I watched three dyslexia videos to learn more about supporting students with dyslexia. From those videos, I identified three key takeaways to remember when working with students. Additionally, I identified two ways to support students with dyslexia within or outside my content area. I also included one question I still have about how to support students. I included this resource in my portfolio because it shows I am proactively seeking to enhance my understanding and support for students with dyslexia!
3 things I learned that I want to keep in mind when working with students
1. 35% of all dyslexics drop out of high school, 50% of all adolescents involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation have dyslexia, 60-70% of all juvenile delinquents have dyslexia, and 1 in 2 people at NASA have dyslexia.
2. People who have dyslexia have significantly longer axon lengths. This leads to some significant cognitive advantages. People with dyslexia have the ability to look at a situation and identify seemingly disparate pieces of information and blend those into a narrative that makes sense to them that most people can’t see. This leads to success in the areas of entrepreneurship, engineering, architecture, and the arts.
3. Phonemic decoding takes 5 times more energy in a dyslexic brain than in a brain without dyslexia.
2 ways I can support students with dyslexia in or out of my content area
1. Look at the unique mindset of Dyslexics as a strength and expose them to things that they will do well such as entrepreneurship, engineering, architecture, and the arts.
2. Accommodate learning to the students in your class. There are different modalities that you can teach your lessons in. Different modalities enables a dyslexic learner to access the information without having to stumble over the text as a barrier
1 question I have about what this support might look like
1. What if the students are not interested in entrepreneurship, engineering, architecture, and the arts? Would a student’s lack of interest have an effect on the benefits?
3 things I learned that I want to keep in mind when working with students
1. Students with dyslexia need to be reminded that they are not alone in learning how to read
2. Students with dyslexia should be reminded that they are not stupid. In fact, they have mental capacities that most people don’t have.
3. Every student who has dyslexia has a different experience.
2 ways I can support students with dyslexia in or out of my content area
1. Remind students that they are not alone and that they are smarter than they realize.
2. Keep reaching out my hand. There will be harder days than others but be there to encourage the students.
1 question I have about what this support might look like
1. How do I talk to my class as a whole about dyslexia to improve classroom environment for those with dyslexia?
3 things I learned that I want to keep in mind when working with students
1. Showing students with dyslexia people who are successful and have dyslexia shows them that they are just as capable as everyone else to do great things.
2. Students with dyslexia struggle with viewing themselves as different from their peers.
3. Explaining to a student why dyslexia could be a good thing has benefits.
2 ways I can support students with dyslexia in or out of my content area
1. Show students people who have been successful with dyslexia. An example could be a study of people or have a guest speaker come in.
2. Never lie, having dyslexia means they will have to work harder than their peers to read and write, but also show them the things that make them special.
1 question I have about what this support might look like
1. What are other ways we can we inspire dyslexic students?