Learning to spell for adults
Read and Spell Blog
Learning to spell for adults

Learning to spell for adults

Not all adults have perfect spelling skills. In fact, many have developed bad spelling habits over the years. This is even more so the case today given the nature of communication on social media networks and mobile texting.

Abbreviations are common in order to save space in posts and message chains and people ignore English capitalization and punctuation rules. It’s also the case that individuals who left school early may simply have missed out on learning how to spell in the first place.

And while spelling is only one aspect of productive language knowledge, it tends to be a rather obvious one. You may not know what a word means, but when you misspell something, everyone notices.

9 Teaching strategies for students with ADHD
Read and Spell Blog
9 Teaching strategies for students with ADHD

9 Teaching strategies for students with ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a specific learning difficulty typified by short attention span, lack of concentration and in the case of ADHD presentations that include hyperactivity, poor control of impulses. A student with hyperactivity and impulsivity might be restless, uncooperative or even disruptive in class. They can be the child who doesn’t sit still and struggles to listen. Because of their high activity level, children with this ADHD presentation can try to solve problems physically and their behavior may lead to problems with other students.

ADHD without hyperactivity, formerly known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), is now included under the ADHD umbrella and identified as ADHD with a primarily inattentive presentation. These students may struggle to focus but are often harder to spot in the classroom. They can be quiet and calm, and may seem to be paying attention to a lesson. Nonetheless, problems can show up when they are called on to answer a question or struggle to complete homework and other assignments. 

Using the right teaching strategies can help students with different ADHD presentations focus their attention, strengthen their self-esteem, and have more agency in learning. If you haven't tried a strength-finding activity, it might be a great way to start any new teaching program. Children with ADHD often receive a lot of negative attention so looking at their strengths first and understanding how their learning difficulty might actually benefit them, can help them get on board with new approaches. You can learn more about ADHD strengths and get some ideas on lesson plans in this article

16 Teaching strategies for EALs
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16 Teaching strategies for EAL and ELL students in the classroom

16 Teaching strategies for EAL and ELL students in the classroom

It can be difficult to know the best way to help English as an additional language (EAL) learners in the classroom. That’s because they are a diverse group and designated language tutors can’t always be in a lesson to help out.

EALs will inevitably experience comprehension and communication difficulties that can get in the way of learning. But that doesn't mean they always need over-simplified vocabulary worksheets.

Teachers of EALs who approach the challenge in different ways, by making classroom activities more EAL friendly, teaching strategies English learners can implement independently, making use of technology, and paring native-speaker and English language learners up to encourage scaffolding, can turn any lesson into a successful learning experience for everyone involved, even the teacher!

Typing for the blind and for visually impaired students
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Typing for the blind

Typing for the blind

Touch typing is one of the most important and useful skills blind and visually impaired children can learn. That's because it facilitates written production by eliminating the need to look at the keyboard.

When the typewriter and touch typing method were first introduced in the late 1800s, it was clear the technology would be of great importance. Schools provided instruction so individuals could learn to type, and eventually the commercial typewriter became more widely used than the Braille Writer. It enabled visually impaired children to write but also opened up new career opportunities as blind people began working as typists and transcribers.

Different types of dyslexia
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Different types of dyslexia

Different types of dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that among other things, can impact an individual’s ability to break words down into their component phonemes, a crucial skill involved in reading, writing and spelling. People with dyslexia may be highly intelligent and creative individuals but still struggle with basic literacy skills.

With the right help, these challenges can be overcome, but because no two dyslexic students present with the same set of symptoms, it is sometimes difficult for educators to identify the most effective teaching solutions.

That’s one of the reasons why researchers have attempted to group commonly observed behaviors into different categories, to make finding treatment easier and ensure dyslexic children who struggle with similar challenges can get the help they need and not fall behind their peers. Note, the keyword here is "attempted" as there are actually no subtypes of dyslexia. 

What is attention deficit disorder?
Read and Spell Blog
What is attention deficit disorder?

What is attention deficit disorder?

"Attention deficit disorder" or ADD used to be a frequently used term in the United States.

Handwriting difficulties
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Handwriting difficulties

Handwriting difficulties

When we write, we want the language we produce to be recognizable to others. Our handwriting should be legible so that it doesn't hinder the reader’s comprehension and our text must conform to established norms when it comes to punctuation, formatting and spelling.

But putting words down on paper is not as straightforward as it may seem. In fact, there’s a complex process of orthographic encoding that we rely on to help us form the letters in words and use them correctly.

If the mechanics involved in writing cause cognitive or physical strain, as is the case with most common handwriting problems, this can affect our thought process and reduce the complexity of our writing. It also results in feelings of frustration and low self-esteem.

For a child with dysgraphia or dyspraxia, conditions that often cause poor handwriting, producing written language is a struggle that can drastically affect performance at school and get in the way of a child expressing him or herself in writing.

Teaching children with Down syndrome to read
Read and Spell Blog
Teaching children with Down syndrome to read

Teaching children with Down syndrome to read

In the past, children with Down syndrome were not considered capable of processing language in the same way as everyone else. They often received either no education or limited private tutoring, and were not able to attend regular schools.

Thankfully, things are very different today. We now know that individuals with Down syndrome benefit from a comprehensive approach to education. Many can accomplish great things, learning reading and writing skills from an early age, performing to a high standard in dance or some sports, for example, attending their local schools and sometimes even going on to graduate from college or university!

The right support from teachers and parents is significant in helping these very special children thrive and achieve their potential. 

How to help a child with dyspraxia in the classroom
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How to help a child with dyspraxia

How to help a child with dyspraxia

Teaching a child with dyspraxia can be a frustrating experience due to the wide range of symptoms they may present. However, while dyspraxia is a neurological condition that commonly causes movement and coordination issues, it does not affect intelligence. Children with dyspraxia are perfectly capable of learning alongside their peers, they may just need some extra attention and support from time to time.

Awareness is the first step and can make all of the difference in helping a child to reach his or her full potential at school.

Finger placement for typing
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Finger placement for typing

Finger placement for typing

If you are considering learning how to touch-type, then you’re probably aware there is a certain base position in which to rest your fingers so they can reach all of the keys on the keyboard. But becoming a pro at typing requires more than just knowing which finger sits on which key.

First you will need to learn how to reach the keys with the correct fingers and then you’ll have to practice, practice and practice some more. Typing quickly and accurately with correct finger placement involves building up some muscle memory in your hands, so they feel comfortable reaching for keys in sequence and the movements become automatic.

5 Tips for teaching sight words
Read and Spell Blog
5 Tips for teaching sight words

5 Tips for teaching sight words

Sight words are the English words you most frequently encounter when reading. They're called sight words because if you learn to recognize them by sight, instead of having to sound them out, it makes reading easier.

This is why they are so important to teach.

When a student learns to recognize sight words automatically, it can increase his or her reading fluency and comprehension. They are useful for young children to know, but also a good idea for struggling readers.

English as an additional, second, or foreign language learners, especially those who are just getting started with reading and writing, will also benefit from studying sight words.

Sometimes you'll find sight words referred to as high-frequency words. That's because they are the most common English words used in writing. Mastering them frees up attention for processing harder and lower frequency words.