TEACHING RESOURCES TO

ASSIST STUDENTS WITH

DYSLEXIA IN THE CLASSROOM

Benjamin Owen, Dylan Agnew, Paul Bartley,

Oliver Baggiano & John Connell

BENJAMIN OWEN

Introduction to Dyslexia: Definitions and Policy

Advice

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?The International Dyslexia Association present the following definition:

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is

neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties

with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor

spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically

result from a deficit in the phonological component of

language that is often unexpected in relation to other

cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom

instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems

in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience

that can impede growth of vocabulary and background

knowledge.”http://eida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?The International Dyslexia Association present the following definition:

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is

neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties

with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor

spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically

result from a deficit in the phonological component of

language that is often unexpected in relation to other

cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom

instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems

in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience

that can impede growth of vocabulary and background

knowledge.”

http://eida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?The International Dyslexia Association present the following definition:

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is

neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties

with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor

spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically

result from a deficit in the phonological component of

language that is often unexpected in relation to other

cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom

instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems

in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience

that can impede growth of vocabulary and background

knowledge.”

http://eida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/

Students with dyslexia may have issues with:

• Processing and working with the sounds in words

(phonological difficulties)

• Word recognition

• reading and comprehension (slow/lack of fluency,

difficulty decoding words)

• Writing (spelling, grammar and forming sentences)

• Multi-tasking (especially involving reading/writing)

• Remembering lists or series of information

• Retaining verbal instructions

• Memory, Organisation and Time-management

http://www.speld-sa.org.au/faq/dyslexia.html

DYLAN AGNEW

Resource to Assist Teachers in Designing Lessons

for Students with Dyslexia.

LESSON PLANS AND STRATEGIES

Wealth of available information

Teachers are time poor

Resource: a reference sheet

A reminder when planning lessons

Example

Will there be opportunities to articulate ideas aloud?

Plenty of notice given for any up front presenting by the

student?

LESSON PLANS AND STRATEGIES

Could be developed further and tailored to the

student (NEP)

Does not give specific learning activities

A helpful reminder and a quick reference

Example Have I given clear and specific instructions? Have I engaged a range of senses in assignments or projects?

PAUL BARTLEY

Resource: TES Australia – Designing and

Preparing Worksheets for Students with Dyslexia.

WHERE TO GET WORKSHEETS?

Many available sites

One example TES Australia (Free to join)

Teacher resources

Student activities

www.tesaustralia.com/specific-learning-difficulties-sen-

teaching-resources

TES AUSTRALIA

Tried, tested and reviewed worksheets and

resources

Advantages – free to join, lots of content

Disadvantages – Lots of content (need to examine

individually)

NON-DYSLEXIC WORKSHEETS ARE ALSO

AVAILABLE, BUT REMEMBER …….

Use headings

Avoid blank ink on white paper (eyestrain) Soft colour paper

Not Glossy

Use appropriate font type, size and colour, and paragraph formatting

Important information (ie instructions) Bold to highlight (not underline or italics)

Text boxes

Number vs dot points

OLIVIER BAGGIANO

Resource: XMind – Engaging students with

dyslexia through concept maps.

DYSLEXIA: RIGHT BRAIN LEARNER

1. Think in “images” (Visual intelligence)

2. Think in whole: whole lessons, chapters, concepts, etc.

3. Struggle with topics taught over multiple days

4. Need to see the forest before the tree

5. Lesson best learned if completed in one sitting

6. Top/down processing

7. Need help to put individual parts in a sequential order

Right Brain Learner

http://www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com/how-teachers-can-

accommodate-the-dyslexic-student/

DYSLEXIA: RIGHT BRAIN LEARNER

1. Think in “images” (Visual intelligence)

2. Think in whole: whole lessons, chapters, concepts, etc.

3. Struggle with topics taught over multiple days

4. Need to see the forest before the tree

5. Lesson best learned if completed in one sitting

6. Top/down processing

7. Need help to put individual parts in a sequential order

Concept

Map

http://www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com/how-teachers-can-

accommodate-the-dyslexic-student/

BENEFITS OF CONCEPT MAP

1. Visual memory stronger

2. Non-linear information

3. Demonstrate relationship

4. Free of grammatical structure

5. Colour and images act as anchor

1. Facilitate recall

2. Stimulates memorization

6. Planning and organisation tool

Lami, G. (2008) Dyslexia And Concept Maps: An Indispensable Tool for Learning. Proc. of the

Third Int. Conference on Concept Mapping

APPLYING CONCEPT MAP

Introduction to

unit/lesson

Student activity/

assessment

Group projectClass-wide brainstorming

CONCEPT MAP WITH XMIND

• Free software / Easy to use

• Present topic/unit as a whole

• Many templates available

• Allows for “floating ideas”

• Relationship labeling

• Notes, images, symbols, etc.

• Student learning tool(share)

• Email and further brainstorm

https://www.xmind.net/

JOHN CONNELL

Resource: Dexteria Dots – assisting students to

learn number facts.

MATHS STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA

• Able to understand

maths

• Struggle to remember

number facts

THE WAY FORWARD

Strongly use visuals to teach maths (Sunderland,

2014)

“activities that involve visualizing, walking, and

talking out problems are effective” (Woodin,

2015)

i.e. Link the concrete and spatial with the

abstract

THE APP TO ASSIST

Dexteria Dots

How it works

Numbers demonstrated

in multiple visual ways

Colours

Spatially

Numbers

Emphasizes multiple

ways to achieve a

problem

Give students the

opportunity to discover

relationships by

exploring

Costs money $2.99:

school or parents to pay

for it?

Apple only product –

need an IPad or IPhone

Only goes up to 10.

