Dyslexia REsources
A fantastic resource for learning more about dyslexia can be found at Bright Solutions for Dyslexia. You will find a multitude of videos that will be extremely helpful in gaining knowledge about dyslexia. I highly suggest spending time watching the free videos on this website before meeting with your child’s school if you suspect they may have dyslexia. You will gain valuable insight and knowledge to help advocate for your child and what they need to succeed.
Reports & Podcasts
The podcast Sold A Story is a powerful story of how devastating the effects are when we fail to truly examine what science teaches us about how children learn to read versus the stark contrast of what publishing companies are selling to schools in the form of reading curriculums.
It is true that a small number of children do not need explicit phonics instruction to successfully learn to read. Some can get by on their own and pick up the code of reading and spelling based on the instruction they receive in the classroom. But for the vast majority of children, that is not enough - and it is most certainly not enough for children with dyslexia. Why would we not teach ALL children in the classroom how to read using the most up to date research which also would benefit the 20% who have dyslexia? Explicit phonics instruction benefits everyone, finally being able to include students with dyslexia.
Another report that I highly recommend listening to is Hard to Read: How American Schools Fail Kids with Dyslexia. (Linked Below)
Reports like these are key to learning about the struggle that has been going on for decades between parents of dyslexic children and public schools across the nation. If you know or suspect your child has dyslexia, you would be remiss to not spend the time listening to this report. It is something all parents of children with dyslexia need to hear now.
Advocacy for proper education
So where do we direct our frustrations to make meaningful changes for our kids?
- In Montana, we can use SB0140 (link ://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2019/billpdf/SB0140.pdf (The Dyslexia Bill) to help fight for what our kids deserve. Many, many schools are not compliant.
- We can work to ensure that future teachers are getting the correct training at the collegiate level that aligns with what the research tells us about how the brain learns to read.
- We can ensure that the interventions that schools are using with dyslexic students are approved by the International Dyslexia Association. The vast majority of schools are using intervention programs that are not researched to be effective with dyslexic students. The students end up spinning their wheels and wasting their time on intervention programs that won’t even work for them. They might make small gains but likely will not catch up to their peers or reach grade level expectations.
- We can speak up at our board meetings, and address those in charge of purchasing curriculums.
- What we must NOT do, is put the blame on classroom teachers. Teachers are overworked and underpaid across the nation and desperately want to do right by their students. They need better resources and trainings; we can advocate for them too.