Testing and Dyslexia

I had the realization the other day that the public school's standardized grading system is rigged to favor a type of student rather than the pursuit of knowledge. This is not a new concept. When I was in school I understood that teachers were teaching to a test. What I didn't understand was that 20% of the students were being misrepresented. You see, 1 in 5 children have Dyslexia and those students struggle to read and write.

Since we know that students with Dyslexia struggle with literacy, why then do we measure what they know by a test that requires them to read and write? Take a look at the chart below. Starting as early as 1st grade, there exists a gap between typical and Dyslexic readers.

If a teacher truly wants to accurately know whether or not their student with Dyslexia is understanding the information being taught, just ask them. The delay is in the phonemes of reading and writing; however, there is no delay in thinking for them. They are bright! This is why I say, the systems are rigged to a type of learner, one who reads and writes without difficulty.

Years ago, I sent my son to a class to get his hunting license. He was 11 years old at the time. I dropped him off at 9 am and the class ended at 8 pm. All day he listened to teachers, department of fish and game, and avid hunters tell stories and impart valuable wisdom. At the end of the class a test was given and there were a lot of questions on it. He took it just like everyone else. I didn't help him at all. He turned in his test and he failed it. By the grace of God, the proctor of the exam had a son with Dyslexia. He asked my son if he was Dyslexic and my son told him he was. The proctor went on to verbally read him all the questions he missed. My son passed with flying colors. I remember telling that proctor to not treat him differently because life was not going to give him special treatment. He simply let me know if he knows it he knows it. That man was right.

What if that man would have missed the fact that my child had Dyslexia? His final grade would have been recorded as a fail having the knowledge of all the right answers, yet unable to show it. That's what so many tests are doing to students struggling with Dyslexia. They have the knowledge becuase they are listening and if asked would pass those tests; however, never get the opportunity. It's situations like these where we start to see students giving up and trailing further and further behind.

Luckily, all it takes is the right teacher to notice and make all the difference. So next time you give a test in class, let me encourage you, find the students who are failing and see if they know the answers to the questions they got wrong. Only 4% of children with Dyslexia are actually discovered. This means many more fall through the cracks. In a system that standardizes everything, lets represent all students well by truly persuing what they know in a way they can express. Afterall, learning is about the pursuit of knowledge, not a standardized test.

"Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel." Proverbs 20:15

"Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint." Proverbs 29:18

Written by: Mrs. Erin