"Spatial ability is not a simple matter. It is not just a picture-like memory for objects, places, and people. This kind of memory might be helpful in carrying out spatial tasks, but it is not at the core of what is meant by spatial ability. Spatial mechanical...
![[PREMIUM] How to Talk About Dyslexia in Interviews](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-29-at-4.14.40-PM.jpg)
Although it’s not required to disclose one’s dyslexia in job interviews, many people make decisions to do so. Some want to be assured that they are joining a workplace that is welcoming to dyslexic employees. Others feel as if they want to be open with their prospective employer, while others choose to disclose for other personal reasons. Regardless of the reason, if you’ve decided to disclose, interview prep can only be be helpful. “If [the medical disability] is not obvious, unless it is germane for the actual job, I don’t think it’s necessary to discuss it during an interview.” – Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the US Department of Labor. 1. HOW MIGHT OUR PROGRAM NEED TO BE MODIFIED TO […]
![MATH: The Problem with Word Problems [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/word-problems-scaled.jpg)
For dyslexic students, the problem with word problems isn’t just the fact that they have to be read without error – but that there are many aspects of the language commonly found in word problems that will frustrate many dyslexic students if they aren’t explicitly taught where confusions arise. Here are just a few language-based sources of difficult that arise in the reading of math word problems: #1. PASSIVE VOICE Many students need to be explicitly taught about passive voice in grammar. Math problems frequently lapse into passive voice without any attention to the differences that may occur in meaning. For example, consider the differences in 8 divided by 2, 8 is divided into halves, and 8 is divided by half. In the first case, […]
![STRENGTHS MATTER: Intelligence and Dyslexia [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/annie-spratt-OyJweKTYGbs-unsplash.jpg)
Parents and dyslexia advocates should beware – there are vocal proponents arguing against the importance of intelligence and / IQ in determining the educational needs of students with dyslexia. As far as it seems we have come with dyslexia (more states with dyslexia-specific laws, mandatory teacher training), there are areas where the concept of specific learning disability and the definition of dyslexia is coming under attack. SOME “EXPERTS” BELIEVE INTELLIGENCE IS IRRELEVANT FOR EDUCATING DYSLEXIC STUDENTS As surprising as it may seem, Past IDA Vice President Dr. Louisa Moats has argued through questionable selection of data there are “negligible cognitive differences between ‘LD’ and ‘Poor Reader’ ” groups. From her presentation online HERE, she states “Garden variety poor readers” are numerous and very much like […]
![[PREMIUM] What Wild Guesses are Telling You on Read Aloud](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-29-at-4.06.02-PM.jpg)
After initial success with the basics of decoding, students may begin to flatten out in their progress as the words and sentences get longer and more complex. Many reading programs focus on monosyllabic words when teaching phonics, but the problem is by the 5th grade, more than 90% of new words are polysyllabic… and more variations can exist in how vowel sounds can be pronounced when they are surrounded by consonants. From a recent helpful article Helping Students with Dyslexia Read Long Words: When Nicholas read “advice” for “adventure,” he didn’t know how to break down the word “adventure” into syllables. The word “beautiful” was read as “beetle” because he could see the letters “b,” “t,” and “l,” but didn’t know how to figure […]
In an interesting study, researchers in France looked at the impact of spelling difficulty on the writing performance of students with dyslexia. From the study: "Dyslexia weakens spelling skills, even when the child presents no motor problems. By varying the degree of...
![Breaking Research : Dyslexia in Adolescents and Adults [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-4.23.50-PM.jpg)
An important paper was published this month from the University of Washington, entitled “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Assessment for Dyslexia in Adolescents and Young Adults.” The paper is especially important guiding testing professionals who assess teens and adults for dyslexia or see gifted or twice-exceptional students. This paper also takes a more systematic look at the roles of individual factors like working memory and executive function on dyslexia and reading and spelling performance. The data will be helpful in targeting educational interventions and can also guide requests for testing accommodations. There are interesting observations too in that paper that will help with characterizing the strengths that occur among adolescent and adult dyslexics, with implications for twice-exceptional or gifted students with dyslexia. In several areas, adolescent / adult […]
"I believe that not being able to read has offered me some fabulous opportunities to see the world differently. " Clark Mishler Clark Mishler is one of the most sought-after photographers in Alaska and one of the top assignment photographers in the country. Thanks to...
"It’s refreshing to read about someone else so successful that thinks like me because of how their brain is wired, which has often only been seen as a learning disability. I’ve always known I had a different way of seeing the world which became more apparent when I...
![[PREMIUM] The Auditory Friendly Classroom](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/auditory.jpg)
ENVIRONMENT – Reduce background noise as much as possible (carpeted, tennis balls on chair legs, closed doors) – Preferential seating for students – away from doors, windows, noisy heaters, overhead projectors, pencil sharpeners, noisy classmates – Allow students to wear musicians earplugs while doing quiet work. – FM Speaker or Headset FOR STUDENTS – Sit at the front of the room with a good view of the teacher. – Request a classroom note-taker and or ask whether you can record classes. – Many students don’t realize how much they may miss by ear alone. – Choose seats away from noise sources like open doors, noisy classmates, heaters, or overhead projectors. – Use an FM speaker or headset which is known to improve classroom learning […]
A few months ago, the news has been filled with details about a college admissions scandal committed by wealthy families and celebrities to boost their children's admission rates to select colleges and universities. Parents apparently paid up to $6+ million dollars to...
You're not alone. Some dyslexic students may prefer to read silently rather than 'read' all their books by ear. Reasons for this vary, but usually these students have significant auditory processing weakness or trouble with sustained auditory attention. At younger...
