Author Archives: GPL

By Anne Guthrie and Cheryl Clemens

As a parents one of our most common concerns is that our children are taught to read proficiently. October is Dyslexia Awareness Month so we have prepared a display of the plethora of resources we have accumulated to help parents and teachers with this momentous task. Research (NIH and Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity) shows that to some degree, nearly 20% of the population are affected by dyslexia.

What is Dyslexia?

It is a specific learning disability that is neurological 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 the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge

Few children are identified.
Less than one-third of the children reading below their age, ability or grade level receive appropriate services for their specific reading difficulty. (Connecticut Longitudinal Study)

Or dyslexics are identified too late.
When dyslexia is identified, it often occurs past the optimal age for remediation. (Shaywitz, Gaab)

Reading failure is preventable.
Research shows that 95% of reading failure is preventable by using appropriate reading systems and well-trained teachers. (Shaywitz)

Warning Signs:

• May have a family history of dyslexia: Between one quarter and one half of children born to dyslexic parents will also be dyslexic. If one child in a family is dyslexic, almost half of his siblings are also likely to be dyslexic.
• Delayed speech: The child may not speak words until 15 months and phrases until after 2 years
• Mispronounces familiar words; Persistent baby talk
• Difficulty learning colors
• Trouble Learning Common Nursery Rhymes
• A lack of appreciation of rhymes

Early Intervention is Critical

When intervention is delayed, it takes four times as long to intervene in fourth grade as it does in late kindergarten because of brain development and because of the increase in content for students to learn as they grow older. (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Please stop in and check out the wonderful resources we have about this important topic!

Dyslexia Books and Resources @ GPL

Books for Parents:

The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child’s Confidence and Love of Learning by Ben Foss

The Everything Parent’s Guide to Children with Dyslexia by Abigail Marshall

When Your Child has Dyslexia by Abigail Marshall

The Dyslexia Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers by Sandra F. Rief and Judith M. Stern

Dyslexia Advocate! How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System by Kelli Sandman-Hurley

Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at any Level by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.

Instructional Books:

Recipe for Reading: Intervention Strategies for Struggling Readers by Frances Bloom and Nina Traub

Toe by Toe: A Highly Structured Multi-Sensory Reading Manual for Teachers & Parents by Keda Cowling and Harry Cowling

The Gillingham Manual: Remedial Training for Children with Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling, and Penmanship by Anna Gillingham and Bessie W. Stillman

Get Ready for the Code: A Primer for the Explode the Code Series by Nancy Hall

Explode the Code: Essential Lessons for Phonics Mastery 1 and 2 by Nancy Hall

Blast Off to Reading! A Complete Reading Program: 50 Orton Gillingham Based Lessons for Struggling Readers and those with Dyslexia by Cheryl Orlassino

I Can Read: Reading & Writing Lessons with Worksheets by Cheryl Orlassino

A Workbook for Dyslexics: Systematically Walk Your Child Through the Process of Learning to Read and Write by Cheryl Orlassino

Dyslexia: A Practitioner’s Handbook by Gavin Reid

Books on Dyscalculia:

The Dyscalculia Resource Book: Games and Puzzles for ages 7 to 14 by Ronit Bird

The Dyscalculia Tool Kit by Ronit Bird

Controlled Vocabulary Phonics Readers:

Abrams Learning Trends Phonics Readers

EPS School Specialty Primary Phonics

Scholastic Phonics Ready Readers

SRA Open Court Reading Decodable Books

Movie:

The Big Picture Rethinking Dyslexia: The Myths, the Stigmas, the Truths, Revealed