Check out this Park Record article about our upcomining Wrightslaw Conference!
NOTE: This Conference has been rescheduled to October 26, 2020.
News & Articles
20 Things Only Parents Of Children With Dyslexia Would Understand
A great list for all to understand! All are important, but #16 is a favorite!
#16 – Dyslexic kids are individuals. Their disabilities come in all ranges. Some may exhibit symptoms of ADD, while others will not. Some have real difficulty putting thoughts into words, while others are much more verbal. Some are of average intellectual ability, while others are truly gifted. Some have “acting out behavior;” while others are too quiet. It is unfair to treat all dyslexic children as if they are one homogeneous group.
Thank You Dyslexia Moms: Now Can We Get Some Back Up?
We are definitely thankful for all the moms, dads, advocates, educators, journalists and policymakers who are working hard every day to ensure that every child learns to read.
Take a moment to enjoy this piece & take note of the excellent resource list at the end, too.
Technology Tools That Can Help Dyslexic Students
How Dyslexia is a Different Brain, Not a Disease
Excellent article!
“It’s important to note that dyslexia is NOT caused by visual problems, and it isn’t the flipping of letters, or reading letters backwards, or mispronouncing words—and it’s not related to motivation or intelligence. It’s merely the result of a brain with a different organization that makes reading and writing more difficult.”
“Because the human brain doesn’t come already wired to read, there is no “reading center” of the brain and there are no “reading genes.”
Different ≠ Deficient, featuring Jonathan Mooney
October 30, 2019
Over 100 community members joined PC READS to hear Jonathan Mooney share his personal and professional experiences as a dyslexic and ADD student in a presentation filled with humor and knowledge. Jonathan, who co-founded Project Eye-to-Eye while a student at Brown University, spoke about neurological and physical diversity, emphasizing that different does not mean deficient. His message, that we shouldn’t be striving for normalcy, was well-received and attendees left this event filled with hope.
Thanks to the support of The Hall Family Fund, PC READS was able to give 50 attendees a free copy of Jonathan’s recently released book, Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines.
Read the Park Record article published before this event: PC READS and Hall Family Fund books author and student advocate Jonathan Mooney
PC READS and Hall Family Fund books author and student advocate Jonathan Mooney
Thanks to the Park Record for this wonderful article featuring our upcoming speaker!
At Risk in the Culture of ‘Normal’
We are so excited that Jonathan Mooney is coming to Park City on October 30th! Read the Op-Ed he wrote for the New York Times.
Utah State Dyslexia Handbook
The Utah State Board of Education published a Dyslexia Handbook in 2018. PC READS Executive Director, Elissa Aten, participated in the taskforce that drafted this important document. It is a resource for educators and parents and we encourage all to read and share it!
Entrance Exams: Tips for Students with Learning Issues
This article, written by PC READS, appeared in the Park Record’s 2019 Park City Parent Back to School Special Edition.
Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains, It Doesn’t Matter
Back to School Tip: Students in the Park City School District re fortunate to have access to a district-wide Learning Ally subscription. If your student benefits from this wonderful opportunity, be sure Learning Ally has been reloaded to the school laptop.
“The subject’s brains were creating meaning from the words in the same way, regardless if they were listening or reading. In fact, the brain maps for both auditory and visual input they created from the data looked nearly identical.”
Dyslexia: Cracking the code
Thank you, Susan Spencer & CBS Sunday Morning for your report this morning on dyslexia!
SUMMARY: “Yale researchers who have studied hundreds of kindergartners for nearly 40 years say one in five was dyslexic. But perhaps their most important finding: There is no link at all between dyslexia and intelligence. Susan Spencer reports on efforts to help those with dyslexia “crack the code,” from students at a Louisiana school catering to dyslexic children, to a new law to help the high percentage of prison inmates who have dyslexia.”
Yale researchers who have studied hundreds of kindergartners for nearly 40 years say one in five was dyslexic. But perhaps their most important finding: Ther…
At a Loss for Words: How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
“In 2015, 37% of students in 12th grade were proficient or advanced in reading.”
One of our favorite reporters, Emily Hanford, is back with another insightful audio documentary about reading instruction and the continued need to ensure that the science of reading is understood by educators and put to practice in classrooms.
Too many students have been “taught” how to read using insufficient strategies or programs, such as three-cuing, MSV (meaning, structure & visual), whole language and balanced literacy.
“These poor reading habits, once ingrained at a young age, can follow kids into high school. Some kids who were taught the cueing approach never become good readers. Not because they’re incapable of learning to read well but because they were taught the strategies of struggling readers.”
Influential Reading Group Makes It Clear: Students Need Systematic, Explicit Phonics
The ILA and the IDA have not always seen eye-to-eye and there was particular debate over the ILA’s 2016 Research Advisory on Dyslexia (link below). So, we are happy to see that the ILA has published a brief (link below) on the importance of explicit and systematic phonics instruction.
EXCERPTS:
The question of whether to include phonics instruction has been resolved.
The answer is yes. Although phonics can be taught in different ways, research supports instruction that is explicit and systematic.
LINKS
Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Instruction (2019 ILA Literacy Leadership Brief)
Here’s Why Schools Should Use Structured Literacy
We often post about the importance of using Structured Litearcy in classrooms and why we are so pleased that the Park City School District has implemented it through the use of Wilson Fundations in all K-3 classrooms. Here is a great article from the International Dyslexia Association explaining what Structured Literacy is why all schools should use it. Additional resources are included at the end of the article
‘Shark Tank’s’ Barbara Corcoran Says This Disability Helped Make Her a Millionaire
Very often, a child’s diagnosis leads a parent to realize that he is also dyslexic. Read more about “Shark Tank’s” Barbara Corcoran in the article below or listen to the podcast (linked in article).
