1. Classroom Accommodations For Dyslexia

2. Session Outline Why do we Accommodate?
What is an appropriate accommodation?
Review of dyslexic strengths/weaknesses
Basic Accommodations for various scholastic areas

3. A Dyslexic Child Needs 3 Things
Identified or suspected
Tutoring
Orton-Gillingham, if they are ready
LIPS, if they are not ready for O-G
Classroom Accommodations
Until reading, spelling and writing skills reach grade level

4. Strengths

5. Strengths Not Bad at Everything
Unusual pattern of Strengths and weaknesses
Strong in areas controlled by right side of the brain
Art
Music
Highly intuitive
Extremely curious
Mechanical skill, good logic
Athletics
People Skills, Sensitive
3D Visualization
Creative, global thinkers

6. Mary-Margaret Scholtens,
NASA
Over 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic. They are deliberately sought after because they have superb problem solving skills and excellent 3D and spatial awareness.
Mary-Margaret Scholtens,
Director of the Alternative Programs Providing Learning Experiences Group, Copyright 2005, Jonesboro sun

7. Language Weaknesses Auditory processing Rapid naming
Visual memory for words
Reading
Spelling
Written expression

8. Other Weaknesses Handwriting Memorization Directionality Organization
Time
Telling time, managing time, planning time
May also have attention issues

9. A Story…

10. Passion – Stamina - Technique

11. Clorine Induced Asthma

12. Medications
Controller Meds
Rescue Meds

13. Inhaler – albuterol; relaxes muscles
Quick fix for emergency situations – used before a race to keep an asthma attack from occurring
Unfair advantage?

14. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Butterfly: 100 yards – 58.07
Freestyle – 50 yards – 24.10

15. True Success!

16. Accommodations What are they? Are they fair? Parent’s role
Teacher’s role
Temporary – until skills are at grade level

17. How to Accommodate Reduce volume Reduce pace Break into smaller pieces
Provide alternatives
To produce the work
To test the student
Modify grading system

18. Needs a Teacher Who Understands Believes in them
Frustration and shame
Cause of their difficulty
Believes in them
Emphasizes their Strengths and abilities
Knows their biggest fear

19. Great Teachers Touch Lives
“I had a really bad day…Miss Freed was gone today mom. Her sub is mean – when you get something wrong, Miss Freed, she helps you figure it out. Her sub says No – No – No when you try and fix it and never helps you.”

20. Never Spelling bee – or make them the scorekeeper
Read out loud – unless they volunteer
Write on the board – unless they volunteer…teach by example
Pass papers down the row
Student corrects papers
Call on him - Unless he volunteers
Flunk a child who is trying

21. Auditory Processing Don’t just lecture
Make it multisensory – pictures, artifacts, demonstrations
Encourage participation -
Teach new vocabulary - in advance
Visually show structure of lectures - outline
Activate prior knowledge
Preview, teach, review

22. Reading Textbooks on audio or CD Listening stations or audible books
Text-to speech apps like Voice Dream Reader or Read 2 Me
Ipad setting – settings – general – accessibility – speak selection – ON
Speaking rate
Dialect
Word highlight
Do NOT force them to read - Until somebody has taught them how
Using an Orton-Gillingham-based system
Instead continue to read to them

23. Spelling Traditional way of teaching spelling
Don’t grade spelling tests
Accept work from tutor for spelling grade
Can’t look up in dictionary
App – Dictionary.com
Spell check is not the answer
App – American Speller
Software – Ginger Write Now

24. Spelling on in-class assignments
Don’t count off for spelling mistakes except in spelling class
No bleeding papers
Underlining option or spellcheck apps

25. Foreign Language Almost impossible to master Alternatives
American sign language
Culture and history class
Oral only

26. Handwriting No copying No note taking – or modified notetaking
From the board
From the book
From the dictionary
From the encyclopedia
No note taking – or modified notetaking
highlighting teachers notes
No counting off for sloppy handwriting
App - Dragon Dictation
Rough draft - Edited draft – Final copy

27. Note Taking Solutions Teacher provides a copy for student to highlight
Notetaking app;
Audionote
Evernote
Note Taker HD
Technology tool: Pulse Smartpen
(Some are most appropriate for college or high school)

28. Typing Type to learn Dragon Naturally Speaking Software
Set for large print, low vocabulary
Low speed and accuracy goals the first time
Dragon Naturally Speaking Software
Dragon Dictation App

29. Written Expression Provide Alternatives To written reports –
Powerpoints
Posters
Comics
skit
*If you are not the English composition teacher

30. If you teach Composition
Limit the focus
Break writing into steps
But allow for differences in organization
Grade content and limited focus only
Mindmapping software or apps
iThoughts
MindMeister
Grafio – diagrams and ideas

31. Steps in Writing “Hot pencil” or “sloppy copy”
Get ideas down fast while the pencil is hot
Double check for limited focus items
Read it out loud
Ask for a writers conference
Type it into computer
Spell check or underline option

32. Tests and Test Anxiety Tests Test Anxiety Test Format
Oral testing
Extended time or shorter tests
Test Anxiety
App – Quizlet
Allow one piece of paper
Test Format
Matching/word bank
Allow extra project to offset poor test grade

33. Homework #1 teacher complaint? #1 parent complaint?
Homework not turned in
Homework done by parent
#1 parent complaint?
Homework takes forever
Child can’t do homework
Nightly tears, frustration, anger, yelling

34. Goal of homework Accommodations
Done by the child
In a reasonable amount of time
Turned in

35. Homework – Teacher’s Role
Only tasks that can be done independently
App - Openweb
Reduce length of assignment
Assign homework the same way
Provide parent a way to check on assignment
Collect homework the same way
Notify parent ASAP if not turned in.

36. Homework – Parent’s Role
Do NOT do the homework
Set the homework schedule
Set up the homework location
Apps – Openweb, Opendyslexic – a dyslexic friendly font
Initiate homework time and supervise
Act as a scribe, act as a timekeeper, read book or directions to child etc.
Flashdrive, dropbox
By an extra set of textbooks for home
Organize the backpack

37. Goal of Homework Done by child In a reasonable amount of time
App – Time Timer
StayOnTask
Turned in
Apps that can help:
Dropbox

38. Questions?
“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Albert Einstein

39. Corticosteroids – reduce inflamation
Maintain balance and allow her to work to her full potential