Early Childhood & Elementary Educator
Striving Readers & Readers with Dyslexia
Terms to Know Before Reading:
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that varies in severity and can present with different symptoms depending on the individual (Dyslexia, 2020).
Structured literacy is the order in which elements of literacy are taught. Structured literacy elements include: Decoding, phonological and phonemic awareness, syntax, semantics, and syllables (Bendix, n.d.).
Readers who struggle are students that have difficulty with reading and literacy skills. There are many reasons why students may struggle with reading. Some readers may be reading below grade level due to lack of skill(s), some students may be multilingual learners, have a cognitive disability, or may have a condition called Dyslexia (Anderson, n.d.). Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that is neurological in nature. It is important to note that having dyslexia does not affect general intelligence. Dyslexia varies in severity and may present with symptoms such as having difficulties with reading, writing, and spoken language. Dyslexia may run in families and is a life long condition (Dyslexia, 2020).
Families who have children with dyslexia should continue to read literature that informs families about dyslexia. Families should continue to communicate with their child's teachers about their goals and progress. Educators should be open to answering questions or researching information if they do not have the answer(s). Additionally, families can help their students by reading aloud to their children daily (International Dyslexia Association, 2019).
Students with dyslexia benefit from explicit and systematic instruction. The structured literacy approach and multi sensory approaches have been proven to be effective methods of instruction for students with dyslexia and for striving readers. Other strategies and accommodations such as giving students more time to complete assignments, alternative assessments, and the use of computer software can be of great help for students with dyslexia (Dyslexia, 2020). More of these strategies are highlighted below. Interventions and management strategies for students who struggle with reading vary on an individual basis. Every student is going to have unique needs and methods that work for them. Teachers must promote a growth mindset in their classroom and support all students as they grow in their reading abilities (Anderson, n.d.).
Technology Tools
Phonics Genius is an application that provides students with games and flashcards to work on phonics and phonemic awareness skills. The application is customizable and uses audio and visuals to teach and review phonics. Students who struggle with reading may need to review and practice phonics. This application would help them work on those skills (Phonics Genius, 2011).
This application records a student’s audio as they speak and converts it into text. This helps students to work on their fluency by seeing what they are saying as they read aloud. This application was recommended for struggling readers by The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity (Audio Note, n.d., Jenkins, n.d.).
Concepts for Educators
Let Go of Labels
Readers who struggle can be more accurately described as striving readers. It is unfair to students that are striving to read and who are working hard to reach their individual goals to be labeled as “bad readers” or “struggling readers”. Teachers should be conscious of the labels they are giving students and should instead focus on who they are as a person. Assessment is a great way to measure student progress, however students shouldn’t be defined strictly by that label. Students first and foremost are individuals with a unique set of needs, interests, and goals (Harvey & Ward, 2021).
Create an Environment That Supports Reading
Students should be given plenty of choices and time to read in the classroom. Teachers should work with students to practice various strategies and to introduce a variety of texts. The classroom should be a place that is safe, flexible, and organized. It should be an inviting place to read and grow (Harvey & Ward, 2021)!
Create Consistency
EdWeb recommends that students have ample choices for books and a comfortable place to read uninterrupted for about 20 minutes per day. Students can be given other options for reading as well such as audiobooks and eBooks. These strategies can help to motivate striving readers (“45 Ways”, n.d.).
Resources for Educators
Navigating the School System When a Child is Struggling with Reading or Dyslexia - Brochure
This brochure is provided by the Minnesota Department of Education to help families and educators better understand the school system and striving readers (Minnesota Department of Education, 2015).
Striving to Thriving - Book
This textbook was used in EDRD 450 Differentiated Reading Instruction at Winona State University. This book provides a variety of useful and practical strategies for educators to employ in their classrooms (Harvey & Ward, 2021).
Lexile & Quantile Search - Website
This website is a search engine that assists teachers and families with finding level appropriate books for their students. The search engine allows the user to filter books based on level, interest, and language too (Lexile & Quantile Hub, n.d.).
From Striving to Thriving: One Reader's Story by Dav Pilkey - YouTube Video
Strategies & Activities
Give Library Lessons - EdWeb Article
Teach students how to use their classroom, school, and public libraries. The more comfortable students are with the library staff, space, and organizational system, the more likely they are to use it. Give information about local libraries to families as well. Encourage students to attend local events at the library ("45 Ways", n.d.).
Read Rhyming Books Aloud - WaterFord Article
Reading rhyming books encourages students to practice their phonological awareness. Rhyming books are also fun and low-stress for students ("15 Guided Reading Activities", 2019).
Provide Audio Books - EdWeb Article
Audio books are a great way for students to hear what they are reading. They are great for students with Dyslexia and for Multilingual Language Learners as well. There are many apps and websites that provide audio books for students. EdWeb provides the following resource: http://www.learningally.org/Educators/EducatorHome.aspx?utm_source=351&utm_campaign=10006516&utm_medium=schoolleadersguide ("45 Ways", n.d.).
Engage the Senses! - Edutopia Article
Students who are striving readers may benefit from using their five senses while engaging in literacy activities. Some examples from the Edutopia article include using kinetic sand, play dough, and letter tiles for example. These activities provide a hands-on, manipulative approach to literacy (DePriest, 2021).
Link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-multisensory-activities-enhance-reading-skills
Flash Cards - WaterFord Article
The WaterFord article suggests that flashcards are a great way for striving readers to practice their understanding of the correlation between letters and their sounds ("15 Guided Reading Activities", 2019).
Resources
Anderson, M. (n.d.). Readers Who Struggle [PowerPoint slides]. College of Education, Winona State University. https://winona.learn.minnstate.edu/d2l/le/content/5932642/viewContent/57239584/View.
Audio Note. Apple App Store. (2010, April 29). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/audionote/id369820957.
Bendix, J. (n.d.). Vocabulary Basics [PowerPoint slides]. College of Education, Winona State University. https://winona.learn.minnstate.edu/d2l/le/content/5932651/viewContent/57637444/View.
DePriest, L. (2021, June 18). How multisensory activities enhance reading skills. Edutopia. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-multisensory-activities-enhance-reading-skills.
Dyslexia basics. International Dyslexia Association. (2020, March 10). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics/.
15 guided reading activities, classroom accommodations, and teaching strategies for students with dyslexia. Waterford.org. (2019, April 2). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.waterford.org/education/activities-for-dyslexia/.
45 Ways to Support Struggling Readers. EdWeb. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.edweb.net/.5a57b0b2.
Harvey, S., & Ward, H. (2021). From striving to thriving: How to grow confident, capable readers. Scholastic.
International Dyslexia Association. (2019). IDA Dyslexia Handbook What Every Family Should Know. Baltimore, MD; The International Dyslexia Association.
Jenkins, J. (n.d.). Educational Apps. The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://dyslexia.yale.edu/resources/tools-technology/tech-tips/educational-apps/.
Lexile & Quantile Hub. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/search.
Minnesota Department of Education. (2015). Navigating the School System When a Child is Struggling with Reading or Dyslexia. Minnesota Department of Education.
Phonics genius. Apple App Store. (2011, September 15). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/phonics-genius/id461659980.
YouTube. (2019). From Striving to Thriving: One Reader’s Story by Dav Pilkey. YouTube. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cOFh9IpgEg.