As an educator you may be the first person to see that a student is struggling to learn to read. We want to be your partner to help all struggling students learn to read. Dyslexia is the most common reading disability affecting 1 in 5 students yet it is often unidentified. We have a wonderful network of teachers that are part of Decoding Dyslexia Oklahoma. Together we will help to answer questions about dyslexia, discuss best practices to identify dyslexia, and strategize how to help students with dyslexia in the classroom.
What is dyslexia?
The best definition of Dyslexia is from the International Dyslexia Association from 2002.
Dyslexia 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 growth of vocabulary and background knowledge."
What does Dyslexia look like?
Students with dyslexia are smart and many can be identified at twice exceptional. There is often a family history of struggles in school by siblings, parents, aunts/uncles or grand parents. Students with dyslexia will have difficulty reading single words in isolation, accurately decoding nonsense words, slow inaccurate reading fluency, and difficulty with learning to spell. In the classroom to a teacher who does not know about dyslexia the student may be considered "lazy" or "not trying hard enough".
- difficulty with days of the week or month
- difficulty with the alphabet
- trouble with rhyming words like cat, mat and bat
- substitutes word for one another puppy for dog
- problem following directions
How can you learn more?
We know that your time is limited. We have compiled a list of books, articles, and website that are great for educators. If you have questions about any of these please let us know.
What to Read First
International Dyslexia Association The purpose of IDA is to pursue and provide the most comprehensive range of information and services that address the full scope of dyslexia and related difficulties in learning to read and write. . . In a way that creates hope, possibility, and partnership. So that every individual has the opportunity to lead a productive and fulfilling life, and society benefits from the resource that is liberated.
Learning Ally Learning Ally is a membership organization supporting people with dyslexia and print disabilities. Audiobooks and parent support services help students do better in school and give parents access to experts who can help.
Bookshare Bookshare is a an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. For students with dyslexia that can mean access to audiobooks. Students who qualify can have access for free due to an agreement with the US Department of Education.
National Center for Learning Disabilities The National Center for Learning Disabilities – the leading online resource for parents and educators on learning disabilities and related disorders.
Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity serves as a nexus for research on dyslexia, and is as well a leading source of advocacy and information to better the lives of people with dyslexia.
Payne Education Center Payne Education Center trains teachers to prevent reading difficulties in children and to remediate dyslexia, while serving as a resource and referral center.