EXCERPT: Struggling with insecurity at an early age, Corcoran could not read or write until she was in third grade. “I’ve wrestled with letters and numbers my whole life… My biggest fear all day long was that I would be called on to read out loud,” Corcoran said in her recent podcast on her series “Business Unusual.” It was only when her son Tom was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in second grade that Corcoran realized she also had the disorder.
Liberty Science Center Honors Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz with Genius Award
Congratulations to Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz on their well-deserved recognition for their work in the field of dyslexia! The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity is one of our favorite resources!
“At a recent gala event at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz were presented with LSC’s “Genius Award” for their groundbreaking work on dyslexia. To begin the presentation of the award, the audience was shown a specially-commissioned video that celebrates the lives and careers of the Shaywitzes. ” (Click on the original article to see the video.)
District Curriculum Specialist Receives PC READS Literacy Award
PC READS was pleased to honor Julie Hastings, PCSD Elementary Curriculum Specialist, with our 2019 Elevating Literacy Award on Friday night.
“It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Julie over the past three years on The Dyslexia Initiative. Her attention to planning and implementation, as well as her commitment to professional development, has enabled this Initiative to succeed and become a model program within our school district. Julie’s dedication to improving literacy instruction for all students, including struggling readers, makes her a deserving recipient of our 2019 Elevating Literacy Award.” – Elissa Aten, Executive Director
Park City School District Leader Honored for Implementing Reading Initiatives
On May 3rd, PC READS awarded Julie Hastings with our 2019 Elevating Literacy Award. This award was started as a way to recognize someone who has embraced the PC READS mission and is making a difference in our community. It honors an individual who has made a significant contribution towards improving the lives of students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia.
Nonprofit PC READS Expands, Set to Host Second Fundraiser
Thank you to the Park Record for covering our exciting news! “PC READS is in its fifth year of operation, and it is expanding. Aten, the co-founder and former president of the board of directors, was recently hired as the organization’s first executive director.”
To purchase your Gin & Phonics or Adventure Package Opportunity Drawing tickets, visit www.parkcityreads.org.
Intervention Program Helps McPolin Elementary School Readers Learn
PC READS is very thankful for the PCSD Interventionists who started this program at McPolin Elementary School! And, we are proud to be supporting educators through our Professional Development Grant Program. #elevatingliteracy
Interventionist Amy Warren, featured in this article, received a PC READS grant for Wilson Level 2 Coaching Sessions and shared the following: “I am so thankful for PC READS because they help to make education accessible at every level. PC READS supports teachers by giving them opportunities for trainings and professional development and, in turn, teachers are able to use that information and experience to better serve and support their students.”
Dyslexic Mum Makes a Stand
Thank you, Anna! For reminding everyone that dyslexia does not disappear. Dyslexic kids DO grow up to be dyslexic adults and that is one reason why spreading awareness is so important!
Video from BBC Family & Education News
Why The College Admissions Scandal Hurts Students With Disabilities
NPR coverage on the college admissions scandal.
Excerpt: “This hurts every individual with a learning disability,” Beth McGaw, the president of the Learning Disabilities Association of America said in a statement. At many levels of education, students with disabilities — such as dyslexia or ADHD — can receive extra time on standardized tests. It’s one of a number of ways that make tests accessible to all students.
Our Response to the Varsity Blues Scandal
Written by David Flink, Founder of Eye to Eye and and also the author of “Thinking Differently,” a wonderful book on our resource list.
EXCERPT: I join the chorus condemning the abuse of the college admissions process and want to shine a light on how this scandal mischaracterizes the journey of students with very real learning disabilities. The parents and test-taking coaches who were able to manipulate the system to give extra time on tests to students who don’t have learning disabilities acted unethically—and they’ve done a considerable disservice to the 1 in 5 students with learning disabilities across this country.
We Have a National Reading Crisis
“Unfinished learning around literacy” is a reason the PC READS provides Professional Development Grants to educators in the Park City area. Thank you to all the educators who continue to learn! And, thank you to The Hall Family Fund for your support of this important program!
EXCERPT: Educators urgently need a national movement for professional learning about reading. We should declare a No Shame Zone for this work—to make it safe for all educators to say, “I have unfinished learning around literacy.”
Identifying students with dyslexia in middle, high school
It’s so important to recognize the older students who are silently struggling. Looking forward to the rest of this five-part series on supporting middle-schoolers, high-schoolers and adults with dyslexia. We also are grateful for the time that the author, Donell Pons, has given to PC READS!
EXCERPT: There is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” speller. By accepting the “good” or “bad” speller idea, it absolves us from doing anything to improve the outcome. Think about how much damage has been done in the field of teaching mathematics by falling back on the erroneous idea that some people are simply “good” or “bad” at math. Simply put, people struggle with math or spelling for the same reasons. Many educators have not been given the training and resources to accommodate students with dyslexia, and especially older students with dyslexia who are out of the initial learning curve of reading.
This has been making the social media rounds, but for those who missed it, take just a minute to read the poem and the story.
Note from the article: “The author, whose identity has not been revealed, is neither dyslexic nor has any connection with the learning disorder. ‘She’s just a sensitive child and that’s the theme she chose,’ Broadis tells TODAY. ‘I’ve spoken about dyslexia. It’s just something she tuned into.'”
The Ladder of Reading
A wonderful infographic showing the need and effectiveness for Structured Literacy.
Anna
One of the main reasons that PC READS continues to spread awareness is to increase empathy and understanding. Please watch and share. Thank you, Anna
Henry Winkler Interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
We’ve promoted Henry Winkler’s Hank Zipzer series for years and here he is reading a few pages to Jimmy Fallon from his most recent book, “Everybody is Somebody.” Perfect title!
