Juggling letters: How to study with dyslexia and dysgraphia?

For some students, navigating the world of letters and words is a constant struggle. This is often the case if you have dyslexia, dysgraphia, or both. 

Don’t worry — with the right tools, you can still excel in school and your academic journey! 🌟

In this post, we’ll share helpful tips for learning with dyslexia, including using audiobooks, chunking lengthy materials, and using spelling and grammar tools.

For students with dysgraphia, we'll discuss ergonomic keyboards, mind maps, breaking down writing assignments into manageable steps, and more.

Let’s start with the basics: What are dyslexia and dysgraphia?

📖 Dyslexia is a language-based learning disorder that affects reading, writing, and spelling. People with dyslexia may have trouble decoding words, understanding what they read, or spelling words correctly. 

This means that reading traditional textbooks and notes can be a challenge for you. 

🖋️ Dysgraphia is a writing disorder that can affect a person's ability to write clearly and legibly. People with dysgraphia may have difficulty with handwriting, spelling, and grammar. 

Writing your own notes or writing in general can be a challenge for you. While keyboards can provide some relief, typing can still be impacted by difficulties like motor control or fatigue. 🪫

The key difference is that dyslexia disrupts the way your brain processes written language, while dysgraphia affects your ability to express yourself through writing physically.

Learning tips for students with dyslexia 

Use audiobooks 🎧

Listen to audiobooks or use text-to-speech software while reading along. This reinforces the connection between written and spoken words.

Break down long texts 🧩

Chunk lengthy reading materials into smaller sections. Summarize key points in your own words, highlight important information, or use mind maps/charts to visually organize concepts.

➕Bonus tip: Voovo makes it easy to break down material and create separate flashcards for smaller topics. You can just drag and drop shorter texts and use AI and automatic text recognition to make new cards. No need to read and write to create the flashcards, but you can always double-check and correct them.

Plan ahead for writing assignments ✍️

Feeling overwhelmed by a multi-page paper? Schedule smaller tasks throughout the week. This could include choosing a topic, researching, and writing a first draft.

Use spell checkers and grammar tools ✅

Luckily we live in a time with free spell-checkers and grammar tools like Grammarly.  You can add it to your browser or just copy-paste the text to double-check written assignments to catch errors before you submit them. You can also try word processing software with features like predictive text, which can suggest words as you type.

Tackle tasks by due date 📅

A long to-do list can be tempting to conquer all at once, but prioritizing is key!  Focus on deadlines first. That test tomorrow takes priority over next week's vocabulary quiz. This way, you'll avoid last-minute stress and ensure you complete tasks on time.

Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards! 

If you have dyslexia it’s important that you don't just read, but engage your visual senses! Create flashcards with pictures or diagrams to solidify information in your memory. 

Flashcards really are a secret weapon for mastering all sorts of information – from biology to vocabulary in a new language. Not to mention that they make studying fun and way less intimidating. 

They are also always with you on your phone  — if you use Voovo 😉 — so you can use your spare minutes to quiz yourself anytime, anywhere.

➕ Bonus tip: Watch our video on how to create flashcards in Voovo: 

Learning tips for students with dysgraphia

Use ergonomic keyboards ⌨️

Ergonomic can help you make more comfortable expressing your thoughts, without the struggle of handwriting, which helps delay fatigue.

Try voice recognition software 🗣️

This technology lets you ditch the pen and keyboard. Simply speak your thoughts and ideas, and the software converts your speech into written text.

Organize your thoughts first 🗃️

Use mind maps, flowcharts, or graphic organizers to brainstorm ideas and organize your thoughts before writing or typing. This reduces the need for exhausting revisions and improves the overall structure of your written work.

Break down large writing assignments 🔖

Divide your writing tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Focus on completing one section at a time, and don't be afraid to ask for permission to type longer assignments.

Why flashcards work well for dyslexia and dysgraphia

➕ Flashcards reduce the need for writing and reading long texts ❌ 📖

You can focus on key concepts or terms on one side and definitions, formulas, or dates on the other. This keeps sudying concise and manageable.

➕ Flashcards also engage multiple senses so you can memorize more with less work 👁️

Incorporating pictures and diagrams caters to different learning styles and provides visual cues to support memory.

➕ Flashcards are portable and customizable 📱

You can always review your flashcards during short breaks, on the bus, or even while waiting in line. And in Voovo, you can choose from different types and personalize your cards to suit your specific learning needs and preferences.

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We hope you found this useful! Let us know if you have useful study tips for dyslexia or dysgraphia.

You can download Voovo from the App Store or Google Play!