Overview of Structured Literacy provided by the International Dyslexia Association.
News & Articles
Developing Dyslexia Empathy
Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley provides two scenarios to assist with better understanding the dyslexic student in a classroom.
The Dyslexia Stalker
“This morning I stalked a parent from my son’s preschool class and waited for him in the parking lot. Why would I do such a thing?” Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley understands the importance of awareness and early screening for reading difficulties. This article includes links to early warning signs.
Are Dyslexia Advocates Ungracious or Misunderstood?
The Test Score May Not Be Representative of Student’s Ability
Good read on standardized tests. “For students with learning differences, especially in the age of abundant assistive technology, standardized tests are even more inaccurate in being able to predict academic readiness and potential.”
Opportunity Lost or Gained?
Excellent article written by David Flink, the founder of Eye to Eye and author of, “Thinking Differently.”
Brain scans show dyslexia, dysgraphia require different types of treatment
Article covering research completed at the University of Washington.
Dyslexia and the “Privilege” of an Appropriate Education
“We know that most schools are currently not providing the kind of education to which dyslexic students have a right not only because of numerous studies and surveys, but because as parents and professionals we see with our own eyes the damage that is being done to dyslexic children. “
Debunking the Myths about Dyslexia
The University of Michigan has an excellent website about dyslexia. This article covers several misconceptions about dyslexia.
Signs of Dyslexia
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity has an excellent website. This link is to an excellent list of “Signs of Dyslexia” that includes both weaknesses and strengths.
Dyslexia More Difficult in English, French
“A new study of the brain disorder that causes difficulty in reading and writing shows that simple languages, like Italian, are easier for dyslexics to decode than English and French. That’s because Italian words are spelled the way they are pronounced, unlike many words in English and French.”
Not all reading disabilities are dyslexia
Article that discusses “Specific Reading Comprehension Deficits or S-RCD, in which a child reads successfully but does not sufficiently comprehend the meaning of the words.”
When Struggling With Dyslexia Makes You A Better Entrepreneur
“Despite the age of diagnosis, many entrepreneurs list supportive parents and teachers as building their confidence in themselves and their professional capabilities.”
Best Ways to Help a Student With Dyslexia
A short list of helpful accommodations in the classroom.
When Will We Ever Learn: Dissecting the Common Core State Standards With Dr. Louisa Moats
An excellent interview with Dr. Louisa Moats. “But we were making great inroads into beginning reading assessment and instruction practices between 2000-2008 that now are being cast aside in favor of “reading aloud from complex text” — which is not the same as teaching kids how to read on their own, accurately and fluently.”
Students with Dyslexia Solve Math Differently
Short summary of research out of the brain research lab at Georgetown.
For Those with Dyslexia, Whole Language is a Coping Mechanism, Not a Strategy
“The moral of the story is that science has shown time and again that explicitness is the key to teaching reading.”
Why do you spell cat with a ‘c’? Kearny kids know, thanks to new reading program
“Orton Gillingham itself isn’t a new program but it was implemented this year in Kearny, full force, in an effort to reach a district goal: to get all children reading to grade level by third grade, Curriculum Director Flora Encarnacao said.”
The way we teach most children to read sets them up to fail
This article emphasizes the importance of synthetic phonics instruction versus whole language teaching.
Pa. launches pilot programs to help students struggling with dyslexia
EXCERPT: “The pilot is not just about having these kids get better services. It’s really about helping teachers to be better trained to know what to do in a classroom,” said Reott. “We really want the teaches to be helped as much as the children.”
Dyslexic Tendencies
This article includes a graphic of brain imaging. “But let’s be clear: someone with a learning disability is not disabled from learning. First, we were not born to read; our brains rewire themselves to do so, and some brains have difficulty during that rewiring process.”
How Children Learn To Read
Wonderful article in The New Yorker! “Hoeft’s goal isn’t just to understand the neuroscience of how children read. Neuroscience is the tool to figure out a much broader question: How should early reading education work?”
Diagnosing Dyslexia – Dyslexia Learning Graphic
This website page has a great graphic showing symptoms of dyslexia. Of course, not everything will be true for all dyslexic individuals, but most of us will see many of these characteristics in our children. It’s worth taking the time to poke around this site. Take a look at the “Our Team” section and read about the business owner, who spent many school years undiagnosed.
The Miseducation of the Fonz
Did you know that Henry Winkler is dyslexic? “Since learning of his dyslexia at age 31, Winkler has become an advocate for raising awareness about the widely underdiagnosed disability and encouraging schools and parents to properly support children who have it.”
A dyslexic author’s writing tips for dyslexic kids
“Tip 8: learn about what dyslexia is, read about it, you’ll find yourself going “I totally do that!” quite a lot.”
What’s the Difference Between Dysgraphia and Dyslexia?
A general overview from Understood.org.
Keep Our Reading Specialists, Aides, and ESL Personnel in PCSD
Many community members are concerned about the restructure of personnel, including aides and specialists. This is a link to a petition that was started. In an effort to avoid any misconceptions, PC READS did not begin this petition; however, we are pleased that the petition is bringing attention to PCSD’s new ELA Plan. The petition addresses concerns with respect to the restructuring of our Reading Specialists, ELL Specialists and Classroom Aides. PC READS is continuing to encourage the PCSD: (1) to provide classroom reading instruction that reaches all students; (2) to identify struggling readers earlier; (3) to match interventions with weaknesses; and (4) to provide additional professional development on reading instruction and learning disabilities, including dyslexia.
Park City English Language Arts Plan
During February 2016, the PCSD added information to the district website about the new ELA Plan (formerly referred to as the Reading Plan). We encourage everyone to review this information.
PCSD Updated District Reading Plan Documents – January 12, 2016
This link is to School Board agendas. To read the documents that were presented and reviewed at the January 12th meeting, click on “Meetings” – “January 12th Work Session” – “View the Agenda.” The reports are available on the left side of the screen.
PCSD School Board Meeting – January 12, 2016
On January 12, the PCSD School Board Agenda included an update on the district’s “Reading Plan.” This link is to the video of the meeting. Documents associated with the report are a separate link in this section. According to the presentation, both current Reading Specialists and Reading Aides will be utilized/re-assigned to the full day Kindergarten program. It appears that classroom teachers of grades 1 and up will be responsible for all Tier 1 & Tier 2 instruction. If you have a child who is receiving reading intervention, it is important to understand what these changes will mean for your student’s ongoing education.
