Why "More Time" and "More Practice" Might Not Be the Best Thing For Your Struggling Reader
Do you have a smart kid who is struggling to learn to read and write?
Have you been told to just give your struggling reader "more time" or "more practice"?
Is your child's teacher insisting that everything is okay despite the nagging voice in your head that's insisting that it isn't?
Is your child telling you that he or she is "stupid" or "needs help" even though you know that he or she is really very bright?
Many REALLY BRIGHT kids STRUGGLE UNEXPECTEDLY to learn to READ and WRITE.
Often, this is due to undiagnosed memory, retrieval, processing, and/or directionality issues.
Because these kids are so smart, however, many teachers and parents often think that their kids are just "not trying hard enough" or that they are "being lazy". Many often think it's just a "developmental issue" and that they will get it with "more time" and "more practice".
But "more time" and "more practice only works if the right foundation has been laid. No amount of extra time or practice will help a dyslexic child learn to read and write well if the base skills are still missing and not being filled in adequately.
And while these skills are missing and not being filled in, undiagnosed dyslexics who aren't getting the help that they need often SUFFER emotionally from constant:
1. FRUSTRATION-- Seeing other kids quickly grasp how to read and write while they just can't seem to make sense of it all
2. DIFFICULTIES-- Struggling no matter how hard they work or try
3. NERVES-- Feeling anxious and scared every time a new skill is introduced or a test is given because they have no idea if it will be something that will end up being extremely hard or easy for them
4. DISCOURAGEMENT-- Feeling like they'll never get it, never be as smart as their peers
5. FEAR-- Afraid someone will find out how "stupid" they really are, afraid that their weaknesses will be exposed in front of their friends and classmates, afraid that they'll fail and/or be retained, afraid that they will disappoint their teachers and loved ones, afraid that people working with them will get mad at them when they don't know the answer...AGAIN
6. SELF-DOUBT-- Doubting that they'll ever really "get it" or measure up
7. WORRY-- Worried that they'll get in trouble for not knowing something they once knew or that was just explained, worried that they won't be able to do what they are being asked to do, worried that they will FAIL (expecially publicly)
8. CHALLENGES-- Constantly facing new challenges and having to work harder than their peers just to keep up
9. DESPAIR-- Feeling hopeless and frustrated because no matter how hard they try, it just doesn't get any easier
10. BAD HABITS-- Guessing words, writing the least amount possible, giving up, throwing tantrums, lashing out, not paying attention
11. DISTRACTIONS-- Getting distracted by noises around them, movement, etc.
12. FAILURE-- Constantly not meeting other peoples' expectations, no matter how hard they try; receiving failing grades for tests and quizzes that they studied really hard for but just couldn't remember the information for
13. LIMITS-- Being told that they "can't check out THAT book" or be in THAT reading group
14. ANXIETY-- Nervousness over what's to come. More failure??? Embarrassment??? Difficulties??? Confusion???
15. RESISTANCE-- Wanting to avoid school and schoolwork because it's hard
16. OBSTACLES-- Having to work around memory, retrieval, processing, and directionality issues
17. STRUGGLES-- Having to learn to persevere despite constant struggles...
Dyslexia doesn't go away when a child learns to read and write, but learning to read and write certainly helps. If your child is struggling to learn to read and write, don't wait for them to "magically get it"!
Find a program that will work for your child, and make sure that he or she learns to read and write without constantly skipping words, guessing words, and/or misreading words.
Your child is counting on you. Don't let him or her continue to suffer needlessly.
