Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Classroom Supports & Accommodations for Kids with Hyperlexia {with Free Printable Hyperlexia Handout}

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A list of classroom strategies, supports, and accommodations for kids with hyperlexia. Includes a free printable hyperlexia handout for parents.
Ah, back to school season is here...

And that means J will have a new teacher who has never heard of hyperlexia.

If you are a parent of a child with hyperlexia, then you are likely in the same position. Or maybe it's your child's first year in school, which means you likely have even more work ahead of you! Don't worry. To ensure your child gets the support in school that they need, I have created a free printable hyperlexia handout for parents that can be given to your child's teacher.

I've also included some common classroom supports and accommodations for kids with hyperlexia that you can use as a guideline with your child's school support staff to make sure that your child gets the help that they need.

Classroom supports & accommodations for kids with hyperlexia with a free printable handout for parents from And Next Comes L

Classroom Supports & Accommodations for Kids with Hyperlexia

As a parent, the first step is to make sure your child's teacher learns what hyperlexia is. Once the teacher has a better understanding of what hyperlexia is, then they will be better able to make accommodations in the classroom.

And obviously, every child with hyperlexia is unique. However, it is best to use their strength (i.e., their amazing ability to decode written language) to their advantage. Writing it out is always the best strategy to help hyperlexic kids.

Here are some other suggestions to consider for your child's classroom:

  1. Use a visual schedule to provide structure to the school day's routine
  2. Supplement verbal instructions with written instructions
  3. Use social stories to explicitly teach school and classroom rules
  4. Provide access to whiteboards, chalkboards, or scrap paper
  5. Modify tests to include multiple choice questions or fill-in-the blanks
  6. Limit visual distractions in the classroom (i.e., keep walls as blank as possible)
  7. Use written examples of what is expected of the child in terms of school work
  8. Use mnemonics to teach specific concepts
  9. Use numbered lists or checklist of steps for classroom work that requires a lot of steps
  10. Label objects in the classroom to aid comprehension

Further Reading on Accommodating Children with Hyperlexia in the Classroom

There are a few really great resources on classroom strategies that I highly recommend printing off for your child's teacher. Pair them with the free hyperlexia handout below and your child's teacher will be set for the year!

  1. Pages 9-12 of the pamphlet What is Hyperlexia? provide a nice list of ideas and strategies
  2. Pages 8-9 of the pamphlet Hyperlexia: Overview is really great
  3. Chapter III of the article Hyperlexia by Kupperman, Bligh, & Barouski has some really great suggestions
You can also find more suggestions and strategies in the book Beyond the Letters.

Free Printable Hyperlexia Handout for Parents

I also prepared a free printable handout that you can fill in about your child to give to your child's teacher during the first few days of school. It's a simple way to introduce the teacher to hyperlexia and its signs, but most importantly, introduce your child's strengths and weaknesses to them. There is even a spot to fill in your child's current interests.

To get your copy, enter your name and email in the form below.


Other Ideas You'll Love

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is support and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.