Students diagnosed with dyslexia struggle making mental images of letters and letter patterns that are common in the English language. This difficulty with visualization can lead to difficulties in other areas as well. One area in particular is that of punctuation and grammar rules.

A solid understanding of how to properly use punctuation often accompanies a strong ability to visualize what written language should look like. Since students who struggle with dyslexia have a more difficult time with visualization, they often have a more difficult time with grammar.

Grammar skills are best developed through the act of reading. Students who spend more time reading, benefit from additional exposure to the punctuation found in the texts they read. Not only do students with dyslexia often spend less time reading, they also do not always retain as much of what they are seeing on the page when it comes to grammar and punctuation.

The WritingKey program was developed with all of this in mind. It offers students visual cues they can use during the editing process that allow them to properly punctuate what they have written.

Reducing Anxiety Through Visual Cues

Students with dyslexia often experience anxiety and frustration when trying to learn grammar in a more traditional manner. This is because they may have trouble decoding complex instructions, thus never learning the rules in the first place. The use of visual cues simplifies the learning process by presenting it in a manner that plays to their strengths as opposed to their relative weaknesses. As students see success in this area, they can begin to feel empowered in an area of writing that has long been one of anxiety.

Overcoming the Fear of Mistakes

Difficulties with grammar can also hinder dyslexic students from ever even getting anything written on the page in the first place. Students will often sit in front of a blank sheet of paper, not actually moving forward with the assignment. One reason for this is that they are intimidated by the fact that they may make errors as they write.

The WritingKey program encourages students to separate the writing and editing steps, thus freeing them of this hindrance. They feel more comfortable making mistakes as they write, as they know that there will be an additional step in the process for them to correct those mistakes.

A Structured Visual Framework

The WritingKey program provides students with a structured, visual framework that breaks the writing process down into smaller, more manageable steps to help students organize their thoughts and maintain focus throughout the process. There are clear visual cues throughout, guiding them through each stage of the process, from brainstorming and organizing, to writing and editing.

How WritingKey Helps Students with Dyslexia

• Simplifies the Writing Process
  The program breaks writing down into smaller steps (brainstorming, organizing, drafting, editing), reducing overwhelm and increasing clarity.
• Visual Cues for Grammar and Punctuation
  Using color-coded or symbol-based reminders, WritingKey reduces the reliance on a student’s internal sense of grammar, which can be challenging for those with dyslexia.
• Builds Confidence and Reduces Anxiety
  By separating writing and editing into distinct stages, students can freely get ideas on the page without worrying about errors in real time.
• Structured Approach to Paragraph and Essay Writing
  The program employs clear strategies for crafting topic sentences, introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions, alleviating confusion about structure.
• Adaptable for In-Class and Timed Writing
  Offers tips for working under time constraints, ensuring students can apply the method for tests and other time-sensitive assignments.
• Reinforces Organization and Cohesion
  Tools for brainstorming and transition words help students organize their thoughts, producing coherent, well-structured writing.
• Visual Supports for Advanced Editing
  Step-by-step proofreading techniques systematically guide students through grammar checks and punctuation corrections.