how to help your students

What Can Teachers Do

A key aim of the DAS is to increase public awareness and understanding of dyslexia. We have conducted Mass Screenings and free Awareness Talks at various MOE schools & public venues to reach out to many platforms of audience- educators, parents, medical practitioners and general public. Should you have a group or organisation interested in attending a presentation, please contact Ms Surjati at 9729 8531 or email [email protected]

Here are some suggestions of what parents wish teachers would do to help their children who struggle in school. These suggestions will help to create a more conducive environment in the classroom for their learning.

UNDERSTANDING

Understanding their child’s needs and learning challenges and ensuring awareness of what the child needs to be successful in the classroom. Acknowledge that the parent probably understands more about their child’s learning differences and can provide the teacher with valuable information about them.

INFORMATION

The child with learning differences can be a ‘poor postman’ and communication can break down if this form of delivery of information is relied on by the teacher. Important information should be relayed directly to the parent and not via the child.

PARTNERSHIP

Encourage parent participation by allowing parents to be involved in their children’s education. Show parents how they can help their children at home. Understand that parents want to work with teachers to help their children to be successful.

COMMUNICATE

Communicate often and openly with parents, contacting them early about academic or behavioural concerns. Being open to contact from parents about their child and specifying how this communication should occur.

ACADEMICS

Teach in a multi-sensory way and ensure that all learning styles are incorporated in teaching instructions. Accommodations are made where necessary and expecting all students to learn while helping them to do so.

CARING

Care about children, since children learn best when taught by warm, friendly, caring and enthusiastic teachers. Also, show that you care about parents and the difficulties some have with their children at home.

FAIRNESS

Providing the right support for their child in the classroom, and understanding that fairness is not giving equally to all buy giving what every child needs to be successful. Therefore, for children with learning differences this may mean more time spent with them to ensure this.

homework

Assign homework that helps their children to learn and reinforce concepts learned at school. Ensure that homework is reasonable and adjusted to their capabilities. Homework can place a lot of stress on parents to support their child at home and advice for parents on how they can work with their children at home is important.

PROMOTE SUCCESS

Ensure that each child is successful in some way. Promote success and find ways in which a child can shine. Teaching children with learning differences develops a creative teacher.

SELF-ESTEEM

Build students’ self-esteem by using praise generously and avoiding ridicule and negative public criticism. Find ways in which every child can be successful in the classroom and provide opportunities for this to occur.