Specific Learning Difficulty (SLD) or Dyslexia is a neurological condition that makes reading, writing, spelling or learning of mathematics difficult, even though the IQ of the child is average or above average. Such children could be talented in other fields like art, music, dance, poetry etc. When equipped with coping strategies, these children have the abilities to scale up their academic performance. These coping strategies can be given to them by the mainstream teachers during the regular classroom teaching hours. The key to the success of this approach lies in the timeliness of providing the help; if they are identified on time and remediated, the gap in their academic level can be bridged they could become brilliant contributors to the community. It is important to highlight here that if this timely help is not given, there is a possibility that the child turns into a social delinquent.
Madras Dyslexia Association(MDA) is a 30 year old, not-for-profit organization striving to enable a dyslexia-sensitive society. MDA has been assessing children for dyslexia and providing full-time /part-time remedial support for such children based on Individualized Education Plan drawn up based on the child’s strengths and needs. Effective methods of identifying and remediating these young children using multi-sensory techniques have been evolving over these 30 years of extensive hands-on experience. These well-documented practical strategies based on the Orton-Gillingham approach are shared with primary school teachers to empower them to provide appropriate remedial support to children in their classes. Now these are being offered through the digital mode for training primary school children (upto class 5) studying in Tamil medium schools.
This course is self-paced. Number of small sessions make up a module making it easy to completely
understand the module topic. Each session is linked to the next one. In the same way each module is
connected to the next one. In order to understand the complete course, it is essential to go through the
course in the prescribed order and complete the activities in each session.
To complete a session:
1.Watch the video to understand the topic.
2. Watch the video of the case study, if applicable. Carry out the analysis of the case with the help of the
given document. Then answer the questions pertaining to the case study.
2.Complete the assignment given at the end of the module.
3.If required revisit the video to clarify any doubts.
Module 1: About dyslexia Gives an introduction to Dyslexia and brings to the notice of the audience the difficulties faced by this child. This would help the teacher relate to the issues observed in her/his own class.
Quiz 1: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 1
Module2 Child Development – The module on Child Development primes the teacher on the stages of child development linking it to the issues faced by a child with Learning Difficulties.
Quiz 2: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 2
Module 3 : Screening -This module puts forth the different characteristics/difficulties that maybe displayed by a child with Specific Learning Difficulty. A checklist discussed in this module would help a primary school teacher identify a child with possible difficulty in reading, writing, spelling and/or math.
Quiz 3: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 3
Module 4 : Reading -Introduces the pre-skills required to be a fluent reader of Tamil and goes on to explain the different strategies that can be given to a child to develop the skill of fluent reading accompanied with comprehension.
Case Study-2 case studies based on this module, followed by analysis and quiz for each case study.
Quiz 4: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 4
Module 5 : Spelling : This module not only introduces spelling rules using multisensory techniques, but also goes on to discuss effective teaching methodologies that can be used to teach the child.
Case Study-2 case studies based on this module, followed by analysis and quiz for each case study.
Quiz 5:20 MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 5
Module 6 : Writing : Introduces the teacher to the mechanical and expressive aspects of writing. This module gives a detailed description of the strategies that could help a child with writing difficulty cope with the different aspects of writing.
Case Study-2 case studies based on this module, followed by analysis and quiz for each case study.
Quiz 6: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 6
Module 7: Math : In this module the teacher is exposed to many interesting manipulatives and teaching methodologies that can be used to help a child with difficulties in learning mathematics.
Case Study-2 case studies based on this module, followed by analysis and quiz for each case study.
Quiz 7: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 7
Module 8: Multiple Intelligence (MI) – In this module, the teacher is introduced to the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This helps the teacher identify dominant intelligences of a child in the class and help the child process, retain and recall the academic content using one or more of these dominant intelligences.
Case Study-A case studys based on this module, followed by analysis and quiz
Quiz 8: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the modules 8
Module 9: Study Skills -Introduces the teacher to aspects of learning, retaining and retrieving of academic contents that have been taught to a child. The tools discussed in this module help the child to study better.
Quiz 9: MCQ questions for self-assessment of your understanding on the module 9
1 review for Tamil Vazhi Payirchi-for children with dyslexia
Maha Rama (verified owner) –
It is very easy way of understanding mam