Addressing Dyslexia through Multisensory Instruction

2021-10-07T07:20:21+00:00

Dyslexic second grader Olivia is learning to read and spell words with the digraph ch.  Her learning center teacher asks Olivia to trace the letters ch with her fingers while naming them. She teaches Olivia the key word chin and the sound /ch/.  Throughout her reading lesson, Olivia works with this new sound: she points to and reads ch words in isolation and in sentences, selects pictures that begin with /ch/, and writes dictated words with the target sound on dotted lined paper.  When she spells a dictated word, Olivia segments the sounds in the word with plastic chips and then names the letters while writing them.  Olivia’s [...]

Addressing Dyslexia through Multisensory Instruction2021-10-07T07:20:21+00:00

Dyslexia and the Brain

2021-10-07T07:17:56+00:00

The continuing research into brain physiology and the connection to dyslexia is providing more answers in order to understand what dyslexia is, how we can diagnose it, how it is related to language and to reading, and the remediation that works. Dyslexia is related to the susceptibility of some genes to develop differently during fetal development which is the biological condition of dyslexia. Children with dyslexia often show symptoms of other neurobiological conditions, including ADHD.  The use of cutting edge technology, including fMRI’s and scans, helps identify the genetic markers of dyslexia and gives us the opportunity for earlier interventions. Dyslexia is not related [...]

Dyslexia and the Brain2021-10-07T07:17:56+00:00

What is Dyslexia? Characteristics and Signs

2021-10-07T07:19:12+00:00

Shane is a very bright fourth grader who has a strong vocabulary and enjoys when his parents read to him.  He is creative, artistic, and loves to build complicated structures with Legos. Mathematics comes easily to him, particularly geometry.  He loves social studies and science particularly when it involves hands-on activities, but Shane struggles to read and spell basic words.  Shane has dyslexia. October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month and since at least 1 in 10 people has symptoms of dyslexia, it’s important to know the facts. Let’s start out with the official definition and then unpack the meaning. The International [...]

What is Dyslexia? Characteristics and Signs2021-10-07T07:19:12+00:00

Special Ed in Private Schools: What Parents Need to Know

2023-12-11T13:10:26+00:00

Many parents these days have opted for a private school experience for their child for a variety of reasons. These parents want to know what they can expect in terms of special education supports for their child in a private school setting. The fact of the matter is that students enrolled in private schools by their parents do not have the same right to special education under the law as students enrolled in public schools. Students with disabilities attending public schools have the educational right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The operative words here being public education. FAPE refers [...]

Special Ed in Private Schools: What Parents Need to Know2023-12-11T13:10:26+00:00

Unlocking the Mysteries of the English Language

2023-06-15T08:33:48+00:00

What can we say to parents who are baffled by the fact that their child has been receiving special education for some time, and yet, their child still cannot read with any degree of consistency? On the surface, it looks like everything that can be done is being done, and many parents have become resigned to the idea that their child will always be on the outside looking in with regard to knowing how to unlock the hidden mysteries of the English language. However, this should not be the case.  “Scientists now estimate that fully 95 percent of all children [...]

Unlocking the Mysteries of the English Language2023-06-15T08:33:48+00:00

Back to School Tips

2021-10-07T07:16:42+00:00

We’ve gathered a few of our favorite back-to-school tips to help ease the transition. Before School Starts Review all school information, fill out permission slips, and send in contact information Mark your calendar and note important dates, especially back to school nights and arrange for babysitters if children attend different schools Make copies of your child’s health and emergency information Turn the TV off and encourage children to do quiet games like puzzles or playing with flash cards Designate a place to do homework and a place to put school bags so they are not forgotten Get to know the [...]

Back to School Tips2021-10-07T07:16:42+00:00

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part Three

2021-10-07T07:12:03+00:00

Part 3 of 3: SMART IEP Goals in Action – A Student Case Study The third and final part of this series will take a look at the student case study of Johnny.  (Names have been changed for privacy reasons.)  Johnny has been diagnosed with a severe language-based learning disability that affects his speech, oral and receptive language, and ability to crack the phonetic code.  He has severe deficits in phonological awareness (the ability to discern and manipulate sounds, rhyme, recognize syllables, identify first, last, and medial sounds, as well as blend and segment sounds). For example, when given the word octopus, [...]

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part Three2021-10-07T07:12:03+00:00

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part Two

2021-10-07T07:18:33+00:00

Part 2 of 3: Examining Ineffective IEP Goals In this edition, I want to explore the essential foundation for the development of a SMART IEP.  This begins with a well written Student Strengths and Key Evaluation Results Summary.  The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education provides the following prompts for this section. What are the student’s educational strengths, interest areas, significant personal attributes and personal accomplishments? What is the student’s type of disability(ies), general education performance including MCAS/district test results, achievement towards goals and lack of expected progress, if any? (1) The student summary should always begin with the student’s strengths and [...]

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part Two2021-10-07T07:18:33+00:00

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part One

2021-10-05T13:10:55+00:00

Part 1 of 3: Defining SMART Goals for IEPs It is estimated that about 5.8 million American school children, ages 6 to 21 receive special education through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (www.edweek.org).  With this many children receiving special education based on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), it is imperative for parents and service providers to understand the importance of a well written IEP. A well-written IEP is used as a road map to drive a child’s specialized instruction for an entire year, so it’s important that your child has a clear, cohesive framework to ensure that s/he reaches the [...]

Is My Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) SMART? – Part One2021-10-05T13:10:55+00:00
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PTI

 
Beth

Beth Dinelli, M.Ed
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