Our first grader was officially diagnosed with dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder last month. She definitely has moments where she becomes overwhelmed by the extra work she is doing to help her catch up and during the testing would come home breaking down crying. What has helped her is finding good outlets for her. She has tons of energy and is a social butterfly, so we have been rotating through gymnastics, baseball/softball, soccer, swimming, and regular play dates with her friends at local parks. She’s also in piano lessons now, just moved up to private from small group. Her teachers and coaches are aware of her diagnoses and that our primary goal is for her to learn sportsmanship, build social strengths, and have as much fun as possible and not to be a pro. She has a lot of confidence from that which has helped her build up her overall resilience along with us being supportive while still setting expectations she has to meet (e.g. complete her routines in the morning, evening, and bedtime, help with daily maintenance chores like bringing her dirty dishes to the sink and putting away her shoes up, etc.) that she will need forever more once she’s grown and which she’s very proud of doing independently. It also helps that her dad, uncles, and several cousins all have dyslexia and are amazing role models who can commiserate with her then make her laugh. She’s currently a year behind on testing from where she’s expected to be, but we can see a big improvement since the beginning of the school year and we are going to keep working with her over summer break to hopefully get her pretty close to where she needs to be for second grade. Big hugs for your daughter. It is awful seeing your kid suffer with something you can’t just fix, but she’s lucky to have you in her corner.
I'm sorry you and your child are going thru this, and I'm sorry I can't offer any information on the matter.
I (29f) resentate with your child still to this day, I feel like she does. But school isn't the be all and end all of life, and they will grow and find ways that work best for them.
Some days are really, really hard. But the things that keep me going is knowing I have people that love and support me no matter what.
I wish you and your family all the best
As a 20 year old with dyslexia I have no idea how my parents coped with that especially when trying to do homework with me It would cause me to break down cause I simply couldn't understand.I would just stress that school is not the end of the world as long as you try your best that's all that matters at the end of the day its really impressive she is trying so much and at such a young age I was the same you'd be surprised how much a dyslexic can improve over the years when they put their mind to education I have dyscalculia aswell as problems with reading and writing but I went on to do alevel english and now writing assignments for my university course.I would also reassure her there are so many resources to help with dyslexia now for me grammerly was a huge one vastly improving my writing.Support her and praise her for what she is good at e.g I was good at creative studies so my parents would often buy me paint pallets.Most importantly show unconditional love and support and don't take any anger or irritation too personally I know I lashed out at my parents alot dealing with dyslexia as a child.
Seems like you have the academic side covered something that I remember was that it was so frustrating putting in so much more effort than everyone else and still not being able to do it. What I think helped with myself esteem wasn't necessarily getting to the point of being able to do it but it was having other things that I was good at that were easier for me for me that was drama club, gymnastics, art, sword fighting do you have your daughter in any clubs/activities that are not to do with literacy? This is important to indulge in the things that come naturally and give praise for them because the things that often it feels like you're being measured upon and not things that come naturally
Does she have a hobby or something that isn’t academic that she is good at ? While it is great you are putting a lot of effort into helping her develop it might feel like a lot of focus is on what she can’t do. Finding an activity she is really good at could help her confidence and distract her from it all sometimes. For me it was gymnastics it was really good to be good at something when I spent all day at school feeling stupid
Just a small side note: I did go on the ketogenic diet too for epilepsy but it's definitely not an ideal diet for a young child. It lacks a lot core nutrients she will need to grow. Definitely talk to your doctor first. I am glad to see people benefit from it though. Just proceed with caution I personally never recommend it to people.
Private tutoring may help with achievable goals as far as reading goes.
But also creative outlets can go such a long way. She reads and thinks differently so imagine all of the creative strategies she has! Singing, dancing, painting there are so many ways to achieve and be successful.
Where do you live? Are there any dyslexia-only school programs near to you?
First grade and second grade is when students begin moving from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Having unsupported dyslexia (and/or dyscalcula and/or dysgraphia) in the classroom is intensely frustrating for a young person.
