Guidance for Creating
Spelling Lessons
for Dyslexic Students
Creating spelling lessons for dyslexic children or adults can be a
challenging task. However teaching them the unusual truth about English can encourage confidence and independent learning. Dyslexic people really want to know how the language works.
Independent Learning:
A dyslexic person needs to have confidence to learn to spell. Once they have belief in themselves they will start learning independently. Part of the problem is that dyslexic people, deep down, don’t believe they are capable of learning. This cripples motivation.
Once a student believes in their ability to learn they will start to look at words in a different way. They will begin to dissect them with their brains, and analyse their structure. This is the first stepping stone towards independent learning.
Creating confidence:
Dyslexic people need to be taught the mechanics of the English language. You need to show them exactly how it works. They need to know that spelling is more than just simply sounding words out it is also about how you employ your memory.
You may be thinking that this complex idea will confuse dyslexic students, but it won’t. Spelling lessons that teach the fundamental principles of English help to remove confusion.
Dyslexic people are confused because they see all the contradictions in the English language. They think they are failing to understand how it works because of these inconsistencies.
The mechanics of the English language:
You need to teach dyslexic people that spelling sound by sound is only one half of the puzzle. It is also about using your memory as you spell.
Here is an obvious example of the necessity of memory when spelling:
'Through'
If someone had never seen the word ‘through’ written down there is no way they can spell it sound by sound and know that it has ‘gh’ at the end of it. You have to remember it.
Another example:
'Write'
You have to remember it has a silent ‘w’ at the beginning.
However there are also some less obvious ways that memory is required when spelling:
For example
Leads
Leeds
Phonetically these two words are identical, but the ‘ee’ sound in the middle of both words is represented with different letters.
Teach them the truth about English:
You need to teach dyslexic students that there is different ways of writing each sound.
This may seem like it is too confusing for dyslexic people. However this is the truth about how the
English language works. Teaching these fundamental principles will help to remove confusion. Click here for the Phonic Alphabetic Code Chart.
Telling students they have to learn how to spell by sounding words out alone is a lie. No one can spell every word sound by sound.
Dyslexic people are not stupid:
If you teach them the truth about spelling they will quickly gain the confidence needed to learn independently.
The dyslexic brain wants to know why? Why is the English language full of contradictions? How does it work? You need to tell them the truth.
This will remove the confusion that they feel because no
one has explained to them why the language is full of contradictions. Click here for Guidance for Creating Reading Lessons.
Conclusion:
Hopefully you found this guidance for creating dyslexic friendly spelling lessons useful. Dyslexic people need to know that no one can spell every word purely sound by sound. This will set them on the path to truly understanding how the language works.