Understanding learning differences, including dyslexia, can be a big step for children as they begin to explore how they learn best. In this blog, I aim to help parents, educators, and caregivers explain these concepts to kids in a way that makes sense to them. By offering practical conversation tips and recommending kid-friendly books that break down learning differences, we can empower our children to embrace their unique brains. Together, we can foster a positive mindset that encourages self-advocacy and helps kids understand that everyone learns in their own special way.
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First Steps: Before the Conversation
A good first step is to make sure that you understand the child’s learning difference before attempting to explain it to them. If you’re a parent and you’re new to learning about dyslexia, the book recommendations below are a great place to start. If you already have some background knowledge about the science of reading and dyslexia, you can brush up on your knowledge by reading Dyslexia 101 and Challenging Dyslexia Myths.
If the particular child you plan to chat with also has some cognitive weaknesses, you may want to discuss these, too. Weaknesses in working memory, visual-spatial skills, fluid reasoning, processing speed, and verbal comprehension can impact a child in many ways. Read my blog posts about working memory and processing speed or chat with your favorite school psychologist about how cognitive weaknesses can impact learning. This will help prepare you to explain the concepts to your students.
Next, if you are a teacher, please seek parental permission before having an individual conversation with a child about their learning differences. Parents may wish to start the conversation at home, they may wish to be a part of your conversation, they may wish to follow up with their child afterward, or they may not be ready for you to have the conversation.
If you plan to have a conversation with your whole class or a group of students, you may choose to speak in generalities. When you tell the group that “some students have dyslexia” or “some students process information more slowly than others,” they may recognize themselves and be assured by the information you offer them.
Don’t Forget: Keep It Empowering!
A final step before diving into the conversation is to consider the purpose of having such a conversation. We don’t want our children to feel like a learning disability is a life sentence that means they will always struggle. We do want them to understand why some things are hard, and we want them to have hope for their futures. As the parent of two children with ADHD, I know that my children were both relieved to have some answers about why certain tasks are so challenging for them! So remember: keep the conversation about learning differences enlightening and empowering! And if you’re worried about accomplishing that, don’t worry. The books below will help you!
Book Recommendation: How Your Brain Learns to Read by Denise Eide
How Your Brain Learns to Read is a perfect resource for children through late elementary school, as well as their teachers and parents. Written by Denise Eide, the creator of Logic of English, each page has engaging visuals and lots of information. Its purpose is twofold: it introduces children to the science of reading and it offers teachers and parents information to help them to support young students. This makes it a perfect book for parents who are learning about the science of reading alongside their children!
It’s not the type of book you’ll sit down and read cover to cover in one sitting. Rather, explore a little bit at a time according to your interests and your young audience’s interests. When this book arrived in my house, I found my son reading it throughout the week, always coming away with a new fact to share with me.
While How Your Brain Learns to Read does not delve into the topic of dyslexia, its explanation of the brain science behind learning to read sets the foundation for children to understand how their brain might work differently than others. The authors also note that the book reinforces that reading is not a natural process for humans and that it requires practice. Whether or not your struggling reader is identified with dyslexia, this book will provide encouragement to keep working hard, knowing that their efforts will be worthwhile and that their struggle is not so uncommon.
Book Recommendation: Dyslexia Explained: Without the Need for Too Many Words by Mike Jones
Dyslexia Explained: Without the Need for Too Many Words was written by Mike Jones, the founder of Nessy. Nessy is an ed-tech company that specializes in early literacy skills and offers a variety of resources and games for parents, students, and teachers. The book was written with the intention of helping “parents and children quickly understand dyslexia without having to read too many words.”
Topics include:
- how dyslexia impacts learning and memory
- how individuals with dyslexia may process information differently than their peers
- dyslexic strengths and well-known successful folks with dyslexia
- how dyslexia makes reading, working with numbers, and studying challenging
- helpful strategies for learners with dyslexia
- structured literacy and its effectiveness for individuals with dyslexia
Dyslexia Explained is available in paperback from Amazon, or you can download the digital ebook for free on the Nessy website!
Book Recommendation: What I Need: Dyslexics Can Reach the Stars and Shine by Tiffany James
What I Need: Dyslexics Can Reach the Stars and Shine is another book from the creators of Nessy. It’s a good pick if your young student is feeling disheartened about their reading struggles. The first chapter discusses the ways that teachers and peers might misinterpret a child’s struggles as laziness or inattention. If your child is feeling misunderstood, this first chapter will validate their feelings!
