Dyslexia as well as other reading and writing disorders can be incredibly stressful in the life of a child. Much of a dyslexic student’s stress is caused by their sense of a lack of control over the reading process. Over and over, they have experienced frustration and continual struggle. In my work with children who have dyslexia, I have found many of them to be hard-working and determined kids. It seems as though they have had to be tough through the daily battle of sounds and words not making sense. On the other side of the coin, many are quite discouraged and feel “stupid.”
These students are harsh judges of themselves and frequently find themselves being judged negatively by others. In my private tutoring practice, I have found that some children react to their persistent challenges by becoming class clowns, and others by becoming fearful and withdrawn. The majority of my struggling readers are suffering from chronic anxiety and low self-esteem.
When I first meet a student for a reading and writing evaluation or remedial sessions, I make sure to find out what interests and excites them in an area that they shine. By talking about some positive activities, we establish a trust. Later, we are able to discuss their worries and try to understand what is easiest or hardest for them about reading. I find that identifying specific strengths and weaknesses can help students look at themselves more realistically. Becoming self-aware is the first step in launching a reasonable attack plan to build their reading muscles at a pace that is palatable. Most of the time, these students will become more accepting of themselves and start to feel capable of overcoming their significant obstacles. The students’ resilience and courage is what makes working with them a both joyful and rewarding.
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