dysTalk Questions I Have Not Found A Definitive Answer For - Dyslexia - Forum - dysTalk

My son has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. I try to research as much as possible, but I am still left with a few questions (and no definitive answers) on how to handle some issues that we are facing.

1. Will the way my son writes letter and numbers backwards or in the wrong position (i.e., 51 for 15, 3’s backwards) ever go away?

2. During homework, should I correct every mistake (which means stopping him every other answer) or allow him to continue on (i.e, so long as the answer is right – let the number and letter reversals go uncorrected, including spelling)? I am conflicted on this for the following reasons:

a. He needs to feel a sense of independence and pride that he is working on his own and mom hovering over every stroke is definitely not leading to him feeling independent or prideful.

b. On the other hand, I understand that for every reversal he makes, it would take 10 correct writings in order to erase that incorrect memory trace so I feel that every time I allow a reversal, I am contributing to the problem.

c. Same issue with reading – he confuses simple sight words that he has already mastered when reading in context. I usually use my finger to help him follow text, and if he misreads, I double tap it so he knows to try again. Should I just let his reading flow as he reads (even with mistakes) or is stopping him every 4 words the right approach?

3. At what point would it be beneficial to allow him to keyboard his work? Since he is only in the 2nd grade I thought it may be too early. I want him to have a basic foundation of how to print, but at this age and stage he is still non-automatic and labored. His letter formations are completely incorrect – he begins his letter formation from the bottom, rather than the top, and thereafter his strokes are backwards – going right instead of left and vice-versa. I felt that it would be important to allow him to reach a level of handwriting mastery, but I am not sure that is possible?

3. What teaching methods are best for math? (i.e., math facts, his recall seems to be automatic only about 20% of the time – the rest of the time he has to use a number grid). Do dyslexic children respond to memorization of the facts like a non-dyslexic child would? Is memorization practice beneficial or is there another method I should be using to help him master these basic facts?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer! Also, if there is a specific source from which you can site the answers, that would be awesome - as I have to PROVE what is best for my son to the school.

12/10/2010 14:30:11
MommaBear (Member)