dyslexia
Today you will:
Experience dyslexia
Find out what dyslexia is
Find out how to get a diagnosis
Learn an effective way to teach dyslexics
Nancy Blaskewicz
nanblask@aol.com
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One day John and Bob went for a walk. “What would
you like to do today,” Bob asked John.”I don’t know,”
John replied. “What would you like to do?” I think I
might like watching a movie on TV, especially if we can
have some popcorn. “Wow,” said John. “Popcorn! What
a great idea! Let’s check the cupboard to see if my
mother bought some the last time she went shopping.
“Look,” he yelled, “a full box and it’s it’s Orville
Redenbacher! My favorite!” “Great!” Bob
shouted, “Let’s cook it in the microwave and see
how it turns out.”
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What
Whatisisdyslexia
dyslexia?
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Myths
1. Dyslexia isn’t seeing words backwards.
2. Dyslexia isn’t caused by poor eyesight.
3. Dyslexia isn’t a developmental
disability.
4. Dyslexia isn’t the result of an injury.
5. Dyslexia isn’t curable.
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Truths
1. Research provides scientific evidence
that dyslexia is neurobiological.
2. One out of 20 people are dyslexic.
3. Dyslexia is present in all economic
backgrounds and intellectual levels.
4. Dyslexic people are often talented in
areas that don’t require strong language
skills.
5. Dyslexia is treatable.
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“Dyslexia is specific learning disability that is
neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by
difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word
recognition and by poor spelling and decoding
abilities. These difficulties typically result from a
deficit in the phonological component of language
that is often unexpected in relation to other
cognitive abilities and the provision of effective
classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may
include problems in reading comprehension and
reduced reading experience that can impede growth
of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
International Dyslexia Association definition
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Greek derivative
dys+lex
difficulty with+to speak(having to do with words)
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability.
“Children with dyslexia have trouble processing language rather than visual
information. They may enjoy drawing pictures, playing video games and doing
other things that involve interpreting what the eyes see. Children with
dyslexia struggle with connecting letters they see to the sounds that are
associated with those letters.”
Guenivere Eden is a neuroscientist who directs the Center for the Study of
Learning at Georgetown University MedicalCenter.
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Picture of the a dyslexic reader’s brain
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How do you know it’s
dyslexia and how do I get
diagnosed?
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Symptoms
1.Poor spelling
2.Delayed speech
3.Difficulty learning the names of the letters or sounds of the alph
4. Difficulty writing the alphabet in order.
5. Trouble articulating R’s(wed for red) and L’s, M’s and N’s in 2nd
and 3rd grade.
6.Mixing up multi-syllabic words.
7.Trouble retrieving words when talking. (not a senior moment)
8. Doesn’t remember words from previous page.
9. Slow or choppy reading.
10. A close relative with dyslexia.
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Sue Barton website *
www.brightsolutions.us
view video:symptoms and solutions
NationalDyslexiaAssociation
www.dyslexia.ida.org
American Dyslexia Association
www.understood.org
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I’ve checked the list of symptoms, now
what?
Talk to your child’s teacher and school
psychologist.
Ask the teacher to make modifications now.
Get a referral from your pediatrician to see a
neuropsychologist.
Call your local Intermediate Unit for help.
See if there’s a local dyslexia center in your
area.
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classroom accomodations
• Provide step by step explicit instruction
• Use oral tests or ask students to make a project
to show achievement
Use audio books (LearningAlly, Audible, U-Tube)
• Use C-Pen Reader, Scanmaker or other text
to read devices.
• Teach cursive
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Fonts that are easier for Dyslexics
This is an example of Comic Sans.
This is an example of
Times Roman
b p d q TimesNewRoman
bp d q Comic Sans
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Is there
a best method for teaching a
dyslexic student?
Instruction should be:
• structured
• sequential-sounds,syllables,words, sentences
• cumulative-new skill builds on learned skills
• multisensory-visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic modalities are happening
simultaneously.
• cognitive-history of language is taught
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from Literacy Nest-Emily Gibbons.
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Multisensory Approaches
Barton Reading and Spelling System
Lindamood Bell
Orton Gillingham
Slingerland Multisensory Approach
Wilson ReadingSystem
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According to Marilyn Zecher, M.A., CALT:
It is difficult for children with dyslexia to learn to read
because their brains associate sounds and letter
combinations inefficeintly. Cursive helps with the decoding
process because it integrates hand- eye coordination, fine
motor skills and other brain and memory functions.
Some MRI studies show that there is a stronger
association for learning and memory when the hands are
involved.
Advantages of cursive:
emphasizes left to right directionality
reduces reversal occurences
letters all start on the same line
encourages spacing between words
Neuroplasticity
the ability of the brain to change with learning
the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize
neural pathways based on new experiences
Repetition
the brain’s neural networks respond in a pattern
that is established by past experience
the more often a specific pattern is fired
in response to a stimulus, the more firm a nerve
assemble becomes. !22
the brain’s neural networks respond in a pattern
that is established by past experience
the more often a specific pattern is fired
in response to a stimulus, the more firm a nerve
assemble becomes.
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