Learn to Read for Kids with Dyslexia: 101 Games and Activities to Teach Your Child to Read (Phonics Makes Readers)

Update: I began this with a student and they absolutely love it! It’s very interactive and engaging. The student asked to do multiple pages a day (and this is a child who does not enjoy school). Can’t recommend enough! Original review: The activities in this workbook look engaging and align with what we know about the science of reading. I think this particular workbook would greatly benefit a child when paired with a systematic phonics book called “Phonics Parhways” or the free program Treasure Hunt Reading by Prenda (a program designed especially for those with dyslexia). I don’t think this workbook, by itself would be enough for a parent working with a child after school to correct reading struggles. But the two programs I mention are either very low cost or free and when paired with this workbook, could really help a child who is struggling. All that being said, this is a really fantastic workbook & it is very evident the author has done a lot of research on the science of reading.

I've been working on letters with my daughter since she was 3. Now that she is 6 1/2, I have finally googled symptoms of dyslexia and faced the reality that she appears to be not simply a "slow reader." I also ordered several books and studied the website of the International Dyslexia Association. That is where I learned the concepts of "structured literacy" and realized that I had long ago neglected "phonemic awareness" and moved past it before she was ready. The exercises in this workbook are the first thing I have found that specifically address this in a way that does not immediately frustrate her or turn her off the way a standard workbook does. (But she is often tired/stretched at the end of them, which is how I know she is learning--specifically, she is learning awareness of sounds that I didn't know I needed to teach.) Because so many of the exercises are picture-based and interactive in novel/unpredictable ways (spinning the paperclip to determine which picture to match the beginning sound of), they appeal to her curiosity and keep her interested. They are also easy to repeat when the concept still needs work. And they are short, so easy to find time to do AND they challenge and reinforce the concepts without being exhausting or tedious. I know that these exercises seem "easy" to a lot of people and kids, but for my otherwise bright/advanced kid whose mind is REALLY resistant to limiting her writing to the way the letters are "supposed" to go and becomes suddenly exhausted and distracted when I ask her to sound out words or letters, it is PERFECT--the early intervention I was looking for. My many thanks to the author and publisher!!

My son is about 30 pages into the book and looks forward to doing the lessons. He's in kindergarten, so in addition to school he also does 2 pages of the book 3 nights a week. Being dyslexic myself, this has been an eye opener to do along with him. I can relate to his thought process and help guide him through his struggles. There are many great aspects of the book, but my favorite part is the writing exercises for the alphabet. Each letter is demonstrated using circles and stars to show him where to place his pencil, where to draw the line, and where to end the process. He used to write all of his letters with no rhyme or reason and no particular starting or ending point. Whenever he brings work home from school, I can clearly see what letters have been practiced in the book versus the lessons the he hasn't done yet. It's a remarkable improvement! After he completes this book, I will likely order another one in hopes that the repetition of the lessons will help him build confidence and help with his poor short term memory. This is a great book with great lessons.

I definitely think this can be helpful. I'd like a whole series though. Id also like them to release a practice worksheet with all the letters only. Id also think a black and white option would be very helpful. I found some of the activities were too colorful and made my son have a hard time. He sees all the stuff and gets overwhelmed and immediately thinks he cant do it. We've switched to a different method once my son understands a bit better el go back to this.

We homeschool. We turned to this after the younger, (2 grades lower) surpassed the older child. The exercises are simple and do not take long. Between this and one of the resource, it really turned things around and now the older likes reading at least as much as the other for who it comes much more naturally.

My 6 year old really enjoys doing these activities. They are fun & challanging!

Right off the bat with lessons 1 and 2, words should have accompanied the corresponding graphics as it’s very open to interpretation what you think it’s called. For example, a picture of clouds is actually “sky.” Frustratingly, if the parent or child sees it as clouds then you have unanswered, non rhyming segments and a pause occurs which can be upsetting as these kids already feel confused or “less than.” Activity 2 repeats this frustrating issue as it has a thermometer above a man running- but the words needed are “hot” and “runner.” Also a purple circle is “dot.” Strawberry jam is actually “jar.” Parents likely need to review the lesson ahead of time so both of them don’t feel frustrated with it. It’s not pick up and go either. There are lessons that require tools. They might be basic but a parent needs to look ahead and have those on hand. We didn’t have paper clips for example and that was required for the spinner in a game.

This book helped my great grandson reed. The teacher saw improvement.

Interesting, simple and helpful

Can try

Lots of fun reading activities for my grade 1, systematic learning, helped alot

Beautiful book and very colourful. As an educator would highly recommend it. My only criticism is that I could not use it for 12 year olds...more between 7 and 10 year olds; primary schools.

I have been working through loads of different ideas to try and make things easier for my son. This book is inviting because of the colours and activities. I would say you need to read each activity first so that you know what is expected before doing it together so they don't try and get out of doing it. To anyone even looking at this review, the fact you are looking to provide additional support for a person who has Dyslexia is brilliant, this book will help. Life is tough and Dyslexia makes it so much harder - but it is only a hitch :-)