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Day 24: #31 Days—Accommodations in School

Day 24: #31 Days—Accommodations in School

When a child has Dyslexia, families find themselves immersed in a world filled with so much newness. Receiving a diagnosis, understanding what Dyslexia really is (and is not), finding a tutor, and comforting the roller coaster of emotions that the child might be experiencing can be quite a lot. It is overwhelming to figure it all out. Then, there are the accommodations necessary within the school. You see, what works for 80 percent of students does not work for the 20…

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Day 20: #31 Days: Fun & Educational Apps

Day 20: #31 Days: Fun & Educational Apps

Technology has its pros and cons. Too much screen time is, well, too much and can affect concentration and sleep patterns. But technology can also be a great resource for children with Dyslexia. It gives them a break from writing, which can be a difficult and exhausting activity, and it allows them to use their brain in a different way—the way it was actually created to work. There are many, many apps available to assist with spelling, reading, writing, and…

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Day 19: #31 Days: Finding a Hero For Your Child

Day 19: #31 Days: Finding a Hero For Your Child

I typically don’t get too crazed about “famous” people. They are just people, after all. But their accomplishments often find themselves more well known and in the spotlight. Without getting star crazed, it can be helpful to a child struggling with Dyslexia—coming to terms with their reality, discovering their unique gifts, and embracing perseverance—to see someone from a favorite movie or sport who has a similar struggle. Did you know that 50 percent of people working for NASA have Dyslexia? Why?…

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Day 18: #31 Days—Links You’ll Love

Day 18: #31 Days—Links You’ll Love

Today, I thought I’d just share some helpful links I’ve found on the topic of Dyslexia. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but just a handful of websites I seem to return to again and again. Bookshare—A great resource for audiobooks Decoding Dyslexia—A parent-led grassroots movement for Dyslexia + there you can find state chapters for more localized support IDA—Home of the International Dyslexia Association has lots of research and information Learning Ally—Not only a wealth of information about making education…

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Day 12: #Write 31—Let’s Play a Game

Day 12: #Write 31—Let’s Play a Game

At the end of most tutoring sessions, my daughter’s tutor leaves a little time to play a game with her. It is especially fun to observe my little girl’s confidence soar as she wins a game! When a new concept she has just learned is part of the game, she lights up when she recognizes it. There are several games available to reinforce the reading and spelling work a child is doing in tutoring and at school. Whether or not a…

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Day 11: #31 Days—Incorporating Tutoring Techniques at Home

Day 11: #31 Days—Incorporating Tutoring Techniques at Home

Since June, I have sat in on most of my daughter’s tutoring sessions. To think back to her first few sessions and how she struggled still breaks my heart. But observing her has increased my compassion for how truly difficult reading is for her, as if I can feel her pain now more than ever. It also has taught me how I can support her. As I reflect back, I also see the progress she has made. To witness her breakthroughs and pure successes, I am so very proud…

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Day 10: #31 Days—Tutoring: Orton-Gillingham & More

Day 10: #31 Days—Tutoring: Orton-Gillingham & More

When my 11-year-old daughter was struggling with reading in second grade, her teacher invited her to be part of a reading club two days after school. Mrs. Vance was trained in Orton-Gillingham, and she utilized these multi-sensory methods during the after-school program. By the end of her second-grade year, my daughter was reading proficiently. It is possible that she just needed this effective method to get her “unstuck” and on her way to becoming a little bookworm. When my younger…

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Day 5: #31 Days—Book Suggestions

Day 5: #31 Days—Book Suggestions

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed reading a good book. I am part of a book club for moms, and I am even blessed to be a contributing writer to a mom’s prayer companion. Not wanting to read or not liking it is something I cannot completely relate to, but I have had to learn to understand and find alternative ways to incorporate reading into my daughter’s life. What I have found is that often what…

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Day 4: #31 Days—What Are the Signs?

Day 4: #31 Days—What Are the Signs?

Looking back on her preschool years, I now recognize the early warning signs. They were there, but I didn’t know. Things such as difficulty hearing rhyming words, like cat, hat, and mat. My daughter couldn’t rhyme, and I didn’t understand why. As my daughter progressed through Kindergarten, I saw her struggling, but I wasn’t worried. I thought she would eventually catch up, and things would smooth themselves out. But then, I started receiving notes from her teacher that she falling…

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