PSU Center for Reading

Ready for another breakdown? Take a look at the word “bookshelves” and see how it can be broken down into a morpheme (prefix, base words, suffixes, etc.), grapheme (letters or letter combinations that represent sounds), and phoneme (the smallest unit of sound).

Do you have a favorite word that you like to use as an example? If so, drop it in the comments!

The most recent edition of the Midwest Quarterly included many different authors from many backgrounds, including national literacy leaders, neuroscientists, educators, parents, researchers, school psychologists, clinicians, professors, a university president, and more. A few from our very own team include Dr. David Hurford, Alex Fender, Amy Marcoux, Thomas Hurford, and Michaela Ozier!

Want to order one of your own? Click the link here: https://secure3.touchnet.com/C21034_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=73

Myth: Schools shouldn’t use the word “dyslexia.”
Fact: Naming dyslexia helps students get the support they deserve.
When parents and teachers share a common language, students benefit from stronger understanding, earlier intervention, and effective instruction grounded in research. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive as a reader. 📖

In need of a fun card game that still applies learning? Take a look at the Phonology /F/ /U/ /N/ card set!
This card game is designed to boost phonemic awareness - the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in words - while also strengthening reading and spelling skills. It’s especially helpful for kids with dyslexia, reading challenges, or those learning English, and it makes learning interactive by focusing on sounds within the word first, then challenging them to connect those sounds to the spelling.
The best part? Teachers and parents can adjust how they use the cards to match their child’s needs!
Interested in purchasing a set of your own? Follow the link to purchase: www.jettpublishing.net/books/dyslexia/phonologyfun

Recently, Dr. David Hurford was honored to serve as the opening and closing speaker at the Oklahoma Parents Center, Inc. Conference, which helps parents understand special education and related processes for students with disabilities. At this conference, Dr. Hurford spoke strongly against grade retention, arguing that it rarely addresses the root causes of learning difficulties.

Curious about the topic? Feel free to reach out to Dr. Hurford at [email protected] with questions!

The Spring 2026 issue of The Midwest Quarterly features cover artwork, "Red Ink," by Hailey Cavaglieri, a dyslexic artist whose work reflects the complexity and lived experience of reading disabilities.

Hailey collaborated with guest editor David Hurford on this issue focused on dyslexia and reading failure, continuing a creative partnership that has brought meaningful visual storytelling to multiple covers over the years. Her artwork transforms the challenges, emotions, and layered realities of dyslexia into a powerful visual experience that complements the conversations within the journal.

We’re proud to highlight artists and collaborators whose work deepens the understanding and sparks dialogue around literacy and learning differences!

If you are interested in purchasing your own copy, scan the QR code in the photo and specify "Volume 67, No. 3 (67-3)" when ordering to enjoy reading!

Meet one of our Graduate Research Assistants, Rinu John! Rinu has been with the Center for Reading for almost two years.

Rinu grew up in Dubai and later moved to India during her junior and senior years of high school, where she completed her undergraduate studies in psychology. What brought Rinu to Pittsburg State University was “the strong clinical psychology program and the opportunity to experience a completely new environment and culture.”

One of her favorite parts about working for the Center for Reading is seeing how all of the pieces come together to help answer questions, give families a clearer understanding of their child, and provide guidance on what support may help moving forward. “Moving here was definitely a big change, but it has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences for me.”

Fun fact: Before graduate school, Rinu worked with children with autism and ADHD in a school readiness program in Dubai.

Looking for a fun summer activity you can do with your kids to improve reading levels? Try b/d bingo! Bingo can be adapted in several ways to reach specific skills. B/d bingo focuses on reading and spelling words that start with "b" or "d," as these can be tricky to master during early literacy, and it's an activity you can play with items you find around the house!

What You Need:
*A bag or tote
*Everyday items that start with “B” or “D” (e.g., ball, book, doll, dish)
*A pencil and paper (and a dry-erase marker and plastic sleeve if you want to reuse the cards)

How to Play:
1. Fill your bag with the items you found that start with “B” or “D” and add a few extra items to prevent guessing at words through the process of elimination!
2. Write the names of the items you chose on your bingo card.
3. Have your child pick an item from the bag and read the word aloud. If it’s on their bingo card, they mark it off.
4. The first to mark all the items in a row (up, down, or diagonal) wins!

Extra Fun:
*Let your child find items and fill in the bingo card themselves.
*Have your child practice spelling the words as they go.
*Use different letters for your items: M/N, F/T, M/W, U/N, etc.
*Remember, if your child struggles, remind them to sound out the words slowly.

Curious about the Center for Reading? Watch this video to learn who we are and how we provide science-based evaluation and intervention services for people with dyslexia!
Want to learn more? More information is available on our website at pittstate.edu/reading

Center for READing Information on Dyslexia from the Center for Reading

Learning to read is complicated! There are a lot of important parts, including how language works! Phonemes, graphemes, and morphemes are the building blocks that help children become confident readers and writers.

- Phoneme = the smallest unit of sound
- Grapheme = the letters or letter combinations that represent sounds
- Morpheme = the smallest unit of meaning (e.g., prefixes, base words, suffixes, etc.)

Parents and teachers can help support their children and students understand these language and literacy foundations as they decode, read, spell, and comprehend, the goal of reading. It can make a big difference in literacy growth!