In this age of artificial intelligence, there is one question that often comes to the minds of teachers and parents: what skills do children really need to be taught to be future-ready? Interestingly, the answer to this question was found in the experiences of children with dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a specific condition that makes it difficult for a person to read text fluently, especially when reading alone. Despite this, children with dyslexia often show very high comprehension and analysis when they listen to stories or have discussions, even sharper than their peers who do not have reading difficulties.
According to a presentation at the World Literacy Summit 2025, various studies and surveys have found that dyslexic children excel in six key skills: analytical thinking (analytical thinking), creative thinking (creative thinking, resilience, motivation (high motivation), curiosity (curiosity), and empathy (empathy). These six skills are exactly the ones that are also currently considered essential in the future world of work according to the World Economic Forum.
But what needs to be observed is that literacy activities in schools and families are still often trapped in low-level questions according to Bloom’s Taxonomy (Lower Order Thinking Skills/(LOTS), such as: remember (C1): “What is the name of the main character?”, understanding (C2): “What is the main story?”, and apply (C3): “Name the sequence of events!”
This type of question is highly teachable, lightweight, and-most crucially-easily replaced by AI. For students to be relevant in the future, literacy activities should challenge them more often with higher-order questions ( Higher Order Thinking Skills/HOTS), for example: analyze (C4): “What is the reason why the character made that decision?”, evaluate (C5): “How do you assess the story’s solution?”, and create (C6): “Make an alternative ending to the story!”
The same applies to the SOLO Taxonomy, where Uni-structural & Multi-structural (low level) only focus on basic information or a list of facts. Meanwhile, at Relational & Extended Abstract (high level) focuses on relating, comparing, inferring and creating new concepts, for example: “How can the conflict of this story be compared to a real situation in your neighborhood? What is your solution?”
So, the more in-depth the questions asked in literacy activities, demanding analysis, evaluation, creativity and empathy, the better chance children have to grow as human beings who are not replaced by machines. The key to the future is in the hands of those who are able to think at a higher level, connect information and make meaning. Not just remembering or reciting basic information.