Shining the Light on LD: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia

This article on dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia is reproduced from the upcoming publication Shining the Light on LD: MMFS Learning Disabilities Handbook.

One of last year’s most popular newsletter articles was a piece explaining why MMFS uses the term “learning disabilities” instead of “learning differences” or “learning challenges.” Inspired by the success of that article, we’ve written a series of articles about the specific learning disabilities that MMFS students grapple with. Maybe this series will offer a new perspective on your child’s learning disability. Perhaps it will illuminate the struggles of your child’s classmate.

For each learning disability, we’ll start with a definition, explore what it looks like in the classroom, lay out how we support a student with that particular learning disability, and finally, what you can do at home to support your child.

Let’s kick off the series with what one student called “The Three ‘Dys’-es.”

What are Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia? 

Dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect academic skills related to the connection between sounds and letters; numbers; and written language. It’s not unusual to have two or even all three of these.   

• Dyslexia. Impacts writing, spelling, and speaking due to difficulties with connecting letters to sounds, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.   
• Dyscalculia. Difficulty making sense of numbers, mathematical concepts, and problem-solving.   
• Dysgraphia. Struggles with writing, including spelling, organization of ideas, and handwriting or typing.

It’s important to remember that for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and/or dysgraphia, school is a tremendous challenge. Struggling to keep up with classmates and meeting teacher expectations is not a matter of “not trying hard enough.” 

How Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia Show Up in School

Dyslexia

• Difficulty with decoding, fluency, and comprehension.     
• Struggles with identifying and manipulating sounds in isolation and text.     
• Reading includes omissions, additions, substitutions, and reversals.    
• Difficulty with recognition/recall of sight words.    
• Struggles to transfer thoughts to written work. 

Dyscalculia   

• Struggles with basic number sense such as numeral “5” equals five objects.       
• Confuses math symbols (+, -, ×, ÷).     
• Difficulty memorizing basic math facts.   
• Struggles with aligning numbers.    

Dysgraphia     

• Struggles with letter formation, size, spacing, and grip.     
• Slow, labored writing and/or physical discomfort and fatigue when writing.
• Inconsistent spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. 

How We Support Students with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia in School

Strategies focus on providing structure, support, and understanding.     

• Focus. Break down tasks, use visual aids, minimize distractions, and provide clear instructions.    
• Time. Develop time awareness and management  skills using timers, visual schedules, and reminders.   
• Materials. Establish clear organizational systems with checklists and color-coding. Build regular routines.
• Consistent and Clear Expectations. Communicate rules clearly, provide frequent positive reinforcement, offer support, and practice following routines and meeting expectations. 
• Fidgets. Quiet fidget tools (e.g., stress balls, textured pencil grips, putty).

How You Can Support Your Child with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia at Home

Families play a vital role in reinforcing skills and providing a supportive environment at home.    

• Dyslexia. Creating a print-rich environment, reading aloud together, using audiobooks, and playing phonological awareness games.   
• Dyscalculia. Incorporating math into everyday activities (e.g., cooking, shopping), using manipulatives for hands-on learning, and playing estimation and math-based games.    
• Dysgraphia. Providing opportunities for fine motor skill development, using assistive technology for writing, focusing on content over mechanics initially, and breaking down writing tasks.

Mary McDowell Friends School is a K-12 college preparatory school designed to meet the unique needs of students diagnosed with learning disabilities. We define a learning disability as a neurological condition that causes difficulties with the way the brain handles information. Students with learning disabilities are as smart as or smarter than their peers, but they usually find it difficult to learn in a typical manner. However, with different learning methods and strategies, they can be just as academically successful as students without learning disabilities. Learn more about our approach to educating students with learning disabilities here. You can also schedule a parent information session or contact our admission team.