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February 4, 2025
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Oh My!
5 Tips for LD Learners
By Carol S. Siege, PCC
Founder, Family Pathways Coaching, LLC
To steal from (and slightly alter) the movie Good Will Hunting: “My boys are wicked smart.”
Today, as young men, my boys are physicists, rocket scientists, mathematicians and so much more. And yet, they did not all graduate at the very top of their classes. Intelligence, ability and grit do not always translate to top grades in school. Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other learning disabilities can get in the way of succeeding in the classroom, even when our kids have high – even very high – intelligence. The key is helping our kids recognize and appreciate their abilities while at the same time learning to tackle the obstacles that learning disabilities may put in their way. Below see five tips for helping your LD learners move past some challenges they may face.
- Listen to Books as You Read Them
Dyslexia, as defined by the International Dyslexia Association, is “characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities”. It can get in the way of a reader’s ability to fully comprehend a story even when that reader has the cognitive ability to understand. One way to address the challenge of poor decoding skills is to listen to an audio version of the book as they read along, which can help your child enjoy and understand the story without getting tripped up on the language. Reading along focuses the attention and can improve reading skills.
- Watch the Movie and Then Read the Book
Another option for some dyslexic students is to watch a movie version of a novel so they understand the plot line first and then can pick up on more details when they follow up by reading the book. If they know who the characters are and how they are related, as well as what is happening in the story, it may be easier for them to understand both a character’s and the author’s motivation, as well as literary devices used by the author. Important note: This strategy only works if your child actually reads the book itself!
- Scribe for Your Kids or Use Assistive Technology
Dysgraphia, quite simply, impairs one’s ability to write and, according to the Child Mind Institute, “causes struggles with spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and overall written expression”. If your child has trouble with the physical act of writing or gets tangled up and overwhelmed by sentence structure and grammar, consider using assistive technology, or even serve as their scribe, so they can speak
their thoughts instead of having to wrestle through the actual writing. As your child gets more comfortable seeing their ideas down on paper, they may gain confidence in their ability to express themselves on the written page.
- Use Objects for Math
Dyscalculia is “a specific learning disability with an impairment in mathematics, which can affect calculations, problem solving, or both,” according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America. But students who struggle with dyscalculia are not incapable of understanding math. Consider using manipulatives, that is physical objects like blocks or coins, to help them visualize a math problem. You don’t have to call it math when you’re eating pizza, but you can still explain fractions as they see the pie being cut into eighths.
- Look for Understanding
Too often kids with learning disabilities are misunderstood. Parents, teachers, and peers might assume they’re not trying hard enough, they’re being lazy, or they’re just “no good” at a particular skill. Not so. Our LD kids often have to work much harder than other students to keep up with a class. They may need to read a book twice to really understand it, write a paper multiple times to be able to express their thoughts clearly, and study for a test for hours longer than anyone else. Not only is that extra work tiring, but it also can instill a fear that – rather than processing information differently and needing to learn information differently – they are “just not a math student,” “just not a good reader.” And those who grow up thinking they are incapable of understanding may just give up on themselves.
So, try and spend some time with your child talking about a book before they have to write an essay to help them get their thoughts together. Use everyday opportunities to help kids get more comfortable with math concepts in nonthreatening ways. And of course, congratulate them on their hard work and perseverance when they take the extra steps they need to progress… regardless of the outcome. School is a place for learning, so if your child takes a more circuitous path, be patient and help them recognize, accept and appreciate the journey.
