by Abigail Marshall, DDAI Information Services Director
©DDAI. Reprinted with permission

Q3: How can you know whether or not to discontinue phonics instruction with a dyslexic child?

A: The most significant sign that phonics instruction is not working is frustration. If the child regularly shows sign of frustration with any method - such as anger, tears, or unwillingness to proceed - the attempts to teach by that approach should cease, and another approach should be tried. The biggest mistake is to pursue a course relying on repetition and drill with an unwilling child.

Most dyslexic children are very quick to grasp concepts that they easily understand; if a child is slow to learn pre-reading or reading skills, it is a sure sign that the approach is not working. Intensifying the instructions will not help.

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