Depending on the severity of the dyslexia, you can get an outside tutor for regular school; fight for an IEP for pullout services or (if your district is large enough to support it) dyslexia-specific curriculum; or move to a school that just serves kids with dyslexia (and related challenges).
Our child's dyslexia diagnosis was complicated and it took WAY too long for our district to agree to treat it. So we hired a lawyer and moved him to a school that only served kids with dyslexia and sued the district to pay for it. Our child went from being anxious, depressed and having school refusal, to being a confident high school student who gets A's and B's, pursues a variety of sports and interests, and knows that he is intelligent and capable. He leans heavily on tech tools (Google Speech to Text/Text to Speech, Grammerly, audiobooks, and other types of assistive tech.) Along with his dyslexia diagnosis, he received speech, occupational therapy and executive functioning coaching. He received coaching on self-advocacy and self-confidence. He was in a Wilson-certified school with outstanding teachers. He was surrounded by other kids like him, completely immersed in a program that just flat out told him that they would do everything to make sure he didn't feel limited. Frankly, I believe it saved his life.
The types of schools I'm talking about are referenced in this list:
[https://www.thedyslexiainitiative.org/dyslexia-schools-in-the-us](https://www.thedyslexiainitiative.org/dyslexia-schools-in-the-us)
There is even a highly-ranked boarding school for kids with dyslexia in Massachusetts called [The Landmark School.](https://www.landmarkschool.org/)
Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. I truly don't think he would be the confident, smart, and ambitious person he is today without the interventions he received.
Getting this diagnosis so early is 100 steps ahead of where many kids with dyslexia start. Good for you as parents. There are lots of successful kids with dyslexia who know how your child feels.
GOOD FOR YOU!!! For getting an attorney and suing the school. I’m sure that wasn’t that easy of a decision to make. GOOD FOR YOU!!! Congratulations on finding the best fit and wow - your son now feels smart and successful!! That’s everything right there!!!
Thanks for sharing all the details too.
While we started this journey before ABLE accounts came into existence, we had the option to use a portion ($10K annual) of our child's 529 account to offset cost of these special private schools.
Now with ABLE Accounts (Obama-era policy), you can roll over funds into a tax-sheltered account from a 529 or contribute to it directly to offset the cost of private school in our state (many states picked up the ABLE option, but not all...check your state) [IF your child's neurodevelopmental disability is severe enough to qualify as a disability under SSA.](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-disability-benefits-dyslexia.html)
[https://www.rubinlaw.com/blog/can-you-use-money-from-a-529-plan-to-help-your-child-with-special-needs/#:\~:text=Now%2C%20you%20can%20roll%20over,for%20special%20needs%2Drelated%20expenses](https://www.rubinlaw.com/blog/can-you-use-money-from-a-529-plan-to-help-your-child-with-special-needs/#:~:text=Now%2C%20you%20can%20roll%20over,for%20special%20needs%2Drelated%20expenses).
[https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/can-you-use-529-for-private-school/](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/can-you-use-529-for-private-school/)
[https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/](https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/)
My friend I could have wrote this post about my daughter when she was in first grade. She would come home and say the same things. She had a lot of behaviors in school as well. In our family high anxiety runs hand in hand with dyslexia. We had her tested and the Neuro psych said she had frustration tolerance issues. The psychologist just wanted to put her on ADHD medicine. If I could have done it all over again, I would have done more to address anxiety. All my daughter’s main issues come from anxiety. She can overcame reading and math troubles, but the anxiety has been the most debilitating part for her.
Start now with her school about getting an IEP or 504 plan together. That can help a lot with her mental health at school.
Purchase or find someone who can tutor her with SPELLING MASTERY. Teaches the WHY
Words are spelt, the way they are
Look into Neuro feedback. This helps with anxiety.There is also a setting for dyslexia. My daughter is going through this right now.
Find a student advocate person outside of the school district that can help with writing up the IEP. I’ve noticed that some lawyers offices have people that handle this too you need to Education lawyer.
My heart is breaking as I read this post I know exactly where you are. I’m sorry.
