Audio Tapes

Audio tapes can be important learning aid for dyslexic students. For example "singing tables" an audio tape available on the market, has met with success. Another way to make use of audio tapes is described below:

• The teacher or parent tapes the whole table saying each fact slowly and precisely (at a pace to suit the child)
• the teacher/ parent then records the table, hesitating/ pausing before each answer to give the child a chance to "beat the teacher/ parent"
• then the table is presented in random order, again with the teacher/ parent hesitating before giving the answer, allowing sufficient time for the child to think of the answer first.
• A further step can be added where the child is asked to write down the fact along with the answer, the teacher/parent providing the answers on a separate sheet for the child to correct later. This ensures that the child does not cheat by waiting for the teacher's answer, although it should be emphasised to him/her that, as s/he is not being closely supervised, the only person he can effectively "cheat" is himself.

When the child has practised individual tables until s/he can happily give the answers, he can then go on to a tape which contains random examples from the different tables.

Using Calculators

At the high school level, students can take advantage of a calculator. A simple solar powered calculator with scientific functions, including fractions, percentage, degrees/ minutes/ seconds is recommended. Calculators are an ideal aid for short term auditory memory difficulties and can help compensate for the student's remaining computational difficulties.

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