1. Understand How Dyslexia Affects the Student
2. Help Dyslexics with Language Difficulties
3. Focus on Dyslexics Strengths
The last way you can help dyslexic students is by helping them embrace and build the skills that come naturally to them.
Recently there has been talk in the news about our current “Creativity Crisis.” Researchers have found that over the past 20 years young people have become increasing less creative. Whether this finding is perfectly accurate or not there is a reason that creativity is a concern: it is very valuable to our society.
“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono
Because of the strong right brain of dyslexics, they are often naturally creative and adept problem solvers. If you can help dyslexics focus on their creativity and problem solving abilities there will be many ways they will help our society progress in the future.
It is especially important for to help dyslexics appreciate their strengths because with their struggle with language subjects, it is easy for them to undermine their potential.
“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive and discoverers.” —Jean Piaget
This quote offers a sound insight into how you should approach dyslexic students (and all students in general). It is easy to teach what other people have already learned, but as Piaget said, it is more important for you to teach students how to learn things that have not yet been discovered.
By helping dyslexic students hone in on their creative abilities, you are helping them learn how to invent and discover new things. It is this ability that will likely provide success for them in the future.
“Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.” — George Lois
Another valuable strength of dyslexics is their empathetic abilities. Many dyslexics can easily relate and feel the emotions of others. This can be a difficult social skill for many individuals that have a dominant left brain to embody.
Dyslexics naturally possess two of arguably the most valuable abilities: creativity and social skills. When you realize this it is sad to know how susceptible they are to developing a low self-esteem. They have strengths that can lead them to success and that can enhance society in so many ways. As you work with dyslexic students be sure they know their value!
Read some of the posts from the Reading Horizons At Home blog series: “Celebrating Dyslexia”>
