Homeschooling a Child With Dyslexia – Part 2

In a previous article, I shared our journey of discovering that my oldest daughter had dyslexia and how we eventually found a reading program that made a real difference for her. If you haven’t read that post yet, it’s titled “Homeschooling a Child with Dyslexia” and I encourage you to go back and read it for some important background.

Today, I want to follow up and share some of the specific strategies and curriculum tweaks we used along the way—before we found the program that really helped her make big progress.

Because as many of you know, when you’re homeschooling a struggling learner, you can’t just hit pause on all the other subjects while you look for answers. You have to keep going. And that’s what we did.

Reading Everything Aloud to a Child with Dyslexia

In the early years, I had to read almost everything aloud to my daughter. At the same time, I continued trying to teach her to read with whatever program we were using at the time. She made small strides here and there, but it was very slow going.

Eventually, she was able to read small portions on her own. We developed a system: she would read a paragraph, then I would read the next, and so on. This back-and-forth method worked well for us, especially as she began to build more stamina.

I also noticed that when her eyes got tired, her reading accuracy dropped. She would start off reading fine, but as time went on, she began misreading more and more words. That was my cue to take a break—or be done with that assignment for the day.

Working With His/Her Strengths

One thing I eventually realized was that my daughter had a great auditory memory. If she heard something, she could often remember it well. I wish I had understood this earlier! If I had, I would’ve focused more on teaching things like math facts orally rather than visually with flashcards. This approach might have helped her retain information more easily.

The takeaway? Pay attention to what your child is good at, and look for ways to incorporate their strengths into everyday learning.

Using Audiobooks for Curriculum Reading

Another helpful strategy when homeschooling a child with dyslexia is to use audiobooks for subjects that require a lot of reading.

I especially loved using LibriVox.org, a free online resource with audiobooks of public domain works. You’ll find classics like Heidi, Treasure Island, The Boxcar Children, and so many more. If your curriculum includes literature-based reading, this is a wonderful (and free!) way to support your dyslexic child. Here is a sample of what you can find if you decide to purchase audio books instead. Click Here My little piece of advice when looking for audio books is to try and find unabridged versions, so you get the story in the author’s original words. Trust me, it’s always better that way.

Even if your child can read on their own, giving them a break with an audiobook can reduce fatigue and help them enjoy the story without the frustration of decoding every word.

Using Line Trackers for Eye Guidance

To help with eye tracking, we sometimes used a ruler or index card underneath each line of text. This helped her focus on just one line at a time while reading, which made a big difference.

You can also purchase reading line trackers online—some even come in transparent colors, which can be helpful for children who struggle with the contrast of black text on white paper. While I didn’t use the colored ones with my daughter, I’ve heard from other parents that trying different colors can be helpful since some kids respond better to certain shades. Click here to view some reading trackers online.

This is a simple, inexpensive tool worth exploring.

Be Mindful of Their Energy—and Yours

Homeschooling a child with dyslexia does take more time. There’s no getting around that. They’ll likely need more one-on-one attention, and lessons may take longer. But it’s worth it.

At the same time, it’s important not to create a crutch for your child by doing everything for them. If they can read a portion, encourage them to do so. If they can handle a task independently, let them try. Support them where needed, but don’t go beyond what’s truly necessary.

Of course, every child is different. My daughter had what I would call moderate dyslexia, so she eventually learned to read fairly well. But for a child with more severe dyslexia, you may need to adjust how much you assist. Just make sure the support you’re offering is targeted and helpful—not enabling or overwhelming.

A Word of Encouragement

I hope this article has given you a few practical ideas to try as you homeschool your child with dyslexia. Whether it’s reading aloud, using audiobooks, introducing a line tracker, or just being mindful of when to take a break, every little adjustment can make a big difference over time.

Remember, you are not alone in this. And you don’t have to have all the answers today. Just take the next right step—and keep trusting that God will provide what you need for the journey.

Stay strong, mama. You’re doing a great job.

~Mary

~”…and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” Prov. 16:21

I would love to know your thoughts and if you have you have any questions.

Please send me an email Mary@whatabouthomeschooling.com

As an Amazon associate, I earn from from qualifying purchases.