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Building Confidence in Dyslexic Learners: Tips and Strategies for Parents and Teachers

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When I first met Daniel, he rarely spoke and would shrink into the background in class. He was only nine but already believed he didn’t belong, convinced he was less than his peers because he couldn’t keep up with reading and writing. Watching his daily struggle, I was reminded of a story I’d seen in the film Like Stars on Earth , where a young boy, Ishaan, lost in a world of words he couldn’t decode, finds himself isolated and misunderstood. Like Daniel, Ishaan was bright, creative, and curious, but his struggles with dyslexia caused him to feel hopelessly broken. For dyslexic learners like Daniel and Ishaan, the inability to read like their peers can be devastating to their confidence. They live with the constant pressure of school and society, where reading and writing often become benchmarks of intelligence and self-worth. When children begin to see themselves as “failures” in school, they retreat from learning, and this sense of failure can shadow them for years. But with the righ
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Advocating for Dyslexic Learners in Schools: What Every Parent Should Know

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For parents of children with dyslexia, ensuring that their child receives the right educational support can be challenging. Schools may not always recognize the specific needs of dyslexic students, and traditional instructional methods may fail to meet these learners where they are. However, parents can play a crucial role in advocating for evidence-based instruction that supports their child's growth and academic success. This blog post offers a practical guide on how parents can advocate effectively in schools, focusing on the importance of structured literacy programs, which align with the Science of Reading and are proven to help dyslexic learners thrive. What Is Structured Literacy and Why Does It Matter? Structured literacy is an instructional approach that teaches students the fundamental skills of reading and spelling systematically and explicitly. It involves: Phonology: Understanding how sounds function in language. Sound-Symbol Association: Learning how letters cor
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Why Early Phonological Screening is Crucial in Dyslexia

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Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting about 10-15% of the population. Despite its prevalence, it often goes undiagnosed until children struggle significantly with reading and writing, sometimes as late as third grade or beyond. Early phonological screening offers a proactive solution to identifying children at risk for dyslexia before these challenges take root, ensuring they receive timely interventions that can prevent frustration and foster long-term success. In this post, we’ll explore what phonological screening entails, why it is essential for early dyslexia detection, and how it supports both academic progress and emotional well-being. What is Phonological Screening? Phonological screening is a tool used to assess a child’s ability to recognize, identify, and manipulate the sounds of spoken language. Phonological awareness is a key skill required for learning to read and includes tasks like: Identifying rhyming words (e.g., “cat” and “hat”) Blendi
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Structured Literacy: The Gold Standard for Dyslexic Learners

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Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting approximately 10-15% of the population. For dyslexic learners, traditional reading instruction often falls short, leading to persistent struggles with reading, writing, and spelling. However, an evidence-based approach called Structured Literacy has proven to be the gold standard for teaching dyslexic students, offering them the tools they need to succeed. This approach is also rooted in the Science of Reading , making it not just effective for dyslexic learners but for all students. In this blog post, we will explore what Structured Literacy is, why it works for dyslexic students, and how it aligns with the Science of Reading. What is Structured Literacy? Structured Literacy is an explicit, systematic, and cumulative approach to teaching reading that is designed to meet the needs of struggling readers, especially those with dyslexia. It emphasizes teaching the foundational skills of language—like phonology (the soun
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The Science of Reading: How It Informs Our Understanding of Dyslexia

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Personal Note: Hi everyone, We apologise for our absence and inconsistency in keeping up with social media trends. As literacy tutors trying to build a literacy business, we often get caught up in day-to-day tasks, making it difficult to find time to sit and write. However, we recognise the importance of being consistent, especially during this month, which shines a light on what we do every day. Dyslexia and other learning disabilities are challenging for the student, the parent, and the teacher/tutor. We are all doing our best with the knowledge and resources we have, and sometimes, we need more, which can be mentally exhausting. Despite the exhaustion, frustrations, and moments of feeling stuck, we find the strength to get back up every day and try again. This is what it means to be a dyslexia warrior. To my fellow teachers, parents, and especially my students, it's been a tough year, but we've gotten up and tried again and again. And we will continue to do so because there
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Unravelling the Threads of Literacy: Exploring Phonemic Awareness and Phonological Awareness

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As educators begin teaching literacy, they come across two important concepts: phonemic awareness and phonological awareness. Although these terms are often confused, they have distinct characteristics that are crucial for readers, particularly those who are struggling. This blog post provides a comprehensive analysis of phonemic and phonological awareness, highlighting their intricate nuances, and offers tailored teaching strategies to help navigate the complexities of literacy instruction. I. Exploring the Depths: A. Phonological Awareness: Phonological awareness is a collection of skills that involve the understanding and manipulation of sounds within language, excluding the recognition of specific phonemes. For instance: a. Syllable Identification: Learners can identify and manipulate syllables within words, such as breaking "elephant" into "el-e-phant." b. Rhyme Recognition: Students can participate in activities that require them to recognize words that
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Unlocking Literacy: Advocating for Letter Sound Instruction Over Letter Name Teaching

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In the domain of early childhood education, the initiation of the journey towards literacy starts with the foundational comprehension of the alphabet. Traditionally, pedagogues have emphasised the teaching of letter names to children. However, research studies have recently proposed a paradigm shift towards the prioritisation of letter sounds. This alteration not only aligns with cognitive principles but also fosters more efficient literacy acquisition. In this discourse, we delve into the rationale behind emphasising letter sounds over names, the significance of non-chronological alphabet instruction, and practical strategies for effective implementation. The discourse on literacy instruction has long revolved around the differentiation between letter names and letter sounds. While the recognition of letter names holds undeniable value, it is the attainment of letter sounds that forms the cornerstone of reading and spelling proficiency. Unlike letter names, which bear arbitrary associ
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