The Nourished Reader
A space dedicated to providing information, ideas, tips, and support for those working with young readers.
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“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate 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 often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
-International Dyslexia Association, 2022
Dyslexia Facts:
Between 15-20%
Perhaps as many as 15–20% of the population as a whole—have some of the symptoms of dyslexia, including slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words.
Runs In Families
Dyslexia runs in families; parents with dyslexia are very likely to have children with dyslexia.
Does Not Discriminate
Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds, genders, and intellectual levels.
Signs of dyslexia include problems:
Learning to speak
Reading quickly enough to comprehend
Learning letters and their sounds
Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments
Organizing written and spoken language
Spelling
Memorizing number facts
Learning a foreign language
Correctly doing math operations
Next Steps:
Individual Education Plan (Texas - ARD):
US schools help dyslexic students by creating an Individualized Education Plan. Talk to your child's teacher to make a plan for success.
Early Intervention:
Effective intervention for dyslexia involves the implementation of targeted educational methods and strategies. The sooner this intervention is initiated, the greater the success.
Read With Your Child:
Set aside daily time to read together, encourage your child to read on their own, and have them read aloud to you.
Work With A Specialist/Specialized Tutor:
For children with dyslexia, tutoring sessions with a reading specialist can be very beneficial. In cases where the reading disability is severe, tutoring may be required more often, and progress may be slower.
Check It Out!
Free Course Available Through Yale University
(Coursera)
Check out this AWESOME free course about dyslexia:
The Struggling Reader
A child who has difficulty learning to read is considered a struggling reader. These children find reading challenging and frustrating for various reasons, including difficulties with phonological processing, reading comprehension, and fluency.
It's essential to note that struggling readers are not necessarily dyslexic readers. Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that has a neurobiological origin, affecting not only reading but also information processing, memory, and organizational skills.
Facts About Struggling Readers:
Instruction Matters!
Kids who struggle usually have problems sounding out words. Most reading difficulties stem from challenges in decoding and word recognition.
Phonemic Awareness - Phonics Instruciton Matter!
Intervention Is Key!
More than 88 percent of children who have difficulty reading at the end of first grade display similar difficulties at the end of fourth grade.
Reading Makes A big Difference!
It’s important to cultivate phonemic awareness, phonics skills, and reading comprehension in children from an early age. A great way to do this is by reading to your child, encouraging them to read to you, and being consistent with the practice throughout schooling.
Helpful Parent Resources:
Hi There, I'm Jessica
I have a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in reading and literacy, and I have been training reading teachers at the university level for the past 20 years. I am passionate about supporting children with reading difficulties and working with parents of struggling readers. That's why I created this website, where I have curated excellent resources and information to help parents of struggling readers in one convenient place.
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