Tips for Writing
Broken pencils. Papers with holes erased in them. Tears dripping on their paper. When a writing assignment is due, you will often see kids with dyslexia struggle. Although most kids with dyslexia have creative ideas and lots to say, they struggle to capture those thoughts on paper. Writing is complex - even for kids without learning issues, and many students receive very little direct instruction on how to write. Kids are left feeling overwhelmed and at a loss about how to begin.
Here are some ideas to help:
1. Tap into Oral Communication
Kids with dyslexia often have stronger oral language abilities than they do written language, so let's tap into their strong oral communication to support their writing. Start by orally discussing a topic to help kids prepare to write. Get kids brainstorming out loud with a naming activity: state a category and then have kids call out words that go in that category. This preloads vocabulary that kids will need to use in their written compositions. Next, engage kids in a discussion to generate a bullet-point outline that consists of words, phrases, or even pictures. Using those notes, have kids orally rehearse what they will write with a partner or parent. This can be repeated several times until the kids are confident and ready to write their paper or pencil draft.
2. Prioritize Writing over Mechanics
Of course, spelling and handwriting are important! But if you focus too heavily on spelling, handwriting, and usage in the beginning, students with learning disabilities will be paralyzed and afraid to even attempt to write at all. When it is time to write, allow students to focus on their ideas and not worry too much about mechanical mistakes. Teach spelling and grammar separately from written composition, and then guide students to apply what they have learned during the editing and revision phases of writing.
3. Scaffold Writing Tasks
Start by giving kids very specific expectations for each sentence and paragraph. For example, if students are writing a descriptive paragraph you could give them these prompts:
- 1st Sentence: State the object & category.
- 2nd Sentence: State 1st attribute.
- 3rd Sentence: State 2nd attribute.
- 4th Sentence: State its purpose and use.
- 5th Sentence: Compare to a similar object.
- 6th Sentence: Restate object & category.
At first, their writing will be very formulaic, but with practice and further direct instruction, they will learn to creatively adapt the framework.
4. Chunk Writing Assignments
Have kids complete writing assignments in chunks, such as brainstorm web, outline, introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, etc. Give feedback and allow for correction after each chunk has been completed.
5. Provide Visual Supports
Many children with dyslexia are visual learners. Providing visual supports such as graphic organizers, mind maps, or even drawing pictures related to the topic can help them organize their thoughts before writing. These visual aids can serve as a roadmap for their writing and make the process less overwhelming.
6. Encourage Dictation
For some children with dyslexia, the act of physically writing can be a barrier to expressing their ideas. Allowing them to dictate their thoughts while you transcribe can be a game-changer. This allows them to focus solely on generating ideas without the added stress of spelling or handwriting. Once their ideas are on paper, they can then focus on revising and editing with your support.
7. Celebrate Progress
Writing can be a daunting task for children with dyslexia, so it's important to celebrate even the smallest victories. Whether it's completing a paragraph independently, using a new vocabulary word correctly, or improving handwriting, acknowledge their efforts and progress. Positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivation to continue working on their writing skills.
8. Seek Professional Support
If your child continues to struggle with writing despite your efforts, consider seeking professional support from educators, tutors, or specialists trained in working with children with dyslexia. One-on-one academic therapy tailored to their specific needs can provide targeted intervention and strategies to help them succeed in writing and other academic areas.
By implementing these strategies, you can provide effective support for children with dyslexia, helping them to unlock their writing potential and build confidence in their abilities.
Get more ideas on this link:
How to Help Your Child with Writing
