b/d Reversal Solutions!

b/d Reversal Solutions

There’s at least one student each year who reverses his/her b’s and d’s or just writes uppercase B’s and D’s (well, because that was an easier strategy to learn).

Should teachers be concerned?

Are reversals a sign of dyslexia? 

Reversing letters is common until around age 7.

Here are some tricks to reverse reversals…

1. Have students fist pump themselves with their palms facing towards them. Stick their thumbs up and you have a b/d (this is a great indiscreet trick for older students too)

2. Draw a bed with the letters b and d - bd - draw a stick finger person laying down whose head lays down on the b

3. Draw a bat and ball to create a b and a drum with a drum stick for a d

4. Make an uppercase B and then, erase it's top b

5. Practice visual tracking with activities like the one in the image

b/d Reversal Solutions

Practice, practice, practice!  But if there is no progress after all of that practice, then, a teacher should be concerned.

If dyslexia is the reason for the letter reversals, teachers may also note that students struggle with letter and number sequencing. 

And a word of caution... there is no evidence to suggest letter reversals are more common among dyslexic children, compared to same-aged peers learning how to read and write; however, it is more so that most children grow out of letter reversals, whereas students with dyslexia may be slower to. AND don't forget to rule out a visual processing disorder.

By Miss Rae