SLP Guide to Dyslexia

09/25/2026

📚 Reading and writing don’t develop in isolation—they strengthen each other.

Reading builds vocabulary, sentence structure, background knowledge, and an understanding of how ideas connect. Writing gives students a chance to retrieve, organize, and express that language and knowledge. This can, in turn, strengthen and deepen reading comprehension.

This is an important reminder for SLPs supporting dyslexic students that reading and writing shouldn’t be treated as completely separate skills.

Reading builds writing. Writing deepens reading. 🔄

08/20/2026

For our dyslexic students, protecting confidence doesn’t mean lowering expectations or avoiding challenges. It means creating a learning environment where they feel supported, capable, and safe to make mistakes.

✨ Focus on growth, not comparison.
✨ Celebrate progress, not perfection.
✨ Normalize the tools and support they need.
✨ Give them opportunities to shine.

Because confidence matters, too. 💛

07/09/2026

Phonological awareness and phonics are closely related, but they aren't the same thing.

A simple way to remember the difference:

👂 No letters = phonological awareness
🔤 Letters = phonics

Phonological awareness involves hearing and manipulating the sounds in spoken language. Phonics teaches students how those sounds connect to written letters and letter patterns.

Understanding the distinction helps us target the right skills during assessment and intervention, especially when supporting students with dyslexia and other language-based literacy difficulties.

05/18/2026

May 18th is National SLP Day! 💜✨

Reading starts with language. Happy SLP Day to the SLPs helping students with language-based learning differences build literacy skills and confidence.

04/20/2026

Reading comprehension isn’t one skill, it’s the product of a system. In the Simple View of Reading, decoding skills and language skills work together to create comprehension. When both are strong, comprehension is strong. When either is weak, comprehension is limited.

Think of it like a flashlight: batteries (word recognition), a bulb (language comprehension), and a working connection. All three are needed for the light to turn on fully. If one is weak or missing, the light of comprehension dims, or doesn’t turn on at all.

🔋 x 💡 = 🔦

This is why reading struggles can look different across learners. It’s not just about sounding out words, it’s about whether the system produces understanding.

03/06/2026

March is National Reading Month! 🎉 Whether you’re an SLP planning therapy sessions or a family looking for fun ways to support literacy at home, these simple activities can boost vocabulary, phonological awareness, comprehension, and a love of reading. Try read-alouds, rhyming and letter games, or even a reading challenge to celebrate the joy of reading all month long!

02/25/2026

I am happy to announce that the PBC that I created along with Dr. Kane is gaining traction. Complete the interest form today!

Advance your impact in literacy education! 📚✨The Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership's Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Literacy Coaching (K-12) is designed for educators ready to lead with equity and evidence-based practice. Fill out the interest form today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdc4J7m7AYTlrVaf6gxX0PG4zJWKIWbD6OSqEkBBNyvFlP0jA/viewform

01/27/2026

Now enrolling!!

The LEAP Preschool at the University of Maryland has a limited number of open spots for the Spring 2026 semester, beginning February 2. Enrollment is now open!

Designed for children ages 3–5, LEAP offers an incredible, play-based preschool experience with built-in speech and language support.

For less than $500 per month, your child receives each week:
90 minutes of 1:1 speech and language therapy
8 hours of play-based group therapy
A nurturing preschool setting led by certified speech-language pathologists

This program is ideal for families looking for high-quality, affordable speech and language support embedded into a preschool day.

Schedule your tour today to learn more and see if LEAP is the right fit for your child! Feel free to reach out with questions or share with a family who may be interested:
Dr. Courtney Overton, Director
[email protected]

01/14/2026

Congratulations to all!

We’re proud to share that three Speech of Cake SLPs are now certified Structured Literacy / Dyslexia Interventionists through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI).

👉 CERI certifications verify that clinicians have the training to deliver evidence-based Structured Literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading.

Congratulations to Courtney, Tyiesha, and Phoebe! 🎉

01/09/2026

These three words show up everywhere in conversations about literacy instruction, but they’re not just buzzwords.

🔍 Explicit instruction means skills are taught directly.
↪ Systematic instruction means there’s a thoughtful plan.
🪜 Cumulative instruction means new learning builds on what’s already been taught.

When phonics instruction is clear and intentional, students don’t have to guess and reading starts to make sense.

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