Parents and teachers and the dyslexic child

Parents and teachers and the dyslexic child:

Not many parents are willing to come forward and acknowledge that there is something wrong with their child. This attitude in turn leads to problem for the child. When the child is young they brush it away saying he or she is only a child. When he or she grows up every thing will be all right and there in lies the problem.

Teachers punish a child for not being able to read or spell or do maths and this is often a physical abuse. Parents in their turn put a lot of stress on the child with their high expectations and if the child fails to meet these expectations he or she is consistently chided or abused.

In many cases a child who has been labeled as having a behavioural problem is really suffering from a learning disability. Without testing this may go unrecognized. The parents should help in following ways.

1.     Manage his or her time.

2.     To put things in its place

3.     Help with his or her homework

4.     Help him with his or her reading

5.     To focus his or her attention.

6.     To take right book to school

7.     By giving precise clear instruction

8.     By not punishing him or her for his or her childishness delay in completing his work etc.

9.     By giving him or her constant positive inputs

10.                        By instructing him or her with more do' s than don' ts

11.                        By imparting social skills, like interaction, communication, giving respect to elders etc.

The teachers can try to meet the special needs of the children by identifying the areas of special interest and talents and help the child to build on strengths. They can help by:

1.     Giving less written class work and home work

2.     Testing them orally

3.     Giving marks for consent without reducing marks for grammatical and spelling errors

4.     Marking less red lines in the notebook

5.     Introducing abstract ideas through pictures and objects.

6.     Giving precise, clear and short instructions

7.     Giving extended time to finish tests.

8.     Reading the question paper during the class

9.     Maintaining eye contact during the class

10.                        Not punishing the child for messy work and poor handwriting.

11.                        Emphasising on quality work rather than quantity

Avoiding punishments for minor misbehaviour in the class.