Dyslexia

Multisensory Instruction

Multisensory learning is the employment of several pathways for teaching reading and spelling which includes: touch, sound, sight, and movement. Multisensory activities increase the opportunity for accessing the building blocks of language such as: linking mouth shapes with sounds , discriminating letters or letter -patterns and their corresponding sounds, identifying the number of sounds in words, or assembling words by combining syllables or affixes and roots. Applying the senses to the systematic learning of phonological skills will enhance memory, thereby supporting the gradual acquisition of the language skills that are integral to reading and spelling.

Relevant Training and Resources for Students With Dyslexia or Students that Need Support in Written Expression

In the interest of continuing to grow as a teacher, I have pursued professional development that challenges me to fine-tune my work with students that experience difficulty with reading or oral and written expression. Toward that end, I have completed coursework in the following areas: Wired for Reading, Orton Gillingham, and Handwriting Without Tears. Additionally, I use the Seeing Stars and Verbalizing and Visualizing series from Lindamood Bell.

Finally, I support student learning with materials from an Orton Gillingham based Spelling Curriculum and an All About Reading Program. My approach is holistic and grounded in evidence-based research. I often pair spelling instruction with reading because matching familiar spelling patterns with words contained in a text or passage provides an additional pathway for building phonological skills.

Structured and Intensive Instruction

Research supports a structured approach to specially designed instruction and regular opportunities to practice, review, and apply what is learned. Structured literacy lessons incorporate several key components: the study of sounds, words (reading and writing them), and decoding connected text where word knowledge can be applied.

Writing begins with word study, handwriting, and spelling. Instruction then progresses to the study of syntax, morphology, word roots and affixes, writing conventions, and learning about the functional words that help shape sentences. Students are encouraged to discuss and visualize their ideas, write notes, and use graphic organizers to outline their thoughts. This kind of pre-writing paves the way for a student’s success when it comes time to construct meaningful sentences. Once sentence writing is established, students are free to clarify their thoughts and enjoy the limitless possibilities of their imagination!