How to Teach Your Dyslexic Child to Read: A Proven Method for Parents and Teachers

Having read a previous review on this site, I felt the need to add my view point. Ms Baumer certainly puts forward some interesting ideas and I'm sure that these have helped many people. However, I was left with the feeling that the book had not covered the REAL issue. It felt like she was still trying to get a square peg in a round hole without really addressing the issues that made reading difficult. We know it is....we have identified the dyslexic child....now we will teach it rote methods of learning that seem to still require the 'skills' of the 'normal' child.
In no way do I deny that her methods may work for some people and undoubtedly have. I meerely have reservations that the 'whole' dyslexic syndrome has been addressed.

As a parent of a dyslexic child, I've read most of the recommended books on the subject. Of all of them, this is the first one I would recommend to parents who have realized that their child is dyslexic.

The author presents most of the classical techniques in dealing with the dyslexic learning style in an exceptionally clear, concise, and very human style. She uses as a vehicle to do this her own experience in teaching dyslexic children and young adults. After using these techniques with my own daughter, I can say that many are quite helpful.

In the course of describing the learning-to-read process with dyslexic kids, the author also brings some practical thinking to the "phonics vs. whole-word" reading debate. She explains the necessity of phonics for word-attack skills in non-intuitive readers as well as the ultimate necessity of whole-word reading in order to establish fluency and comprehension.

At the end of the book she provides most-used word-lists, phonics charts, writing charts, and pictures. She tells you how to use these materials in applying the techniques previously described.

This book is not revolutionary nor does it promise a panacea for all the issues surrounding the dyslexic learning style. But, I recommend that you make it your first of several on this complex subject.