follow them through school and college and into their own home life. There should be times set aside at the beginning and end of every homework session to organize papers. Teach your child, how to separate homework, tests, and notes from class in their notebook. Show your child how to make sure homework that is waiting to be turned in is in a spot where it can be easily retrieved. Doing this will also help to reduce stress in the classroom; you can imagine how upsetting it is for your child to have homework finished and not be able to hand it in on time because they can’t find it in their notebook.

Keep a Second Set of Schoolbooks at Home

Sitting down at home to do homework and finding out that they do not have the correct books with them is an extremely stressful situation, however not uncommon for dyslexics. Keeping a second set of schoolbooks at home will help reduce the stress of having to remember which books are needed each night.

Get a Set of Audio Books

Order a set of your child’s textbooks on tape through Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic. If your child has an IEP, individual education plan, or a 504 through your public school system, receiving these books should not be a problem. Having the audio books at home will allow your child some independence. They can follow along with their second set of textbooks and listen to the reader. This allows them to comprehend the information necessary and answer any questions that might be assigned.

Set Up a Quiet Workspace

Make sure you have a quiet space to do homework. This space needs to be free from distractions since dyslexics are easily distracted and need to be a little focus on the task at hand.

Maintain a Consistent Time to do Homework

Having a consistent time to do homework will help your child to organize time and know what to expect. Keeping to a routine will help the your child know when to sit down to complete the homework.

Alternate Ways of Completing Homework

Work with your child’s teacher and see if there are alternate ways of completing homework that will be acceptable to the teacher. If your child has work that needs to be written, perhaps you can arrange for dictation to be accepted. Work with your child’s teacher to see if you can come up with an alternative to a long written book report; perhaps a PowerPoint demonstration or a presentation given from the point of view of one of the characters would be acceptable.

Most dyslexic children have marvelous memories and need to be taught in a way that will allow them to continue to increase their knowledge. It is easier for them to learn through spoken word. They need assistance learning through written language.

Children that are dyslexic don't have problems learning. They have a problem ingesting the information and in expelling that information in a way that's being requested by most teachers. Creativity from the teachers in both teaching and evaluating what the students have learned will enable the dyslexic child to be evaluated in a fair manner. These children are very eager to learn and deserve every opportunity to do so.

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