I wish my daughter’s teacher knew about choice-based questioning. It’s a simple strategy that really supports the dyslexic brain. It takes more time and more energy for a dyslexic brain to find the right word they want to use than a non-dyslexic brain.

Sometimes they get stuck with finding the right word and they miss their opportunity to share what they wanted to say.

Sometimes they pull out the wrong word and use a word that doesn’t seem to make sense or sound right to the listener.

Sometimes they decide to stick with simpler, common words they can retrieve more automatically, missing out on being able to express themselves more clearly and specifically with a wider vocabulary.

A simple strategy for supporting this reality for the dyslexic brain is to provide choice-based questioning whenever it makes sense. Choice-based questioning is when you ask a question and provide 2-3 options instead of leaving it open-ended. Here are a few examples of some common questions teachers may ask your child and how to reframe them from open-ended questions into choice-based questions.

Instead of asking: In the word hope, what is the vowel sound?

Try: In the word hope, what is the vowel sound? /h/, /o/, or /p/?

Instead of asking: In the word problem, what are you being asked to do?

Try: In the word problem, what are you being asked to do? To add something together or find the difference between two things?

Instead of asking: What’s next on today’s schedule?

Try: What’s next on today’s schedule? Lunch or music class?

Instead of asking: What did I ask you to do next?

Try: What did I ask you to do next? Line up at the door or push your chair in?

Of course, the choice-based strategy doesn’t work 100% of the time. But if teachers know that word recall can be really tricky for their dyslexic students, weaving choice-based questions throughout their classroom routines is a low-lift way to ensure that every kid in their classroom is set up for success.

If you have a dyslexic child in your family, try choice-based questioning around the house. And if you have the opportunity, share the tip with your child’s teacher.