1. Dyslexia
Although the school district does not diagnose students with dyslexia, it is a term that is used frequently by parents and teachers

2. Definition of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific, neurological learning disability.
It is characterized by difficulties 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 unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction
Source: International Dyslexia Association

3. Broca’s area: area used for vocalizing & matching letters with their sounds
Parieto-temporal area: decodes the sounds of letters and words
Occipito-temporal area: contains the memories of whole words
Source: Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.

4. Fact or Fiction? myth fact Dyslexics see words backwards
Dyslexics have problems sequencing the sounds in a word
Vision therapy, colored lenses can correct dyslexia
Dyslexia is a phonologically based problem
Children outgrow dyslexia
Dyslexia is not outgrown, but with appropriate interventions and accommodations, they can be taught to read fluently and spell accurately.
Dyslexia affects mostly boys
Dyslexia affects comparable numbers of boys and girls
Source:

5. Signs of Dyslexia Preschool K/1 2nd+ Trouble learning nursery rhymes
Difficulty remembering the names of the letters
Failure to learn the letters in their own name
Persistent baby talk
Failure to recognize that words come apart into units
Inability to connect the letters with sound
Inability to read common, one syllable words
Reading errors that show no connection to the letter sounds
Fracturing words (ex: flustrated-frustrated)
Often pauses hesitates, and or uses lots of “umms” when speaking
Difficulty with spelling and order of letters and/or numbers
Does not read fluently
Signs of Dyslexia
Sources:
1)Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
2)Elaine Offstein

6. Best Practices 1)Orton-Gillingham based tutoring – multisensory, sequential, systematic review 2)Accomodations
Sources:
1) International Dyslexia Association 2)Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity

7. Good Sources:
1)Target the problem Great overview of the eight common reading problems students face. It presents each problem from the student, teacher, and parent perspective and what can be done to help 2)The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity This Center was founded by Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz who are both physicians and researchers. They have studied dyslexia for over 20 years. 3)Orton Gillingham An approach to reading instruction developed in the mid-1930s by Samual Orton, a neuropsychiatrist and researcher, and Anna Gillingham, a professor and psychologist, both form Columbia University Their approach is language-based, structured, multi-sensory, and sequential. OG is the basis or many current reading approaches: Wilson Reading, SIPPS, Herman Method, Barton, Lindamood Bell. 4)International Dyslexia Association 5)Embracing Dyslexia Documentary on dyslexia