Story Prediction Activities for ADHD and Dyslexia: How to Get Your Child's Brain Ready for Reading Success<iframe
- Kelly Sutherland
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Story Prediction Activities for ADHD and Dyslexia That Actually Engage Your Child's Brain
Welcome back to Day 2! Yesterday you discovered reading everywhere through our treasure hunt. Today we're diving into story prediction activities for ADHD and dyslexia that transform passive readers into active thinkers.
Watch today's video: https://youtu.be/XPbA_RaFxsg?si=XzXHyYIDjRJUxM9d
Why Most Children with ADHD and Dyslexia Struggle with New Books
Here's what typically happens: Children with ADHD or dyslexia open a book and immediately start reading the first word, getting frustrated when they can't follow along. ADHD brains need preparation and purpose, while dyslexic brains need context and visual cues before tackling text.
Dr. Russell Barkley's ADHD research and International Dyslexia Association studies show that both neurotypes need strategic preparation before reading begins.
The Science Behind Story Prediction Activities for ADHD and Dyslexia
Natalie Wexler's research demonstrates that activating background knowledge dramatically improves comprehension. For children with learning differences, this pre-reading step is even more crucial because it:
For ADHD Children:
✅ Gives their brain a clear purpose for reading
✅ Activates focus before starting the hard work
✅ Creates investment in finding out if predictions are correct
✅ Builds executive function skills
For Dyslexic Children:
✅ Provides context before decoding challenges
✅ Uses visual clues from covers and illustrations
✅ Builds confidence through successful thinking
✅ Reduces anxiety about unknown text
Today's Activity: Strategic Story Prediction for Learning Differences
Time: 15 minutes (perfect for both attention spans and processing needs) Materials: Any new book with an interesting cover ADHD Benefits: Brain activation, purpose-driven reading, engagement Dyslexia Benefits: Context building, visual processing, confidence
Your Story Prediction Activities for ADHD and Dyslexia Strategy:
Step 1: Choose Your Book Together (Choice = Investment) Let your child help choose a new book. This gives ADHD children ownership while allowing dyslexic children to pick something visually appealing.
Step 2: Visual Investigation (Multi-Sensory Approach) Look at the cover and read the title together. Don't open the book yet! This builds anticipation for ADHD children while giving dyslexic children time to process visual information.
Step 3: Make Family Predictions (Active Thinking) Ask these brain-activating questions:
"What do you think this story will be about?"
"Who might be the main character?"
"What kind of adventure might happen?"
"Where do you think it takes place?"
"What problem might the character face?"
Step 4: Record Your Predictions (Visual + Kinesthetic) Write down or draw your predictions. This helps ADHD children focus while giving dyslexic children multiple ways to express ideas.
Step 5: Read and Compare (Engagement Through Discovery) Read the first chapter together, pausing to celebrate:
"Oh! That matches our prediction!"
"Wow, that's different than we thought!"
"Let's adjust our prediction based on this new information!"
Building Reading Success for ADHD and Dyslexia Children
When you practice story prediction activities for ADHD and dyslexia consistently, something amazing happens. Children start approaching every book as active thinkers instead of passive receivers.
For ADHD Children: They learn to channel their energy into purposeful thinking For Dyslexic Children: They build confidence through successful predictions before facing decoding challenges
The Academic Transfer: How These Strategies Support School Success
Story prediction activities for ADHD and dyslexia build critical thinking skills that transfer to:
Better test-taking strategies (both benefit from preparation)
Improved problem-solving in math (prediction builds logical thinking)
Stronger analytical skills in science (hypothesis formation)
More thoughtful essay writing (planning and organization)
Enhanced study skills across all subjects
Supporting All Learning Differences
This systematic approach particularly benefits:
ADHD Children by providing structure and purpose that maintains attention while building strategic thinking skills.
Dyslexic Children by building context and confidence before encountering text, reducing anxiety and improving comprehension.
All Struggling Readers by making reading feel like detective work rather than a test.
Take Action Today
Choose that new book, make those family predictions, and spend 15 minutes being strategic readers together. Focus on the thinking process – perfect predictions aren't the goal! The goal is activating your child's unique brain for reading success.
Share your wins: Comment below with your family's most creative prediction today! Other families supporting children with learning differences want to hear your success.
Day 3: Character Detective Skills for Learning Differences
Day 3 focuses on "character analysis for ADHD and dyslexia" – building the analytical skills that help children understand not just what happens in stories, but why characters make the choices they do.
Join Our Supportive Community
Don't do this journey alone! Join our Courageously Confident Reader Community where hundreds of families are transforming their struggling readers into confident scholars.
Simply add your name and email to join the conversation! You'll get:
Daily encouragement from other parents on the same journey
Real-time support when you hit challenges with ADHD or dyslexia
Expert guidance from a certified reading specialist
Success celebrations that keep you motivated
A safe space to share wins, struggles, and breakthrough moments
Your child's reading transformation is guaranteed when you have a community cheering you on!
Strategic thinking skills are building every day – you're transforming your child into a confident scholar using strategies that work with their unique brain!
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