Dysorthographia exercise: proofreading and self-correction

A child with dysorthographia often rereads their text without noticing their mistakes: they read what they meant to write, not what they actually wrote. Yet proofreading is a skill that can be learnt. With a suitable method, they can correct a good share of their errors on their own. Here is how to train them, step by step.

Why we don't see our own mistakes

When we reread our own text, the brain already knows what it is meant to say. It automatically fills in words and mentally corrects errors. This is true for everyone, but it is even more pronounced in a child with dysorthographia.

Simply telling them to “read it through” is therefore not enough. They need a concrete method that forces them to look at what is actually written. This method should be simple and quick. It becomes established through practice. It can take several weeks before it feels natural. The page my child makes a lot of spelling mistakes helps to understand the context.

A short proofreading checklist

The proofreading checklist lists two or three points to check, no more. For example: capital letters and full stops, plural nouns, verb agreement. The child keeps it beside their text.

The points on the checklist are chosen according to the child’s most frequent errors. When a point has been mastered, it is replaced with another. The checklist evolves with their progress. It can be laminated and kept in the pencil case. The child can tick off each point with a dry-wipe pen after checking it.

One proofread for each point

Rather than looking for everything at once, the child does a quick proofread for each point on the checklist. They read once for capital letters, once for plurals, once for verbs. Each proofread is short and focused.

This method may seem long, but it is far more effective than a general proofread. The child knows exactly what they are looking for. They spot more errors in less time. With practice, these proofreads become quick. They often take only a few minutes for a page.

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Reading aloud

Reading their text aloud, pointing at each word with a finger, helps to spot words that have been left out, repeated or misplaced. The ear hears what the eye does not see. This reading should be slow. If the child goes too fast, they fall back into reading what they meant to write.

A text-to-speech tool can also be used, which reads the text as it is actually written. The child hears their errors, particularly missing words or mistakes that change the sound. This tool is very useful for longer texts. The page on voice dictation presents related tools.

Practising on other people's texts

It is easier to spot mistakes in someone else’s text. The child can be given texts containing deliberate errors, which they must find and correct using their checklist. They develop a proofreader’s eye without being judged.

This game can be played in pairs: the adult writes a text with a few mistakes, the child looks for them, then the roles are reversed. The child loves catching the adult out. They become aware of common errors. The ones they easily find in others’ work eventually leap out at them in their own texts. The page on spelling games suggests other formats.

Celebrating corrections

When the child corrects an error on their own, it is a genuine achievement, which deserves to be highlighted. You could suggest they correct in green, to show that they found it themselves. They can see their progress as a proofreader.

This recognition is important, as a child with dysorthographia is often used to seeing their texts covered in red. Being the one who finds the errors changes their relationship with writing. They regain confidence. They discover that they can act on their mistakes, rather than simply suffering them. The page dysorthographia and self-esteem covers this aspect.

Learning to proofread with a professional

The speech and language therapist can help the child build their proofreading checklist, based on their most frequent errors. They can also work on self-correction strategies during sessions. This method at home continues this work without replacing it.

You can find a speech and language therapist in your area through the ProfessionnelsDys directory. Bring the proofreading checklist used at home, and they can adjust it. The page on the spell checker presents a complementary tool.