Learning Language Arts Through Literature For My Dyslexic Child
We are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature for my dyslexic child this year. Here’s why.
It took years for my dyslexic son to learn to read.
We tried everything and then tried it again. Flashcards, educational therapy, redoing year after year of the same level of reading curriculum.
All of it helped, I think, in forming a foundation for learning to read.
But what actually helped my son become a proficient reader was language itself.
He loves stories and poetry. He memorized song lyrics, just to recite them back and hear language in action. He is fascinated by character study and deeply engaged in literary conversations far above what his grade level would suggest appropriate.
He learned to read through literature.
This year, knowing that it works so well for his learning differences, we are using literature to help him learn all the other aspects of language arts as well.
Fortunately, I didn’t need to invent anything to get started.
Learning Literature Through Language Arts is an outstanding curriculum designed to do exactly what I need for my son. It uses excerpts from short stories and poetry to create a natural interest and progression into the complexities of grammar.
We are using the Green Book – 7th grade for my son this year. Because he is both dyslexic and dysgraphic, I assist him with some of the reading and most of the handwriting. These accommodations allow him to focus on the learning at hand, engaging in the language and discovering how we use it across various writings.
An Overview Of Learning Language Arts Through Literature
Learning Literature Through Language Arts is available for 1st grade through high school.
My son’s program consists of the following:
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- 36 weekly lessons divided into easy-to-use daily plans. Mom/teacher friendly, with little or no preparation needed!
2. Three Unit Studies
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- Poetry
- Short Story
- Research
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3. Three Book Studies
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- The Star of Light by Patricia St. John
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Much Ado About Nothing – a play by William Shakespeare
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4. Each Book Study contains a summary, vocabulary skills, reading comprehension, and exciting activities.
There are both a student book and a teacher’s guide included in the program. As my son is getting older, he appreciates the independence this provides and I love fostering it.
He is particularly interested in the word puzzles, analogies, and logic/reasoning activities included in his student workbook.
Learning Language Arts Through Literature For My Dyslexic Child
Overall, Learning Language Through Literature is exactly what we needed as a next step. As my son becomes more and more confident as a reader, we are moving into the intricacies of writing.
It is of the upmost importance to me that he learn to write in ways that work well with his learning needs. This program allows him to engage in story and language first, before moving into the details of grammar and sentence structure.
It is an excellent resource for his learning style and strengths.
Interested In Learning Language Arts Through Literature For Your Child?
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Good luck and happy learning!
More Resources, Encouragement and Support:
Our Interest-Led Homeschool Curriculum: 2020-2021
17 Effective Ways To Help A Struggling Reader
Learning to Read and Homeschooling A Child With Dyslexia
Hello Shawna!
I am about to start year 2 of homeschooling my severely dyslexic son. I started All About Reading, took a few months break, and was planning to continue with some modifications, or switch to online Logic of English. My son has asked to have more online schooling as opposed to mom! Ha! (That’s why the break – we were struggling to work together at reading time; most difficult time of the day. We tried other online options.)
You are now using Learning Language Arts Through Literature. At what point did you switch from AAR to this program?
Thanks for your time and all your shared information and experiences! So much I can relate to.
Great question! We actually still use AAR for reading specific practice although much, much less these days.
We are not using Learning Language Arts Through Lit for reading practice specifically. We are using it to help my son begin to understand sentence structure, parts of speech and beginning grammar. He is 14 now and is reading much more proficiently, so this is a next step for us.
We used AAR for the better part of 5 years and I credit it for helping my son develop a strong foundation in phonics and sight word practice.
Does this help answer your question?
Hello again and thanks for your reply!
Yes, your answer helped??
My son is 9, so I think I’m just going to stick with AAR to help with developing stronger reading skills and not throw another program in the mix quite yet.
I am fully taking in your recommendations to GO SLOW!
We will start school Monday the 24th, with only 4 lessons: Animation-ish : which I just purchased and he’s so excited to use, (following another recommendation of yours – interest-led, strength-based curriculum!), then a movement : he’s just learning and having fun with skateboarding, so we will get out of the house, possibly. We are surrounded by large fires and air quality currently is unhealthy. (Yet another circumstance to worry about, and pray all involved with or affected by these fires remain safe.)
Next he will start a new online math program for no more than 15-20 minutes, (he’s excited to do math online and NOT with me!), and end with me reading a Magic Treehouse book, (short enough to finish as opposed to starting a novel just yet – keeping it light!)
He is actually excited to start school this year! And… he has asked to do reading lessons!?. First time ever! (Motivation – he wants to buy a video game which has a lot of reading in it).
So I am taking to heart all of your advice, using a slow approach to start out so as not to overwhelm both of us, and use interests and strengths as a focus for planning our days. We both have fun ideas planned for our year, incorporating all subject areas, and he’s so excited! I know rough moments, meltdowns, and tough days are inevitable, but after reading your blog, I know I’m not alone, I have some more tools in my belt to help me out, and I now know that sometimes it’s OK to just push pause and even end the school day. No learning happens when we’ve melted!
So, thank you again for sharing experiences and advice – it is invaluable!