For some students, learning appears to be almost as natural as breathing. They easily master the alphabet, math facts pose no problem, and writing appears to be mostly effortless. For approximately 20% of students, however, learning is filled with hidden obstacles. Dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and processing disorders are just some of the learning disabilities that impede student progress and erode student confidence. The month of October marks National Learning Disabilities Month. In recognition of that, we are sharing a list of resources on our website that will support you as you teach your students with learning disabilities.
General Resources
- Success in Teaching Writing: A Special Education Writing Conference from IEW
- IEW’s Special Education Page
- IEW’s Special Needs Support Forum (Click here to join)
- Episode 143: Jill Pike: Struggling Learners/Special Education – Answers to Difficult Questions
- Episode 255: Success in Teaching Writing to Special Education Students, Part 1
- Episode 256: Success in Teaching Writing to Special Education Students, Part 2
- Struggling Learners/Special Education: Strategies for Teachers and Parents
- Struggling Learners/Special Education: Answers to Difficult Questions
- Celebrate the Checklist
- Take It “EZ+1”
- Working Memory and the Key Word Outline
- Understanding Child Brain Development (A Family Hope Center Presentation)
Dyslexia
- R14: SPED Struggles and Suggestions, Part 1 – Dyslexia
- Episode 197: While Andrew’s Away: Living with Dyslexia – An Interview with Chris Pudewa, Part 1
- Episode 198: While Andrew’s Away: Living with Dyslexia – An Interview with Chris Pudewa, Part 2
- Episode 231: The Dyslexic Advantage: A Conversation with Brock and Fernette Eide, Part 1
- Episode 232: The Dyslexic Advantage: A Conversation with Brock and Fernette Eide, Part 2
- Episode 159: IEW and Dyslexia: A Conversation with Susan Barton
- Hope for Your Struggling Learner
- Dyslexia: Finding Help and Hope for Your Struggling Reader
- Don’t Let Dyslexia Get You Down
- How the Structure and Style Approach Supports Reading
- From the Mailbag: What about Spelling Mistakes?
Dysgraphia
- R15: SPED Struggles and Suggestions, Part 2 – Dysgraphia
- Help for Dysgraphia – Hands off Content; Hands on Style
- So What, Exactly, Is Dysgraphia?
- Switch to Pens!
- A Case for Cursive
ADHD
Autism
- Episode 186: Help for Teachers of Autistic Students Using IEW: An Interview with Marie Greenhalgh
- Teaching Students on the Spectrum: Wisdom from the IEW Forum
Down Syndrome
General Encouragement
- The Work of a Child by Andrew Pudewa
- Crushing Comparison
- Dancing to the Imperfect Beat of Life
- But He Doesn’t Like to Read!
- Making a Way through the Murk: A Homeschool Journey
- Joy in the Journey with Delights to Discover
- Some Thoughts about Reading
- On Receiving Accommodations for ACT and SAT – A Personal Story
- Securing Your Oxygen Mask
Curriculum Recommendations
- Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A Premier (writing and grammar)
- Phonetic Zoo (spelling)
- Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization (vocabulary and comprehension)
- Primary Arts of Language: Reading-Writing Premier Package
- Cursive Knowledge (handwriting course)
As you can see, over the years we have curated numerous resources to assist teachers and families in helping their students with learning disabilities. Do you have a question about how to help your student? Contact our office. We are here to help.
While it may feel overwhelming to look at the challenges our students face day to day, remember the good things too. Every child has at least one special gift and usually many more. Nurture those gifts as you build a foundation for success. Focus on the step that lies in front of you, not the miles yet to travel. Believe it or not, eventually you will look back and be amazed at the distance you and your child have covered.
Jennifer Mauser has always loved reading and writing and received a B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1991. Once she and her husband had children, they decided to homeschool, and she put all her training to use in the home. In addition to homeschooling her children, Jennifer teaches IEW classes out of her home, coaches budding writers via email, and tutors students who struggle with dyslexia. |