Parents Learn About Remediation Methods for Children With Dyslexia

Parents learned about various remediation methods which are being used to help children with reading disabilities during a special presentation Tuesday night hosted by the Hasbrouck Heights school district.

Maria Kimmens, of the which has a location on Division Avenue in the borough, addressed the parents about Orton Gillingham Literacy strategies which are used at the center, provided background on dyslexia and its forms, and shared some exercises parents can do with their kids to further help them in their remediation. 

Twenty percent of the population has dyslexia, which is neurobiological disorder which can run in the family, Kimmens explained. Unfortunately many children are mistaken for being lazy or uncooperative and that can be harmful to their self-esteem.  Kimmens said, “It’s painful to watch kids struggle and feel bad about themselves and it leads them to become afraid of trying to learn so we have to turn that around.”

Children with dyslexia are very bright and most are at average or above average intelligence  but they are unable to decode words and break them down, she explained. They may be good in math but they will reach a point where the trouble with reading will being to interfere with math work as word problems come in, she said.

She explained multi-sensory strategies which help make abstract concepts concrete helping them in their remediation such as using something as simple as one’s fingers to help break down words and sound them out. She held up her hand adding one finger for each three words in the letter cat while sounding out each letter.  Kimmens also mentioned using a white board with magnets so the children can pull down each letter while making its sound to spell.

Repetition is also key in helping children remediate, Kimmens explained, adding that it can take a child with dyslexia up to 40 times until something can be recalled automatically. Other methods used are tracing out letters on paper or by using a sand tray. 

Remediation is basically helping a child get from below average to above average and she’s seen it happen. She told a story about a 17-year old student who was reading at grade level one when he started coming to the Children’s Dyslexia Center. In just six months time, he was reading at fourth grade level. She said the student really kept his self-esteem intact and made a lot of growth.

One parent told Kimmens that improvement is already showing in her child who recently began attending the center, including an increase in the child’s self-esteem.

Kimmens told parents they can work with their kids while driving in the car or cooking in the kitchen stating that children really do love such activities. She explained starting with an easy word like cake and then change the C to a B sounding out the letter and then making them making them repeat the new word as Bake. There are many awareness activities parents can even find online if they want to help their children at home, she advised.