Spelling Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Dyslexia

Dyslexia is one of the most prevalent language-based learning disabilities and can affect a student's performance with reading, spelling, and/or writing. Weaknesses in language learning are now thought to be the real issue behind spelling deficits for students with dyslexia. In the past problems with spelling were attributed to delays in visual memory skills. A person with dyslexia who has trouble spelling may be unable to correctly remember individual phonemes in words and match them to the corresponding letters, a skill which is essential for being able to spell effectively. A student with the learning disability dyslexia who has difficulty spelling may benefit from accommodations and modifications such as these, which would need to be outlined in his or her IEP.

In grades where spelling tests are a regular part of the curriculum, it may be necessary to reduce the number of spelling words or eliminate spelling tests for the student with dyslexia and spelling problems. A multiple choice style spelling test might also be more effective than a typical dictation style spelling test. In high school, spelling tests are not commonly practiced, but some teachers do take off points for misspelled words on assignments. One common accommodation for students who are poor spellers is to have the teacher not penalize the student for spelling errors or letter reversals and make the content of the assignment the primary focus when determining a grade.

Many students with learning disabilities benefit from the use of a hand held dictionary or a spell-check device. Some school districts may require that the parent is responsible for supplying the device, so that should be discussed at the IEP meeting. Typing lengthy writing assignments on a computer with access to a word processing program is helpful for students who already have a basic understanding of spelling. When a student hands in work containing a number of spelling errors, they may benefit from turning in the assignment early and having it proofread. The teacher or even a peer helper with good spelling skills could give them the correct spellings of the missed words to be copied over. Writing the correct spellings of words may help the student to link that word or a particular spelling pattern to the written word and remember it for the next time. Many people with dyslexia exhibit excellent visual memory skills and this would be a good way to tune into a person's strengths.