LearningKeel

Navigating the Intersection of ESL and Dyslexia Smiling boy in classroom . In the vibrant, multicultural landscape of Toronto, our classrooms are a mosaic of languages. Many children enter Kindergarten speaking very little English, often coming from households where their heritage language is the primary mode of communication. For most, the "catch-up" happens almost like magic, within a year, they are navigating playground conversations and classroom instructions with ease. But for some students, the magic stalls. When the challenge of learning a second language intersects with a learning disability like dyslexia, the path to literacy becomes a mountain that feels impossible to climb. Identifying the Hurdle Take Harun. Born in Canada and raised in an Urdu-speaking household, Harun was an active, bright boy who was clearly struggling to keep pace with his peers. By the time he was referred to me at his private Islamic school, he was already carrying the weight of his learning ...

   Why Listening is the Best Diagnostic Tool Muslim girls learning in a classroom.   As educators, we are often trained to look for complex deficits. We analyze assessment data, cross-reference state standards, and search for the latest intervention programs. But sometimes, the barrier to a student’s success isn't a lack of intelligence or motivation; it is a tiny, hidden "glitch" in their processing, a secret hurdle they’ve been jumping over for years without anyone noticing. I remember my time teaching in Riyadh, where I had the pleasure of working with Safa. To know Safa was to adore her; she was the heart of the classroom, perpetually smiling, incredibly polite, and universally liked by her peers. Yet, beneath that cheerful exterior, there was a struggle. In grade six, Safa was reading well below her expected level. When initial conversations with her mom about home life didn’t yield the insight I needed, I decided to go straight to the source. I sat down with Safa fo...