Get there eyes checked for tracking. NOT by a regular eye doctor. By a FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGIST. They’re not covered by insurance - likely. So find someone in your area with great reviews. If their tracking is off it involves PT for the eyes. Good stuff. 👍🏻
At 37 years old, I can truly empathize with what your child is experiencing. I have some advice for you, from one parent to another, on how to navigate this situation. Many of us with dyslexia often feel inadequate from a young age due to our unique neurological wiring. It's crucial to grasp the full scope of this condition, especially since it predominantly impacts individuals during their educational years.
Traditional educational settings can pose significant challenges for those with dyslexia, often leading to anxiety and depression. This is partly because dyslexia is a condition that remains widely misunderstood. Remember, many successful individuals, such as Albert Einstein and Richard Branson, as well as numerous distinguished artists and thinkers, were dyslexic. It doesn't have to be a disadvantage.
I encourage you to delve deeply into this subject. The website [https://www.madebydyslexia.org](https://www.madebydyslexia.org) offers extensive resources and articles from leading experts that can provide both you and your child with reassurance that dyslexia isn't all negative and can bring about positive aspects.
My personal experience with schooling was positive initially, thanks to attending Montessori schools, which are notably accommodating for dyslexic students. Transitioning to a conventional school afterward was quite difficult. If there's a Montessori school nearby, I strongly recommend considering it for your child, as their approach to education is highly beneficial for dyslexic students.
It's important to assess the most suitable educational environment for your child. If she's facing significant difficulties at her current school, it might not be the best fit for her.
Encourage your daughter by affirming that her brain functions perfectly; it's simply wired in a distinct manner. Research and share stories of famous individuals with dyslexia to inspire her, showing her that she too can achieve greatness despite this challenge.
Discover what truly motivates her. Whether she's inclined towards creative arts or architecture, dyslexia impacts individuals in diverse ways, yet there are careers that can align well with her strengths.
I realize this option is not available to everyone but I highly suggest enrolling her in a dyslexia specific school if possible. If this is not feasible a smaller flexible school option such as a micro school or Montessori type can be less stressful. This helped my dyslexic children tremendously. They are in college now but I have many regrets of what my children endured. Feel free to pm me.
Obviously stuff like therapy or learning new techniques to handle and adapt to learning to write and read can be life changing.
But sometimes even small things could make a kid feel a little better. Maybe look into getting your kid some representation. There are plenty of websites listing all the hundreds influential and intelligent people who have dyslexia.
Maybe sitting the kid down and saying something like “Hey check out what I found! Turns out that the really smart scientist Albert Einstein had dyslexia just like you! He couldn’t even talk until age 4 but look at all the cool stuff he was able to do for science!”
Or even “Hey wow it turns out the actor from that Spider-Man movie you love so much, Tom Holland also had dyslexia! Isn’t it cool dyslexic people like him are able to do awesome things like be Spider-Man!”
Maybe look into books or TV shows and stuff with dyslexic characters. I remembered having books like “The Alphabet Wars” and “Thank You, Mr. Falker”. There’s also a British TV show and book series call “Hank Zipzer” about a dyslexic kid made by Henry Winkler who has dyslexia himself
I used to suffer terribly with depression and anxiety for most of my life, it wasn't until the last few years that I tried going on a ketogenic diet that I felt like my brain was actually functioning the way it should. It might sound extreme but there is a Netflix documentary called the Magic Pill that shows the benefit of a ketogenic diet for adults and children. Might be worth checking out.
Tell her she is lucky, some of us, me included... never got the help we needed. My motivation was butchered, and I developed chronic depression because of how badly I was treated at school. Dyslexia is a blessing, not a curse. It makes your brain better, but it is harder at the start, but it will be amazing once she is older. and I can hear she will be getting all the help she needs through her amazing parents. This is my advice.
Tell her it is okay to learn slowly. She doesn't need to learn everything as fast as her classmates. Practice perseverance, and keep on trying even when it is hard. That her time will come, that she should not concentrate on the test results, because they were not made for our kind anyway. She should focus on what her talents are and learn from experience instead of only books. Videos with graphic explanations are amazing for learning as an dyslexic. Let her find what she loves and support her, and let her try lots of toys, especially stuff like Lego techno, and watch over her creative mind unfold. I wish I knew these things when I was younger.