Chapter 4 of What I Need: Dyslexics Can Reach the Stars and Shine is a primer for any teacher or parent who is new to the educational needs of students with dyslexia. It presents common classroom accommodations that support students with dyslexia in a child-friendly manner. If your student is resistant to accepting accommodations like additional time to complete work, audiobooks, and support with copying written information, this chapter may convince them that these accommodations are no big deal! The book also covers methods that do not support students with dyslexia, like balanced literacy and colored overlays.
What I Need: Dyslexics Can Reach the Stars and Shine also discusses dyslexic strengths and successful people with dyslexia, including children! This book will reinforce the message that dyslexia is a part of who you are, and you are amazing the way you are!
If you’re trying to decide between the two books offered by Nessy, note that What I Need: Dyslexics Can Reach the Stars and Shine has more pictures and less text, while Dyslexia Explained has more text, despite its subtitle, “Without the Need for Too Many Words.” They both have the fun and funky illustrations that come with all Nessy resources, though!
What about older students with learning differences?
Your older student might not be opposed to reading the colorful and engaging books above, so please consider them. How Your Brain Learns to Read may be a better choice for older learners because it has portions that are intended for adult readers, which means your older students may grasp the concepts, as well.
If you think your student will feel too mature for How Your Brain Learns to Read or the Nessy books, you can simply have a conversation with them. Again, make sure that you have a good grasp on the characteristics of dyslexia and/or the ways that students may struggle with reading. Then, make sure you have the parent’s permission before engaging in an individual conversation.
You can use the contents of the book recommendations above to guide your conversation. One overarching theme of both Nessy books is that there is nothing wrong with you if you have a learning difference!
This blog felt incomplete without some book recommendations specifically for older kids, so I reached out to the members of the Facebook group Science of Reading- What I Should Have Learned in College for ideas.
Book Recommendation: Calling All Neurons!: How Reading and Spelling Happen by Lori C. Josephson
Thanks to Beverly, Susie, and Heather for recommending Calling All Neurons!: How Reading and Spelling Happen. This book provides a scientific but still accessible overview of how the brain processes reading and spelling. It breaks down complex concepts like phonological processing, memory, and decoding, making it easier for older students to understand the neurological basis of dyslexia. It encourages students to approach their learning differences with curiosity and empowers them by offering strategies grounded in science. This combination makes it an engaging tool for fostering understanding and self-advocacy!
Book Recommendation: How We Read: A Graphic Guide to Literacy
Thanks to Jennifer, Carla, and Christine for recommending How We Read: A Graphic Guide to Literacy, a free download that can also be purchased in a print version. This resource from the Center for Cartoon Studies uses engaging and creative cartooning to explain complex reading concepts, making it a great tool for older students with dyslexia. Through illustrations, it visually breaks down the cognitive processes behind reading, decoding, and comprehension, offering a more relatable and accessible way to grasp what dyslexia is and how the brain works. This format is particularly effective for visual learners, making the science of reading easier to understand.
While I can’t promise that reading these books will result in a smooth path for all learners, developing an understanding of one’s learning differences can truly empower children to develop greater independence, as well as the tools they need to succeed academically and personally. When children understand their learning differences, some pretty amazing things can happen:
- They no longer feel confused about why they have to work so hard to do well in school. This can lead to a boost in self-esteem and a reduction in anxiety!
- They become more introspective about their strengths and weaknesses.
- They can consciously set goals for themselves when they understand their needs better.
- They become more likely to accept help and more willing to try new strategies.
- They become more likely to advocate for themselves when they need accommodations.
- They become more resilient as a result of their increased confidence and self-esteem.
- They develop a more positive outlook when they believe that they can succeed.
Do you have suggestions for talking to students about their learning differences?
Incorporating books that thoughtfully address learning differences can be a powerful tool in helping children embrace their unique abilities and feel understood. I hope these stories help foster empathy and encourage open conversations that can lead to a more supportive learning environment. If you have additional book recommendations or strategies for talking to kids about their learning differences, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out on Facebook or Instagram—together, we can continue to create inclusive spaces where every child feels empowered to learn and thrive. ❤️
