Homework tips for children with learning disorders

First, it’s very important to know the difference between a learning difficulty and a learning disorder. While both can make after-school work more challenging, they’re two very different problems.

Learning disorders have the following characteristics:

• They’re permanent
• They’re present from the early stages of learning
• They’re neurological (e.g., dyslexia, dysorthography)
• Etc.

Learning difficulties, on the other hand, have these characteristics:

• They’re temporary
• They’re inconsistent and can appear at any time
• They can have a variety of causes (e.g., lack of motivation, family problems)
• Etc.

For kids with a learning disorder, schoolwork requires a great deal of time and effort. Consider these examples:

• Dyslexic students read two to three times slower than other readers
• Students with dysorthography struggle with memorization and spelling
• Etc

Children with learning disorders therefore tend to get tired out quickly and may experience one or more of the following, especially at the end of the day:

• Shorter attention span
• Memory blanks
• Lack of motivation
• Etc.

It’s therefore important to watch for signs of fatigue and plan homework time around your child’s energy level. Depending on their needs and schedule, you can suggest that they do the following:

• Take a nap before starting homework
• Do their homework in the morning
• Split their homework into several small tasks
• Do a relaxing activity between each task
• Etc.

Note-taking is a great way to promote active learning during homework time. It boosts retention and offers a host of other benefits:

• It’s a way for children to record their thought process
• It improves their focus
• It makes lesson review much easier
• It teaches children how to prioritize information
• Etc.

When you ask your child questions about their schoolwork, you’re encouraging them to think actively about the material and develop reasoning skills. For instance, you can ask the following:

• Could you solve the problem another way?
• How did you find the solution?
• Have you ever done an exercise like this before?
• Is there any information you could add?
• Etc.

Ask your child to read their homework instructions aloud and to explain the task in their own words. This technique, called verbalization, promotes the following:

• Long-term memory
• Concentration
• Planning
• Etc.

Tech tools like laptops, word prediction software, and proofreading software are extremely beneficial for children living with a learning disorder. If your child has access to assistive technology, remind them to make use of their device during homework time. Depending on their needs, they’ll have an easier time doing the following:

• Understanding information or communicating in writing
• Deciphering text
• Structuring and organizing information
• Carrying out mathematical, scientific, or technological tasks
• Etc.

Offering your child encouragement stimulates their desire to learn and boosts their self-esteem. Plus, it helps them stay motivated. Here are some things you can do to show your support:

• Acknowledge their efforts
• Celebrate their accomplishments
• Have an encouraging attitude (smile, be positive, pat them on the back, etc.)
• Help build their autonomy
• Etc.

Even if you do your very best, your child may need outside help to overcome their academic challenges. If so, you may want to consider getting homework assistance from an organization like Alloprof, or home support.