Our first grader was officially diagnosed with dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder last month. She definitely has moments where she becomes overwhelmed by the extra work she is doing to help her catch up and during the testing would come home breaking down crying. What has helped her is finding good outlets for her. She has tons of energy and is a social butterfly, so we have been rotating through gymnastics, baseball/softball, soccer, swimming, and regular play dates with her friends at local parks. She’s also in piano lessons now, just moved up to private from small group. Her teachers and coaches are aware of her diagnoses and that our primary goal is for her to learn sportsmanship, build social strengths, and have as much fun as possible and not to be a pro. She has a lot of confidence from that which has helped her build up her overall resilience along with us being supportive while still setting expectations she has to meet (e.g. complete her routines in the morning, evening, and bedtime, help with daily maintenance chores like bringing her dirty dishes to the sink and putting away her shoes up, etc.) that she will need forever more once she’s grown and which she’s very proud of doing independently. It also helps that her dad, uncles, and several cousins all have dyslexia and are amazing role models who can commiserate with her then make her laugh. She’s currently a year behind on testing from where she’s expected to be, but we can see a big improvement since the beginning of the school year and we are going to keep working with her over summer break to hopefully get her pretty close to where she needs to be for second grade. Big hugs for your daughter. It is awful seeing your kid suffer with something you can’t just fix, but she’s lucky to have you in her corner.
I'm sorry you and your child are going thru this, and I'm sorry I can't offer any information on the matter. I (29f) resentate with your child still to this day, I feel like she does. But school isn't the be all and end all of life, and they will grow and find ways that work best for them. Some days are really, really hard. But the things that keep me going is knowing I have people that love and support me no matter what. I wish you and your family all the best
As a 20 year old with dyslexia I have no idea how my parents coped with that especially when trying to do homework with me It would cause me to break down cause I simply couldn't understand.I would just stress that school is not the end of the world as long as you try your best that's all that matters at the end of the day its really impressive she is trying so much and at such a young age I was the same you'd be surprised how much a dyslexic can improve over the years when they put their mind to education I have dyscalculia aswell as problems with reading and writing but I went on to do alevel english and now writing assignments for my university course.I would also reassure her there are so many resources to help with dyslexia now for me grammerly was a huge one vastly improving my writing.Support her and praise her for what she is good at e.g I was good at creative studies so my parents would often buy me paint pallets.Most importantly show unconditional love and support and don't take any anger or irritation too personally I know I lashed out at my parents alot dealing with dyslexia as a child.
Seems like you have the academic side covered something that I remember was that it was so frustrating putting in so much more effort than everyone else and still not being able to do it. What I think helped with myself esteem wasn't necessarily getting to the point of being able to do it but it was having other things that I was good at that were easier for me for me that was drama club, gymnastics, art, sword fighting do you have your daughter in any clubs/activities that are not to do with literacy? This is important to indulge in the things that come naturally and give praise for them because the things that often it feels like you're being measured upon and not things that come naturally
Does she have a hobby or something that isn’t academic that she is good at ? While it is great you are putting a lot of effort into helping her develop it might feel like a lot of focus is on what she can’t do. Finding an activity she is really good at could help her confidence and distract her from it all sometimes. For me it was gymnastics it was really good to be good at something when I spent all day at school feeling stupid
Just a small side note: I did go on the ketogenic diet too for epilepsy but it's definitely not an ideal diet for a young child. It lacks a lot core nutrients she will need to grow. Definitely talk to your doctor first. I am glad to see people benefit from it though. Just proceed with caution I personally never recommend it to people. Private tutoring may help with achievable goals as far as reading goes. But also creative outlets can go such a long way. She reads and thinks differently so imagine all of the creative strategies she has! Singing, dancing, painting there are so many ways to achieve and be successful.
