ABC’s of

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS SESSION

2018–19 School Year What Is Dyslexia?

Difficulty with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, spelling, and decoding despite effective classroom instruction, adequate intelligence and opportunity. Dyslexia is neurological in origin. (Texas Education Code 38.003) Myths & Truths

Myth: Truth: Dyslexia is a visual problem. Many children reverse their Dyslexic children and adults letters when learning to see and write letters and write, regardless of whether words backwards. If a child or not they have dyslexia. does not reverse b’s and d’s or Bottom line: reversing p’s and q’s he or she cannot be letters is not a sure sign of dyslexic. dyslexia; a child can be highly dyslexic and NOT reverse letters. Myth: Truth: There are no clues to dyslexia Since is based on before a child enters school. spoken , clues to a possibility of dyslexia are present before a child enters school. Children with dyslexia often have slightly delayed speech, don’t recognize rhyming words, and there is often a family history of reading difficulties. Myth: Truth: Smart people can’t be On the contrary, some dyslexic. of the very brightest boys and girls struggle to read. Dyslexia occurs in children with average or above average intelligence and those that are highly gifted. Many gifted people at the top of their fields are dyslexic. Myth: Truth: Every child who struggles Dyslexia is a specific with reading is dyslexic. neurological that is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, poor spelling and decoding abilities. Myth: Truth: People who are dyslexic are Most commonly, dyslexics unable to read. do learn to read; the problem is the effort required to read. Typical readers of the same ability level early on become “fluent” readers so that reading is automatic and fast. In contrast, dyslexic children remain “manual” readers who read slowly and with great effort. Myth: Truth: Dyslexia can be outgrown. Dyslexia is a lifelong issue. Although many dyslexics learn to read accurately they may continue to read slowly and not automatically. Myth: Truth: Dyslexia students are lazy. Dyslexic students learn that they are going to fail at tasks of reading, spelling and writing and it becomes an attempt of self-preservation (i.e., rather than try and fail, it is safer to just not try or work laboriously to no avail). Dyslexia Facts

 As much as 15% - 20% of the U.S population is dyslexic.  Occurs in all races and cultures  Not related to age or income  Can be a family history (genetic)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zafiG BrFkRM Learning Ally

A national non-profit dedicated to helping students with print disabilities, including blindness, visual impairment and dyslexia. Learning Ally improves the way students learn at home and in the classroom by providing access to reading. Strategies That Benefit Dyslexic Learners

 Games  Writing and Journals

 Mnemonic Devices  Graphic Organizers

 Movement  Manipulatives

 Music, Rhythm, Rhyme, Rap  Technology  Cooperative Learning  Visualization & Guided Imagery  Student Created Art, Images, Text, Pictures  Visuals Dyslexia Interventions

25 - 30 Minute Intervention, a minimum of 4 days per week:

• Countdown – Kinder and 1st Grade • Focuses on foundational skills: Functional vocabulary and key concepts, rhyming, phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle and sight words

• Blast – 1st – 3rd Grade • Focuses on letter sounds, sight words, phonemic awareness, instruction, word work, spelling, and phrase and sentence reading

• Retrieval, Automaticity, Vocabulary, Elaboration, and Orthography (RAVE-O) – 2nd – 4th Grade • Used with students with a primary orthographic processing deficit Dyslexia Interventions

40-45 Minute Intervention, a minimum of 4 days per week • Phonics Boost: 3rd – 12th Grade ·Used with students who continue to have significant and severe decoding weaknesses. The primary focus is on phonemic awareness, phoncs concepts, and essential word-attack skills to provide for faster and more accurate reading of complex text. • Dyslexia Intervention Program (DIP): 2nd – 12th Grade • Used with students with a primary phonological processing deficit 30 - 45 Minute Intervention, a minimum of 4 days per week

• REWARDS: 4th – 12th Grade • Used with older students with continued deficits in decoding multisyllabic words, fluency, comprehension and academic and domain specific vocabulary How Can Technology Help

Mr. Shane Bayles – Waller ISD Technology Specialist FAMOUS DYSLEXIC PEOPLE

Albert Einstein - world famous theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.

“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” FAMOUS DYSLEXIC PEOPLE

Jamie Oliver - A British celebrity chef and restaurateur. His typically English cuisine has garnered him numerous television shows and restaurants.

“Being dyslexic or having special needs is not an excuse or reason for you not to prosper.” FAMOUS DYSLEXIC PEOPLE

Will Smith – is an American actor, producer, rapper, comedian, and songwriter. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood".

“You have to BELIEVE it. There is no reason to have a plan B, because it distracts you from plan A.” FAMOUS DYSLEXIC PEOPLE

Keira Knightley - is an English actress. Having worked extensively in both the British and the American film Industries, she has won an Empire Award and multiple nominations for the British Academy, the Golden Globe, and the Academy Awards

“I am a slow reader. I always loved words, which is a strange thing given that I couldn't actually read them” FAMOUS DYSLEXIC PEOPLE HB 1886

• Requires school districts to screen all Kinder and 1st grade children

• The purpose of the screening is to identify children in Kindergarten and Grade 1 who may be at risk for reading difficulties, specifically dyslexia, so that appropriate research-based designated supports and interventions can be implemented.