If you were to search “famous people with dyslexia,” you’d see a Who’s Who list of remarkably talented individuals. For example, many experts attribute Albert Einstein’s language difficulties to dyslexia. Other high performers like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Tim Tebow, along with great authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jules Verne, and Agatha Christie—all likely share dyslexia. If this condition runs in your family, know that you’re in good company.
Many dyslexic children are highly intelligent and creative but have difficulty with reading and writing. This struggle is not uncommon. According to the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), around 15-20 percent of the U.S. population may experience dyslexia. Because children with dyslexia tend to get left behind in school, homschooling presents a unique opportunity for parents to tailor a curriculum to the specific needs of the child.
Create a Dyslexia-Friendly Environment.
Structured routine benefits dyslexic children. Establish a daily schedule that includes regular breaks for movement to avoid fatigue and frustration.
A quiet workspace ensures that your child can concentrate deeply. Minimizing background noise and interruptions is essential.
Comfortable seating and good lighting can reduce strain and make reading easier. Every child and home environment is different, meaning you’ll find ways to optimize your space for comfort and focus.
Use Multisensory Methods.
Visual aids such as flashcards, charts, and color-coded materials may help your child understand and remember information. As your child matures, you may also want to experiment with their underlining or highlighting key words and using visual organizers like tabs and sticky notes.
Auditory support like listening to audiobooks, repeating information out loud, and recording one’s own voice for later playback emphasizes sound patterns.
Hands-on activities like playing with magnetic Scrabble tiles, writing in sand, or shaping words with playdough can make learning more memorable. Abeka’s learning games collections may also be a helpful resource to you, like this one for K4-K5.
Leverage Technology.
Text-to-speech readers like NaturalReader and ReadSpeaker convert text to spoken word, allowing dyslexic learners to follow along and improve their reading comprehension in the process.
Speech-to-text software like Dictate in Office 365 and Speechtexter allow students to dictate their thoughts, a practice which can be particularly helpful for writing assignments.
Dyslexia-friendly fonts like sans serif (of which Arial is a member) can help dyslexic readers because these fonts look less crowded. You may want to experiment with larger font sizes and varying background colors to help determine your child’s preference. (Many e-books now allow you to adjust these elements.) Also, if you’d like to try out the famous Dyslexie font, you can research and download the free extension here.
Adapt Your Curriculum.
Phonics-based programs like Abeka have proven highly effective for dyslexic learners. The Abeka program is structured, step-by-step, with built-in systematic review. Morphological awareness—a focus on the smallest units of meaning in the English language—is also key to reading success for dyslexic learners, as the International Dyslexia Association notes. Abeka’s Language Arts program has a good track record for building a solid morpheme knowledge base.
Cursive handwriting is encouraged by the IDA, which notes in its article “Why Bother with Cursive?” that “lower case cursive letters can begin on the line, so fewer of them are likely to be reversed.” Plus, cursive has proven to be good brain exercise.
Repetition and review are key for dyslexic learners. Regular review sessions can reinforce concepts and ensure retention, enabling the Spiral Approach that is key to the Abeka curriculum’s success.
Encourage a Growth Mindset.
Celebrate effort by praising your child’s hard work, persistence, and progress, no matter how small.
Provide resilience models by sharing stories of successful individuals who have overcome challenges. Many diagnosed with dyslexia as adults can recall believing themselves to be “too dumb to learn” as children. With the proper focus on resilience and growth, this self-image issue is not one that your child will have to experience. Share how even mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.
Encourage self-advocacy by teaching your child to ask questions, seek help when needed, and express concerns. For now, you are your child’s strongest advocate in a world that doesn’t cater to dyslexia—but you’re training your child for a meaningful and independent adulthood.
Build a Support Network.
Join a dyslexia support group for parents in your community or online. These groups provide a space to share experiences, resources, and advice.
Consult professionals like speech therapists and dyslexia specialists who can offer expert guidance and support.
Engage with homeschooling communities that provide additional resources, social opportunities for your child, and mutual support for parents. A great place to start is our Facebook group, Abeka All Access. You can connect with other homeschool families, get exclusive access to Abeka associates, and find some words of encouragement and inspiration for your family’s journey.
Involve your friends and family by educating them about dyslexia and how it influences your child’s learning process. Their understanding and support can create a more supportive environment for you and help them curate gift ideas (like which birthday books to buy your child). Also, since dyslexia is considered genetic, you may have an elderly family member who could benefit from the information as well.
Homeschooling a dyslexic learner presents unique challenges, but it also offers an unparalleled opportunity to provide personalized and effective education. Every child is unique, and finding the right balance of strategies and resources may take time. Patience, persistence, a positive attitude, and prayer are key to helping your dyslexic child reach the fullest potential. Best wishes as you foster your child’s language learning!
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