Unfortunately, a good deal of teaching in elementary school and middle school involves rote memorization, often with an emphasis on speed. Your child's dyslexia is not merely a reading issue; it also is reflected in the speed with which he processes linguistic information or translates his thoughts into written or oral expression. Even when your child knows an answer, he is likely to freeze up, become forgetful, or make many mistakes when under pressure to answer quickly.

Typically, your child will be expected to memorize math facts and multiplication tables, usually quizzed in a format emphasizing speed, such as the “mad minute” where children are assessed based on how quickly they can solve simple math problems. Your child will be given weekly lists of 10 to 20 spelling words to master; as he grows older these will be replaced by vocabulary lists, with word definitions to memorize. Your child will be expected to memorize facts such as historical dates, state capitals, or lines of poetry or famous speeches.

All of these tasks rely on strong verbal and linguistic skills. Even the rote memorization of math facts is a linguistic, not a mathematical, skill. None of these tasks is particularly important to your child's ultimate educational success: not only can your child figure out or look up this information if memory fails him, but the need to memorize many of these facts has been rendered obsolete by modern technology.

This doesn't mean that these skills shouldn't be taught to those children who can easily master them — but it does mean that you should arrange modifications such as alternative assignments or extended time for your child.