Pros Cons

Dyslexia is recognised under the Disabilities Discriminations Act 1992 and Disabilities Standards for Education 2005 as a disability and so there is a legal obligation that Educational institutions:

“make reasonable adjustments to enable children and students

with disability to participate in an education program or service on

the same basis as children and students without disability.”

DECD Policy Statement - Children and Students with Disability

Students who meet the eligibility criteria for the

disability support program require a Negotiated

Education Plan (NEP) which documents the needs

of and the required support for the student.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Resources presented in this talk:

Cheat sheet (lesson plan aid)

TES Australia

Concept map

Dexteria Dots

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

USEFUL SITES WITH GENERAL INFO ON

DYSLEXIA (BEN)

http://eida.org/

http://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/teachers.html

http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

http://www.dyslexia-australia.com.au/index.htm

http://www.speld-sa.org.au/faq/dyslexia.html

http://www.adelaidespeech.com/dyslexia-and-apd-

are-they-related/

LIST OF RESOURCES WITH LINKS TO

FURTHER INFORMATION

Dylan – Handout sheet

Paul – Tes Australia: www.tesaustralia.com

Marking document www.tesaustralia.com/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=629488

3

Olivier Tutorial for XMind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meqQJsRnzwM

Download XMind: https://www.xmind.net/

John Tutorial on Dexteria Dots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c2wg7dHHDc

Buy Dexteria Dots: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/dexteria-dots-get-in-touch/id815345306?mt=8

REFERENCES

BEN’S REFERENCES

Dyslexia | SPELD SA. 2015. Dyslexia | SPELD

SA. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.speld-

sa.org.au/faq/dyslexia.html. [Accessed 11 August

2015].

International Dyslexia Association, 2015.

Definition of Dyslexia [ONLINE] Available at:

http://eida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/ [Accessed 11

August 2015].

DECD, 2015. Policy. Children and Students with

a Disability. [ONLINE] Available at

http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/policy/pages/OSPP/474

27/?reFlag=1 [Accessed 11 August 2015].

DYLAN’S REFERENCES

Dyslexia Victory Online Teaching Solutions for Dyslexics. 2015.

Dyslexia Victory Online Teaching Solutions for Dyslexics.

[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com.

[Accessed 11 August 2015].

Helping dyslexic children within the classroom.. 2015. Helping

dyslexic children within the classroom.. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.dyslexia.com/library/classroom.htm. [Accessed 11

August 2015].

Practical tips for teachers in enhancing learning experiences -

Dyslexic Students' Guide for Academics - The University of

Melbourne. 2015. Practical tips for teachers in enhancing learning

experiences - Dyslexic Students' Guide for Academics - The

University of Melbourne. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.unimelb.edu.au/accessibility/guide/dyslexia-2.htm.

[Accessed 11 August 2015].

PAUL’S REFERENCES

TES Australia - Free F-12 Resources By Teachers, For Teachers . 2015. TES Australia - Free F-12 Resources By Teachers, For Teachers . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.tesaustralia.com/. [Accessed 11 August 2015].

Dyslexia-Friendly Marking Guidelines - Resources -TES Australia . 2015.Dyslexia-Friendly Marking Guidelines - Resources - TES Australia . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.tesaustralia.com/teaching-resource/Dyslexia-Friendly-Marking-Guidelines-6294883/. [Accessed 13 August 2015].

Dyslexia Support Services, 2015. How to Prepare handouts for Dyslexic Students [ONLINE] Available at: http://dyslexiasupportservices.com.au/pdf_files/HowtoPrepareHandoutsforDyslexicStudents.pd[Accessed 13 August 2015].

OLIVIER’S REFERENCES

HOW TEACHERS CAN ACCOMMODATE THE DYSLEXIC STUDENT. 2015. HOW TEACHERS CAN ACCOMMODATE THE DYSLEXIC STUDENT. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com/how-teachers-can-accommodate-the-dyslexic-student. [Accessed 11 August 2015].

Course: Supporting Students with Dyslexia v2. 2015. Course: Supporting Students with Dyslexia v2. [ONLINE] Available at: http://dlb.sa.edu.au/specedmoodle/course/view.php?id=10. [Accessed 11 August 2015].

ThinkBuzan, Mind Mapping. Scientific Research and Studies [ONLINE] Available at: http://b701d59276e9340c5b4d-ba88e5c92710a8d62fc2e3a3b5f53bbb.r7.cf2.rackcdn.com/docs/Mind%20Mapping%20Evidence%20Report.pdf [Accessed 11 August 2015]

Sellers, C., Dyslexia and Mind Mapping. [ONLINE] Available at https://pkab.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/chrissellersarticledyslexia.pdf [Accessed 11 August 2015]

Lami, G., 2008 Dyslexia and Concept Maps. An Indispensable Tool for Learning [ONLINE] Available at http://cmc.ihmc.us/cmc2008papers/cmc2008-p223.pdf 9 Accessed 11 August 2015]

JOHN’S REFERENCES

Dyslexia: Mastering Math - Homeschooling with Dyslexia. 2015.

Dyslexia: Mastering Math - Homeschooling with Dyslexia.

[ONLINE] Available at:

http://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/dyslexia-mastering-math/.

[Accessed 11 August 2015].

Dyslexia - Crystalinks. 2015. Dyslexia - Crystalinks. [ONLINE]

Available at: http://www.crystalinks.com/dyslexia.html. [Accessed

11 August 2015].

Dexteria Dots - Get in Touch with Math - YouTube. 2015.

Dexteria Dots - Get in Touch with Math - YouTube. [ONLINE]

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c2wg7dHHDc.

[Accessed 11 August 2015].

Demystifying Math Struggles * The Yale Center for Dyslexia &

Creativity. 2015. Demystifying Math Struggles * The Yale Center

for Dyslexia & Creativity. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/math.html. [Accessed 11 August 2015].