Empowering Boys and Dyslexic Learners

ON BOYS Podcast

Empowering boys and dyslexic learners could positively change so many lives.

Jason Kantor, a New York-based homeschool tutor who frequently works with boys and dyslexic learners, believes it’s important to identify kids’ strengths and build them up, so they develop true confidence in themselves and their ability. Especially because so many boys and people with dyslexia attend schools that focus on their flaws and shortcomings, rather than their strengths.

“A dyslexic who goes to the public school system can feel tormented because they feel dumb,” Kantor says. “They’re sitting there in class and can’t read and think I’m not catching up with my peers, I’m struggling, everyone thinks I’m lazy and unmotivated.” Eventually, these thoughts and feelings leach motivation, and kids lose confidence in their ability.

“You can throw the best reading tips and tools at kids, and have the best teachers, but if kids don’t believe in themselves, they’re not going to learn to read,” Kantor says. To effectively help “failing” or “unmotivated” learners, he said, you must first believe in them – and show them that you believe they can do great things.

Nurture Kids’ Interests to Help Them Learn

“Most kids don’t care about school, so when they fail, they’re like, whatever,” Jason says. But when kids are given the opportunity to do things that matter to them and fall short of their goals, they tend to keep trying.

“It’s easier for kids to swallow failure and bounce back when it’s something they want to get better at,” he says. So, when he works with kids, one of the first things he tries to determine is what they’re interested in and passionate about.

Jason encouraged one boy, age 15, to start a pizza business. The boy loved to cook, so Jason encouraged him to “take it to the next level.” He’s since developed a recipe, contacted multiple farmers’ markets, and has 11 scheduled bookings.

Encouraging and empowering boys and dyslexic learners allows them to develop resilience and confidence.

In this episode, Jen, Janet, & Jason discuss:

• Believing in boys
• Symptoms of dyslexia
• Confidence and exploration for dyslexics
• Intrinsic motivation & relationships
• Belief and ambition
• Building self-belief through encouragement

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

@coachjasonkantor — Jason’s Instgram

@thejasonkantor – Jason on Twitter

Supporting Boys’ Interests — ON BOYS episode

Novel Education for Boys — ON BOYS episode

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