Routine

Having a daily routine helps. Set aside a specific time or times of the day for homework. Little and often is best rather than one long session.  Make a timetable so that you know what you are working on when and for how long.  Make sure you timetable in breaks as well.  Have a set space for working in that is separate from spaces that you relax in.

The work

Before you start: 

• Make sure you understand what you are going to do. Read the instructions and then read them again.  Use a highlighter or underline the key points.  Break the task down into chunks and make a list of the order you need to do them in.
• Look at any vocabulary and make sure you know what it means. Look words up if you don’t know them.  Make a list of words you might need with the correct spellings.
• Make sure you activate prior learning – think about what you already know about the topic. Have you worked on this before?  What do you know and what do you still need to find out?
• Does it tell you how to present your work, or do you need to decide that?

Make a plan: Make a plan before you start.  Brainstorm all your ideas using a mind map (* link to mind mapping) or writing ideas on post-it notes.  Then decide on the order of your ideas – group ideas together and start to number them so that you know where you will start and what order they come in.  Get the big picture before you start writing in detail.  Decide the best way to present your ideas – could it be a diagram, or a mind map, or bullet points rather than text?

Getting started:  Getting started can be the hardest part.  Your plan/mind map/brainstorm will help you because you will have decided what you need to start with.  Can you get the first sentence written – don’t worry about getting it perfect, just get something onto the paper.

 While you are working:  Read your work aloud so you can hear what you’ve written.  Keep going back to your plan.  Tick off each chunk of the task as you do it.  Don’t worry about spellings while you are trying to get your ideas down – it’s better to check for spellings at the end – your brain gets overloaded if you try to do too much at the same time.

When you have finished:

• Read your work aloud so you can hear what you’ve written.
• Cross-reference with your plan to make sure you’ve covered everything.
• Check your spellings or get someone to check them for you. If you are working on the computer, use the spell check.
• Go back to the instructions to remind yourself of what you were asked to do – have you done it?
• Evaluate – which bits are you pleased with? Do any bits disappoint you?  Do you need to work on any bits a bit more.  What mark/comment would you give yourself?
• See if you can explain what you’ve done to a friend – this will clarify if you are really clear and confident.

For longer pieces of writing / research / note taking

Note taking

Use short hand methods such as abbreviations or stick figure drawings.

Record voice messages to help organise your ideas or use post it notes or Mind Maps or story boards.

Mind Maps (‘concept maps’)

Mind mapping is a way of representing ideas in a visual way. Mind maps can be like a diagram or flow chart and can include pictures and colour coding. They can help with organising ideas.

Mind maps can also help aid remembering / visualising when revising for a test or exam.

They can be drawn / written on paper or using software on the computer such as Kidspiration.

Using the Computer:  Use the computer for longer pieces of writing. Write straight onto the computer rather than writing on paper and then re-typing it.  Learning to touch-type will speed up the process.  If you are using Word, you could use the “Dictation” facility by clicking on the microphone icon on the Home toolbar.  This allows you to say what you want to write and the computer will type it for you.  Use the spelling and grammar checker to check your work at the end.

Find out more

https://studyingwithdyslexiablog.co.uk (includes information on the Claro Read software & App)

https://www.starline.org.uk – Parent Helpline for Home Learning

https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/1/16074506/microsoft-word-read-aloud-feature (text-to-speech features in Word in the latest Office 365 updates)