Welcome to Taj's Toolkit
The all-in-one kit for teachers who want to be prepared for navigating the unique mix of ADHD + Dyslexia in the classroom.
Hi, I'm Taj, a 15-year-old sophomore at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, AZ. I grew up with ADHD and Dyslexia, and it was the teachers who were well informed and trained on ADHD and Dyslexia that made a huge difference in my academic career and self confidence. I want that for every student. Hopefully my toolkit helps!
01 / Start here
5 things you can do tomorrow
- 1.
Give instructions one step at a time — and write them on the board.
By step three I've lost step one. Written steps let me check back without asking.
- 2.
Never make us read aloud without warning.
Cold reading in front of the class is the most stressful thing in school for a dyslexic kid.
- 3.
Break long tasks into chunks with check-ins.
"Due in two weeks" feels like forever, then suddenly it's tomorrow. Mini-deadlines fix that.
- 4.
Grade ideas separately from spelling.
Otherwise I write shorter, simpler answers just to avoid words I can't spell.
- 5.
Let us move, fidget, or take a short break.
Moving helps me focus. Sitting perfectly still uses up the attention I need for learning.
02 / Look again
Signs you might be missing
03 / The numbers
~1 in 10
students has dyslexia
International Dyslexia Association
~1 in 10
kids are diagnosed with ADHD
CDC, 2022
25–40%
of kids with one also have the other
Willcutt & Pennington, 2000
In a class of 30, that's usually three to six students.
04 / Where to go next