Hola a todos, hello everyone, and welcome back to my page!
Today I wanted to address a very important topic that I find a lot of homeschool moms are struggling with – teaching Spanish to high school students with dyslexia or any sort of visual processing disorder. I recently received a message from a homeschool mom who was feeling overwhelmed and needed some guidance on how to approach this challenge. She had already done a TON of research... for various reasons, she had tried and found that virtual live classes, various software programs, and all sorts of apps did NOT work for her freshman student who is eager to learn Spanish. Everyone kept telling her to "just do ASL" as their foreign language. She was determined to find a way for her son o be successful in Spanish.
So, I want to share some tips and resources that may be helpful, as well as an edited video of our talk yesterday. (She gave me permission to record, because she, like me, wants to help!)
First and foremost, it's crucial to remember that every student is unique and may require different strategies to learn effectively. When it comes to teaching Spanish to a high school student with dyslexia, it's important to be patient, understanding, and flexible in your approach - semper gumbi - always flexible..
One effective method is to incorporate multisensory learning techniques, such as using visual aids, hands-on activities, and auditory resources to engage different parts of the brain. This can help students with dyslexia better process and retain information. This is where the Quick Start Guide comes in for High schoolers - you don't have time for the entire See it and Say It two year curriculum, and THAT is OK!
Additionally, finding a curriculum that you can easily adjust - the pace, the method, the repetition ability makes a world of difference. We have not yet found a Spanish program that caters to the needs of dyslexic learners, but the See it and Say it method is the most hands-on program out there. Spanish Geniuses has the ability to watch lesson videos on the students schedule, pausing, rewinding, and watching again, and yet ALSO has access to the teacher - not a different tutor or someone unfamiliar with the course or textbook. The textbook, video, and audio, along with a weekly schedule offers structured and systematic approaches to learning Spanish that benefits EVERY type of student in high school.
For homeschool moms who may feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start, take a look at this video. We talked for about 40 minutes, but I edited it down to about half the time. This sweet momma and I really hope it helps you!
You already know this, but finally, creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment at home is essential. Celebrate small victories, provide positive reinforcement, and offer plenty of opportunities for practice and repetition. This is what I try to do in our live zoom sessions as well!
To the homeschool mom who reached out for help, I hope these tips and resources help you feel more confident and equipped to support your high school student with dyslexia in learning Spanish.
Remember, you're not alone, and there's a wealth of support and resources available to help you and your student succeed. If anyone else is facing a similar challenge, I encourage you to reach out to the dyslexia community and seek guidance from experienced educators and professionals.
Additionally, be a part of the solution! Please share and comment below or on the youtube video to offer your own helpful resources for others!
I hope you found this information helpful. ¡Adiós!