Challenges for Teaching Dyslexic Students in Middle Schools

Abstract

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin ,it is characterised by difficulties with accurate and / or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities .The objective of this research is to advance our understanding of the challenges that teachers in middle schools face while teaching dyslexic students, and also the difficulties are dyslexic learners face .To reach the objectives, a mixed method was employed comprising two major data collection tools and also an observation was taken to gain deep insights into this issue . A questionnaire has been administered to 10 English teachers in middle schools to elicit their insightful views regarding dyslexia and the challenges they face. A semi-structured interview has also been conducted with 6 speech therapists to gain further perspectives on the most difficulties dyslexic student face. An observation has been also taken in therapy centre during a session of treatment with dyslexic students. The findings suggest that teachers in middle schools are unfamiliar with the term dyslexia and they do not know how to deal with it, while, the speech therapists find that multisensory techniques is the best way to solve the problem a dyslexic students have in reading, writing and spelling. It is recommended that teachers in middle schools should be knowledgeable about dyslexia and equipped with effective strategies to support students with learning differences.