I have been working with students for 13 years now and the majority have dyslexia, literacy or additional learning needs.  Over that time I have collected a range of resources that I use with my students and I think it’s important to try and encourage them to develop strategies and ways to manage their studies.

Here are some of the affordable, and pretty basic, resources that I often use.  It’s probably worth mentioning that I also combine these with what mobile technology, apps and assistive technology can offer.

Whiteboard – Schools are using these frequently these days as they allow someone to be able to write and make a mistake which can then be easily rubbed out.  Because a permanent mark isn’t made, students are more likely to attempt to spell a word and make corrections.  Coloured pens can also be used to highlight particular letters.

Planners – Mobile phones are great at providing a tool for planning your week or day but sometimes it helps to have a piece of paper to work from and stick on the wall.  Being dyslexic sometimes means that it is difficult to prioritise tasks and manage workloads so it really helps to list what needs to be done and when.  Ticking it off also provides a sense of achievement!

Letters – Traditionally used with children but also recommended for dyslexic adults who have literacy difficulties and need help spelling words and sequencing letters.  Many dyslexic students prefer kinaesthetic activities and being able to feel and handle the letters can assist in spelling the word correctly and moving it to the long term memory.

Post it notes – I often use these with students who have difficulty planning their assignments.  Rather than producing a linear plan on paper, each main point is put on a post it note and moved around until they reach a structure that makes sense and flows.

Highlighters – When reading, it’s essential that a highlighter is used to identify any important points.  This active reading technique can help with being able to comprehend the text and making sure that they are engaged with the material.

Coloured Overlays/Reading Rulers – These can be quite expensive but I have known students to use similar looking ring binder dividers instead which worked well.  Using an overlay can particularly be useful if visual stress has been identified and can help to take some of the glare off the paper which can be a frequent problem.

There are so many more things that can be used.

Experiment with anything you can find to help you develop coping strategies that can be used throughout your life.