Dyslexia Direction

I moved from China to the US because of my daughter's dyslexia. It was the only way to give her what she needed. The author's daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was 3, but there was little information in China about it. She moved to the US for support.

Phonological awareness skills by age

Thank you, Dallas Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, for sharing this graphic

People with dyslexia often confuse directionality words, such as North South East West, Left Right, Next Previous, Before After, Up Down, etc.

So please be patient and thoughtful when giving directions.

Kelly Ripa Talks About Son Joaquin's Dyslexia and Dysgraphia as Her Youngest Decides on a College The mom of three called dyslexia a "misunderstood learning difference" that can be a "blessing"

Be proud of having these dyslexic strengths.

Dyslexic Gifts:
Talent in sports & the arts
from Cheri Rae, author of DyslexiaLand

People with dyslexia often are talented artists or accomplished athletes.

Find and support your child's gifted areas whenever possible.

Dyslexic Gifts:
Visual-Spatial Awareness and 3-D Thinking
from Cheri Rae, author of DyslexiaLand.

It is such a gift to see what others cannot see, and be able to do what others cannot do.

Dyslexic Gifts:
Persistence & Determination

No one works harder than a child with dyslexia.

To see the wonderful series of dyslexia gift graphics posted by the author of the book, DyslexiaLand, go to her page:
https://www.facebook.com/DyslexiaLandBook/

Dyslexia

Famous Dyslexics
by The Dyslexia Think Tank
www.dyslexiathinktank.org

These are only a few of the MANY famous people with dyslexia.

For a longer list, go to:
http://www.dys-add.com/dyslexia.html

Dyslexia affects 1 in 5

Thank you, Decoding Dyslexia - Utah, for this graphic.

October is dyslexia awareness month

What I Wish People Knew About My Son’s Dyslexia Marisa Donnelly shares her perspective on her son's experiences living with dyslexia.

Redefine Dyslexia
by Cheri Rae

The day will come when we define dyslexia by its positive characteristics.

Thank you, Dyslexia Nigeria, for this graphic.

Dyslexia is not a disease.

People with dyslexia learn differently, so they must be taught to read, spell and write differently.

Myth: They just need to work harder.

Fact: Children with dyslexia work harder than everyone else.

Thank you, Dyslexia pqbd, for this graphic.

Children with dyslexia face many challenges.

Thank you, Liz Taylor, for creating this graphic.

Time for a grin ! 😃

Thank you, Decoding Dyslexia - Connecticut, for sharing this graphic.

On a day when yours and your child’s faces are wearing frowns due to “school challenges”, 🥴perhaps look at this list and talk about these dyslexic “children.” DDPA is thankful for our children’s special gifts and our parents’ determination!😁🎈

We need more lifesavers for dyslexic kids.

Thank you, DyslexiaLand, for this graphic.

Born to be a dyslexia teacher...

What a great t-shirt !!!!

Thank you, Decoding Dyslexia - TX, for sharing this graphic.

Identifying a child's dyslexia does not . . .

Thank you, The Dyslexia Initiative: North Texas, for this graphic.

'Shark' takes a bite out of dyslexia Kevin O'Leary, star of the show "Shark Tank", recalls how he overcame dyslexia and became a successful entrepreneur

For parents of newly diagnosed children

It is going to be okay.

Thank you, Dyslexia Ideas, for this graphic.

This is an example of how confusing language can be for a child when phonology isn’t explicitly and systematically taught.

So why can't he read?

It’s happening! ☺️ And, finally front page news! 💕

Science of reading revived
Danville schools see active learning method paying off in classroom
By GERI GIBBONS
Published: April 15, 2019

DANVILLE — Second-graders learning to read in a classroom at the Danville Primary School on a recent morning weren’t just repeating words or staring into a book.

Instead, students in Danielle Bronowicz’s classroom were skywriting, tracing words and chiming in with opinions on the logic of how words are spelled.

The lesson, led by Ann Marie Cantore, was based on a multisensory reading method that dates back to the 1930s, and has brought some old-fashioned topics like cursive writing back into classes.

The science-based approach is called the Orton-Gillingham method. Danville originally used it in one-on-one programs for students with dyslexia, starting in 2010.

But about four years ago, while being trained in the method, a teacher asked if she could use it in the classroom.

Dawn Brookhart, director of curriculum, said she was happy to give the multisensory approach a try in the expanded setting. Since then, students have been reading better and with more enthusiasm.

While Brookhart was careful to say the results couldn’t be attributed solely to the OG method, the school has seen an increase in guided reading levels and in students’ ability to recognize basic sounds and blends, she said.

Wide ranging benefits

The new method is used in class by a specially trained teacher twice a week and then reinforced daily by the classroom teacher.

Students experience it from kindergarten through fourth grade. After that, small groups of students who still find reading challenging continue the method.

Brookhart said positive results go far beyond simply the written word, but provide a foundation for success in every other subject, including math.

The two might seem unrelated, but primary school Principal John Bickhart said that as students move up the academic ladder, mastering reading is essential for mastering math.

Bickhart said much of math is not simply numbers, but word problems which require that students fully understand the question, solving it with logic.

Much learning, Bickhart said, has to do with influencing the brain.

From finger to brain

Cantore, the district coordinator of the program, tells students that what they do with their fingers — tracing or underlining words — travels to their brain.

And although she admits the analogy is simplistic, she said, it is also accurate.

Learning to read, she said, is reprogramming the brain, not just to memorize, but to use logic and understand rules that apply to reading.

She is amazed at how quickly children learn rules that apply to structure and grammar, applying them as they search for the meaning of a word or attempt to spell a new word.

The approach also includes the teaching of cursive writing.

“At one point, we didn’t think that cursive writing was important,” said Bickhart. “But with four extra strokes, we activate different parts of the brain.”

Second-grader C.J. Ackerman said reading is one of his favorite pastimes, right up there with Legos.

“At night I read for a long time,” he said. “Way more than 20 minutes.”

Geri Gibbons can be reached at 570-387-1234 ext. 1312 or at [email protected].