Below is a summary of some of the tips we spoke of for Coaches, Parents, and the Dyslexic Athlete.

Tips

Coaches:

• • Dyslexics are non-verbal conceptualization thinkers, they think in pictures and feelings.
  • When working with your athletes, ensure they understand the meaning of your sports specific vocabulary.
  • Think about how you are giving directions, remember that orientation can be confusing when you are on the sidelines and they are out on the field.
  • Just because someone isn’t looking at you when you speak, doesn’t mean they are not engaged and listening.
  • When new to the game or you as a coach some of your athletes will need a bit more processing time what you’re are asking them to do, so breathe a moment before verbal correction (either pulling out of the game or redirecting) BUT do know, that with time this will go away.
  • Most dyslexics need meaning and understanding of the “why” when integrating and bring new information to the long-term memory.
  • Clipboard plays can be disorienting, so make sure you athletes are familiar with how you use it before a big game.
  • Use visuals on the field/court when giving directions, words like left, right, east, up court can all be very confusing.
  • Dyslexics are usually very motivated and want to learn but can often have low self-esteem due to difficulties they have had in school.  Having your team “try” is more powerful than motivating them thru praise and or criticism i.e. telling them they are already good at that or are bad at something else, is not a powerful motivator.  Telling your team to “try” something and then praise with “wow, you really must have tried hard at that, I see your effort” will be more effective.

Parents:

• • Get buy-in from your child before you ever speak with a coach.
  • Remember coaches most often don’t have educational backgrounds or understand dyslexia.
  • Let the coach know that your child thinks in pictures and works well with knowing the why and big picture before looking into the details.

Athlete:

• • Advocate for yourself.
    • If you are someone who can’t look at someone in the eyes when they are explaining something, make sure you explain to your coach that looking away allows you to visualize and create what they are saying in your mind.
    • If you need more time to process, let your coach know it.
    • If you are confused by the plays being assigned, ask for clarification – or tell your coach back what you do understand — explain those pictures in your mind.
  • Do your research.  Get to know your sport, look up YouTube videos, know the vocabulary.
  • Do some mental training.
    • Find your focused or grounded place and learn how to get back there.  How do you get into your zone?
    • Do some self-reflection.  What do I do when I get angry, confused, nervous?  What can I do to help myself during those situations?

The post Coaching Dyslexic Athletes Part II appeared first on Learning Tools.

Teaching Multiplication Tables to Dyslexics

Rote memorization can be quite difficult for many dyslexics. Some schools use manipulatives when teaching multiplication, but require kids to move quickly to rote memorization for the times tables. Others use rhyming and clapping: a method, which asks a picture thinker to think with the sound of words, something that does not come naturally to them.

What picture thinkers (dyslexics) need is the ability to see the groups of numbers that they are quickly adding together (aka multiplying). Slow the process way down for them; it will take more time at first, but soon they will be able to see the patterns and understand multiplication, empowering them with math through the grades.

Here is an example: 4 X 6

A students ‘picture’ of 6 x 4! Learning his 6 math facts in the way that works for him!

Making groups out of manipulatives (I use colored rocks or “jewels” as I call them) provides the student a picture they created and can work with; also reinforcing the answer to the multiplication fact/groups which come before 4×6, i.e. 4×5, 4×4, 4×3, 4×2, 4×1.

The exercise should be done by the student when they are focused and can spend time playing with the manipulatives; arranging the items in a grouping that works for them and allowing them to visualize the multiplication process (adding of equal groups).  When they get the grouping the like (one that makes the most sense to them and they can quickly see)  then they need to take a mental picture of the group and label that as 4 x 6.   They can even say aloud to the group, you are 4 x 6 and when I see you I will know you equal 24.

I like to have my students show me how they visually see amounts (see photo below), then I tell them to keep that view of the number and use those visuals and grouping when they do are learning their times’ tables.  This way they can recreate the visual in their minds and actually count to get the correct answer if they can’t remember it.

A students visual of amounts.

A visual picture of numbers 5, 4, 3, and 2.

The post How to Teach Multiplication Tables to Dyslexic Kids appeared first on Learning Tools.

Getting Through to Your Dyslexic Athletes

My son is an athlete, and while over the years he has played every sport I can think of, his true love is Basketball. He loves the game and understands it quite well, but with each sport or team change there is a learning curve because of the way the coach explains plays and gives feedback. There have been some really difficult coaching transitions for him. From experience, the wrong coach can destroy a kids confidence and stifle a great player quite quickly. I have recently been thinking about this and ways to help out coaches.  Below are some helpful tips for coaches working with their athletes.

– Tips and Insights:

• The most important thing to remember is, Dyslexics are picture thinkers. They think in pictures, not words.  The clearer the picture, the better he/she will remember and understand what you have said.
• Orientation means physical position or direction of something. Knowing the orientation of something is important to build accurate pictures.   Dyslexics perceptive abilities include the ability to view things from many different angles and this can be a real gift for athletes during a game but it can mean that there orientation is not typical or in alignment to you, so words and directions from you as their coach on the sideline can be confusing.
  • Most words like forward, back, right, left, up, down all depend on orientation.   Make sure when you use these words the athlete know where the orientation is (e.g. is it “up” as in looking up at the hoop, or “up” closer to a player, or “up” the ​center of the court).
  • The best way to clear up orientation is day one of practice for the team. Hopefully for high school and college coaches this isn’t needed but I have learned different coaches use these words differently.
    • Some examples of this would be to clarify if when you say move up the court, this is what you mean, and show them.   OR maybe you want to say when I say pass left, I always mean for you to pass towards your left and then have them show you.
    • Some of the words might be used differently just in that instance, so in that case, say the object or person you want them to move up to.
  • When new plays are given, physically walk them out in practice with the whole team. This confirms everyone understands his or her placements not just the dyslexics you know about AND you can adjust as needed.
• When giving them instructions that you aren’t physically showing them, have them repeat back the picture in their mind as to what they have been asked to do.  ​
• Having plays printed out and given to each team member ahead of time can be helpful as they can study them.
• Some dyslexics have a difficult time looking straight at you when you are talking and actually listen better facing the court/pitch/field or maybe even down at the ground. It isn’t that they aren’t listening; it is just easier to not be disoriented by the expressions on your face and instead building the picture in their mind as to what they are being asked to do. So please don’t assume they aren’t listening to you or giving you the respect do to you.

This all might seem like extra work for you as a coach, but dyslexics have a gift of perception (a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting/a mental impression) and they can add so much to a team.   The extra work can be well worth the pay off! It you would like a more in-depth training on dyslexia for you or fellow coaches and you are in the Seattle area; give me a call, I would be happy to present an informational session.

Game Play diagrams can be confusing for athletes with dyslexia.

There are lots of famous dyslexic athletes, Mohammad Ali, Greg Louganis, and Magic Johnson to name a few.

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