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So many of our students come to us with learning difficulties, learning challenges, and learning differences. Learning challenges for students can look like these types of learning difficulties: dysgraphia, dyslexia, and more. These challenges in learning can be mitigated with early intervention and dyslexia advocacy. Check out these great tools and resources to get started.
When a child has dyslexia that goes undiagnosed, the signs aren’t always obvious. Many children are bright, resourceful, and determined to succeed in school. Because of this, they often develop clever ways to mask their reading and spelling difficulties. To teachers and parents, these compensations may look like effort, creativity, or even misbehavior. However, beneath…
Alphabet sequencing may seem like a small thing—after all, most kids learn their ABCs in preschool, right? But for dyslexic learners, sequencing the alphabet is more than just a “basic” skill. It’s a building block for reading, writing, and spelling. That’s why adding quick alphabet sequencing activities into your Orton-Gillingham lessons is so worthwhile. Honestly,…
Letter reversals are very common for early readers and writers. This is particularly true for b and d reversals. Letters are one of the very first times students have encountered something that changes its identity based on its orientation in space. A chair is a chair regardless of if it is right side up or…
At some point in our work with students, we find a need to begin to teach our students to advocate for their own needs. This becomes increasingly important as students move into middle school and beyond. Teaching self-advocacy skills to someone with dyslexia involves empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand their…
Fatigue from dyslexia is a very real concern. Imagine the struggles of being someone who has dyslexia during just one day in the classroom. From the moment the learner enters the classroom in the morning, they are faced with one challenge after another. Let’s imagine a fourth-grade classroom. The student enters and typically has a…
When I used to work for public schools, I noticed that assessments like letter identification or letter/sound correspondences were frequently only assessed during Kindergarten and the first half of 1st grade, regardless of whether students ever reached mastery. In most cases, the alphabetical knowledge and sequence were never assessed. When I was completing my Orton-Gillingham…
Parenting is full of challenges. Some of these challenges, such as homework, or supporting challenged readers, frequently turn into battles. For kids with reading difficulties, battles over homework and reading logs can be a particular problem. Parents often seek out my tutoring services because of the very unpleasant dynamic that has emerged when they try…
In our last post, we talked about the role of executive function and ways that parents can support their students with these important skills. Looking for ideas to support your child’s executive function skills at home? Read 20+ Tips for Supporting Executive Function Skills at Home. Today, we will have a round-up of some wonderful…
As we know, dyslexia is not something you can outgrow. Children with dyslexia become adults with dyslexia. While remediation can decrease the reading gap, there are still certain challenges for adults with dyslexia. It can also provide some benefits. When undiagnosed, dyslexia is particularly damaging to self-esteem and self-concept. Dyslexia in adults may cause slow…