Dyslexia

1. Dyslexia Sarah Vorpagel and Lisa Hansen

2. Characteristics of dyslexia • Common Characteristics • Difficulties: • Learning and organizing speech • Learning letters and corresponding sounds • Learning and memorizing math facts and completing operations • Reading fluently to comprehend/understand text • Spelling • Learning foreign languages

3. Characteristics of dyslexia • Less Common Characteristics • Severity varies • In severe cases, can qualify for special education and support services. • Some are able to learn basic reading and writing without much difficulty, but experience symptoms when the tasks become more difficult • Reading and comprehending long passages in textbooks, applying grammar correctly, and writing essays • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOdZC5iBudM

4. Misconceptions about dyslexia • Common Misconceptions • Dyslexics see backwards. • Dyslexia is due to a lack of intelligence and motivation. • Dyslexics are incapable of learning.

5. It’s important to remember… • Capable of being successful learners with appropriate teaching techniques. • May spell incorrectly and may appear that they are spelling backwards • May be remembering the letters in the word, but are struggling with the order. • Need to be encouraged in order to feel like they are making progress • Teacher needs to help students it as something that can be conquered. • It lasts a life-time, but with coping mechanisms and strategies people can function fully and be successful in life.

6. Modifications that can assist students with dyslexia • Directions • Break complex tasks and directions into small steps. • Demonstrate/model directions and expected behavior • Use both oral and written directions • Frequently check for understanding  • Writing • Worksheets that require minimal writing. • Encourage drawing/ visual images. • Provide a “designated note taker” to scribe for the student • Type notes on a computer • Focus on a single component of a writing assignment. • Reduce written work and copying • Respond orally

7. Modifications that can assist students with dyslexia • Math • Allow student to draw visuals • Take time to re-teach material • Read story problems aloud • Break math problems into smaller steps with modeling • Testing • Allow tests to be taken in a room or hallway    • Oral tests • Untimed tests • Reduce the amount of words on spelling tests • Avoid or reduce essay tests

8. Modifications that can assist students with dyslexia • Homework • Reduce homework load. • Give grades based on content • Assign the class alternate projects • General Instruction • Don't force to read-aloud in front of class • Ask the student how they learn best • Grades should be less important than the progress

9. Resources for additional information about dyslexia • Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center • http://www.dyslexiacenter.org/ • National Center for Learning Disabilities • http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/ld-aamp-language/reading/dyslexia • Michigan Dyslexia Institute, Inc. • http://www.dyslexia.net/ • Bright Solutions for Dyslexia, Inc. • http://www.dys-add.com/ • Davis Dyslexia Association International • http://www.dyslexia.com/ • Dyslexia Teacher • http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/index.htm • Dyslexia Directory • http://children.webmd.com/dyslexia-directory

10. Curricular modifications for students with dyslexia • Teaching systematically, using a multisensory approach • By using all learning pathways in the brain simultaneously, more likely to remember the material. • Benefit from learning and reviewing the basic elements of a concept and progressing to more difficult aspects. • Multiple review sessions can be helpful.

11. Curricular modifications for students with dyslexia • One-on-one spelling tests • Shorten spelling tests • Giving extra time to complete assignments • Additional assistance with spelling • Explicit modeling of correct spelling • Substitute alternatives for written assignments • Seat student close to teacher to monitor understanding • Peer editing and review of written work