Hi, I’m Tawni. I Know How Exhausting This Is.
If you’re here, I’m guessing you typed something into Google like “why does my teenager hate reading” or “how do I help my older child with dyslexia.” I did the same thing more times than I can count.
I’m a wife and mom to 5 grown kids, and our youngest son has dyslexia. He graduated from high school this past year, and I can finally say something I couldn’t say for a long time: we made it through! It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t by the book, but he’s done.
Why I Started Gravel and Gumption
We tried it all. Public school, homeschool, tutors, programs, and plenty of things I made up at the kitchen table when nothing else was working. Everything on this site comes from those years, the good and the bad.
I started this site because most dyslexia help is either way too expensive, packed with theory, or made for little kids. My son wasn’t little. By middle school and high school, a teenage boy who spent his time outdoors hunting, cutting wood, riding dirt bikes, was NOT tapping sounds out on his arm!
What Dyslexia Looks Like in Older Boys
It doesn’t always look like struggling to read. Sometimes it looks like attitude. Deflection. Joking around so he doesn’t have to try. Not being able to sit still for more than a few minutes. Getting angry the second a pencil and paper came out.
That wasn’t laziness and it wasn’t a bad attitude. It was frustration from years of sitting for long stretches trying to read, write, and spell the way everyone else did. If your older child is acting this way, I want you to know you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.
Why School Didn’t Always Get It
My son was given the same resources as students with completely different learning disabilities, instead of help built for dyslexia. It wasn’t working. Pair that with his defiance and ‘being a boy’, meant he was sent to the office or passed off to someone else.
So I had to get creative. We worked around the system, and we did whatever it took to get him through. I pulled him out and homeschooled him for awhile and we worked on our own stuff at home when he was in public school.
I’ll be sharing how we did it, one post at a time. If you want the full story, start here: [link to Post #1]
Is It Too Late to Help an Older Child With Dyslexia?
No. This is the question that keeps parents up at night, and the answer is no. Kids who are 10, 13, 16, even grown adults can still learn and grow. They need materials that respect their age and don’t make them feel behind.
What You’ll Find Here
Printables for reading, spelling, writing, and everyday life skills, made for older kids and priced for real families. Use them alongside the curriculum you’re already working through, or try them as a fresh approach to dyslexia learning.
Kids get bored fast, and sometimes you just need to shake things up to keep them motivated.
You’ll also find posts that answer the questions you’re asking in your Facebook groups and group chats right now. And some honest, tired-mom encouragement, because you need that too.
I’m not a doctor and I’m not a researcher. I’m a mom who lived it for years and kept trying things until something worked. Our son’s learning is still going, just not at the kitchen table anymore. I’m happy to share everything I learned so you don’t have to figure it out the hard way.
You Are Not Failing Your Child
I wish someone had said that to me sooner. Your kid isn’t lazy and you’re not doing it wrong. You’re allowed to be tired, and you’re allowed to hope.
Stick around, browse the printables, and read a few posts. If you ever want to tell me your story, I’d love to hear it.
Everything I share here came from years of sitting across the table from a kid who learned differently. The printables in the shop are what we actually used. If you are looking for something age appropriate and built for an older struggling reader, start here.
I am a mom sharing our story with dyslexia. This is not professional educational advice. Every child and every family situation is different.