Dyslexia Dynamics Learning Support

04/24/2024

Watch Melissa's interview with Jill Nicolini on the Podcast Business News Network

05/19/2022

With the skills I honed over years in the classroom, I strive to offer concrete help to struggling learners, one-on-one. I looked for an approach that avoids the unnecessary learning difficulties school unwittingly causes for some individuals. I found a program that matches my deeply held beliefs about how people learn best.

The Davis® method aligns with what I have discovered:
When individuals learn through experiences that are hands-on, multisensory and creative, learning is truly and fully absorbed.
This is what Ronald Davis calls "the gift of mastery."

05/19/2022

Working with kids to help them "get a handle" on reading by using kinetic and tactile methods

05/19/2022

Dyslexia is one of the most misunderstood learning styles in today's educational landscape. It literally means "difficulty with words," and most people associate dyslexia with letter reversals and reading problems. However, dyslexia actually stems from a creative thinking style and encompasses a much larger umbrella of learning challenges often labeled as learning disabilities in schools. They include, but are not limited to:
Language-Based Learning Disability
Auditory Processing Disorder
Visual Processing Disorder
Reading Disability
Specific Learning Disability
Phonemic Awareness Disability
Dyscalculia (math)
Dyspraxia (coordination/balance)
Dysgraphia (handwriting)
Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD)

Dr. Angela Gonzales, Dyslexia and ADD specialist, shares advice for parents on children with dyslexia and how to better understand their child's learning dis...

11/15/2014

Greetings to all the friends of The Storybook School. I have very sad tidings to convey: Due to a sudden and serious illness of my mother Marthanne Norgren, we have had to close our little school. I am now spending most of my time in Corvallis caring for both parents with the help of my brother, his family and a trusted family friend. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the early summer so my parents' living situation is doubly complicated now.

Marthanne was a lifelong children's literature collector. She turned her passion for children's literature into a job teaching in the Elementary Education department at OSU in the 1980's. She was both my inspiration and benefactor. Her generous donation of start-up funds made my attempt at this whole venture possible to begin with. I am grateful I had the opportunity to get as far as I did in carrying out this long-cherished dream of running my own school.

My mother has been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer and has only weeks to live. After 10 days in the hospital, she is now back with my father in their home of the past 34 years in hospice care. This medical crisis brought about a complete derailment of our program. We had to close down the school with no time to properly say "Goodbye" to each other. This has been an unforeseen and unfortunate end to our adventure which we all embarked upon so enthusiastically.

The hardest part of all of this is the disruption of my relationship with my 4 students and their supportive families. I want to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to all of them for joining me in my attempt to create a special haven for young children and a unique learning environment. I can only hope that they will carry away some special memories of our time together, and that they will all make smooth transitions to new programs for the remainder of this school year.

Please send your caring thoughts and prayers to my mother and our extended family as we join together in supporting her and each other through this end-of-life process. We are grateful for some brief time together.
In appreciation of all interest shown to our school,
Be Well, Melissa

10/30/2014

Yesterday we hosted Laura Frasier, a reporter for The Oregonian, in our classroom. She watched our morning calendar routine and took photographs during a lesson on the old classic Halloween rhyme "5 Little Pumpkins". There will be a story on The Oregonian's online paper today, with many photographs. So far the photographs are there, can't find the story. Check later, I guess.