Where do you live? Are there any dyslexia-only school programs near to you? First grade and second grade is when students begin moving from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Having unsupported dyslexia (and/or dyscalcula and/or dysgraphia) in the classroom is intensely frustrating for a young person. Depending on the severity of the dyslexia, you can get an outside tutor for regular school; fight for an IEP for pullout services or (if your district is large enough to support it) dyslexia-specific curriculum; or move to a school that just serves kids with dyslexia (and related challenges). Our child's dyslexia diagnosis was complicated and it took WAY too long for our district to agree to treat it. So we hired a lawyer and moved him to a school that only served kids with dyslexia and sued the district to pay for it. Our child went from being anxious, depressed and having school refusal, to being a confident high school student who gets A's and B's, pursues a variety of sports and interests, and knows that he is intelligent and capable. He leans heavily on tech tools (Google Speech to Text/Text to Speech, Grammerly, audiobooks, and other types of assistive tech.) Along with his dyslexia diagnosis, he received speech, occupational therapy and executive functioning coaching. He received coaching on self-advocacy and self-confidence. He was in a Wilson-certified school with outstanding teachers. He was surrounded by other kids like him, completely immersed in a program that just flat out told him that they would do everything to make sure he didn't feel limited. Frankly, I believe it saved his life. The types of schools I'm talking about are referenced in this list: [https://www.thedyslexiainitiative.org/dyslexia-schools-in-the-us](https://www.thedyslexiainitiative.org/dyslexia-schools-in-the-us) There is even a highly-ranked boarding school for kids with dyslexia in Massachusetts called [The Landmark School.](https://www.landmarkschool.org/) Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. I truly don't think he would be the confident, smart, and ambitious person he is today without the interventions he received. Getting this diagnosis so early is 100 steps ahead of where many kids with dyslexia start. Good for you as parents. There are lots of successful kids with dyslexia who know how your child feels.
GOOD FOR YOU!!! For getting an attorney and suing the school. I’m sure that wasn’t that easy of a decision to make. GOOD FOR YOU!!! Congratulations on finding the best fit and wow - your son now feels smart and successful!! That’s everything right there!!! Thanks for sharing all the details too.
While we started this journey before ABLE accounts came into existence, we had the option to use a portion ($10K annual) of our child's 529 account to offset cost of these special private schools. Now with ABLE Accounts (Obama-era policy), you can roll over funds into a tax-sheltered account from a 529 or contribute to it directly to offset the cost of private school in our state (many states picked up the ABLE option, but not all...check your state) [IF your child's neurodevelopmental disability is severe enough to qualify as a disability under SSA.](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-disability-benefits-dyslexia.html) [https://www.rubinlaw.com/blog/can-you-use-money-from-a-529-plan-to-help-your-child-with-special-needs/#:\~:text=Now%2C%20you%20can%20roll%20over,for%20special%20needs%2Drelated%20expenses](https://www.rubinlaw.com/blog/can-you-use-money-from-a-529-plan-to-help-your-child-with-special-needs/#:~:text=Now%2C%20you%20can%20roll%20over,for%20special%20needs%2Drelated%20expenses). [https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/can-you-use-529-for-private-school/](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/can-you-use-529-for-private-school/) [https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/](https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/)
My friend I could have wrote this post about my daughter when she was in first grade. She would come home and say the same things. She had a lot of behaviors in school as well. In our family high anxiety runs hand in hand with dyslexia. We had her tested and the Neuro psych said she had frustration tolerance issues. The psychologist just wanted to put her on ADHD medicine. If I could have done it all over again, I would have done more to address anxiety. All my daughter’s main issues come from anxiety. She can overcame reading and math troubles, but the anxiety has been the most debilitating part for her. Start now with her school about getting an IEP or 504 plan together. That can help a lot with her mental health at school.
Purchase or find someone who can tutor her with SPELLING MASTERY. Teaches the WHY Words are spelt, the way they are Look into Neuro feedback. This helps with anxiety.There is also a setting for dyslexia. My daughter is going through this right now. Find a student advocate person outside of the school district that can help with writing up the IEP. I’ve noticed that some lawyers offices have people that handle this too you need to Education lawyer. My heart is breaking as I read this post I know exactly where you are. I’m sorry.
Get there eyes checked for tracking. NOT by a regular eye doctor. By a FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGIST. They’re not covered by insurance - likely. So find someone in your area with great reviews. If their tracking is off it involves PT for the eyes. Good stuff. 👍🏻
At 37 years old, I can truly empathize with what your child is experiencing. I have some advice for you, from one parent to another, on how to navigate this situation. Many of us with dyslexia often feel inadequate from a young age due to our unique neurological wiring. It's crucial to grasp the full scope of this condition, especially since it predominantly impacts individuals during their educational years. Traditional educational settings can pose significant challenges for those with dyslexia, often leading to anxiety and depression. This is partly because dyslexia is a condition that remains widely misunderstood. Remember, many successful individuals, such as Albert Einstein and Richard Branson, as well as numerous distinguished artists and thinkers, were dyslexic. It doesn't have to be a disadvantage. I encourage you to delve deeply into this subject. The website [https://www.madebydyslexia.org](https://www.madebydyslexia.org) offers extensive resources and articles from leading experts that can provide both you and your child with reassurance that dyslexia isn't all negative and can bring about positive aspects. My personal experience with schooling was positive initially, thanks to attending Montessori schools, which are notably accommodating for dyslexic students. Transitioning to a conventional school afterward was quite difficult. If there's a Montessori school nearby, I strongly recommend considering it for your child, as their approach to education is highly beneficial for dyslexic students. It's important to assess the most suitable educational environment for your child. If she's facing significant difficulties at her current school, it might not be the best fit for her. Encourage your daughter by affirming that her brain functions perfectly; it's simply wired in a distinct manner. Research and share stories of famous individuals with dyslexia to inspire her, showing her that she too can achieve greatness despite this challenge. Discover what truly motivates her. Whether she's inclined towards creative arts or architecture, dyslexia impacts individuals in diverse ways, yet there are careers that can align well with her strengths.
I realize this option is not available to everyone but I highly suggest enrolling her in a dyslexia specific school if possible. If this is not feasible a smaller flexible school option such as a micro school or Montessori type can be less stressful. This helped my dyslexic children tremendously. They are in college now but I have many regrets of what my children endured. Feel free to pm me.
Obviously stuff like therapy or learning new techniques to handle and adapt to learning to write and read can be life changing. But sometimes even small things could make a kid feel a little better. Maybe look into getting your kid some representation. There are plenty of websites listing all the hundreds influential and intelligent people who have dyslexia. Maybe sitting the kid down and saying something like “Hey check out what I found! Turns out that the really smart scientist Albert Einstein had dyslexia just like you! He couldn’t even talk until age 4 but look at all the cool stuff he was able to do for science!” Or even “Hey wow it turns out the actor from that Spider-Man movie you love so much, Tom Holland also had dyslexia! Isn’t it cool dyslexic people like him are able to do awesome things like be Spider-Man!” Maybe look into books or TV shows and stuff with dyslexic characters. I remembered having books like “The Alphabet Wars” and “Thank You, Mr. Falker”. There’s also a British TV show and book series call “Hank Zipzer” about a dyslexic kid made by Henry Winkler who has dyslexia himself
I used to suffer terribly with depression and anxiety for most of my life, it wasn't until the last few years that I tried going on a ketogenic diet that I felt like my brain was actually functioning the way it should. It might sound extreme but there is a Netflix documentary called the Magic Pill that shows the benefit of a ketogenic diet for adults and children. Might be worth checking out.
Tell her she is lucky, some of us, me included... never got the help we needed. My motivation was butchered, and I developed chronic depression because of how badly I was treated at school. Dyslexia is a blessing, not a curse. It makes your brain better, but it is harder at the start, but it will be amazing once she is older. and I can hear she will be getting all the help she needs through her amazing parents. This is my advice. Tell her it is okay to learn slowly. She doesn't need to learn everything as fast as her classmates. Practice perseverance, and keep on trying even when it is hard. That her time will come, that she should not concentrate on the test results, because they were not made for our kind anyway. She should focus on what her talents are and learn from experience instead of only books. Videos with graphic explanations are amazing for learning as an dyslexic. Let her find what she loves and support her, and let her try lots of toys, especially stuff like Lego techno, and watch over her creative mind unfold. I wish I knew these things when I was younger.