Together in Literacy

One of those topics we get asked about all the time is how to work with older students who are challenged by reading and writing. How can we work with them effectively? How can we give them what they need while also honoring where they are in their learning journey?

In this episode, we will dig in and talk about our own experiences with working with older students. We have both been so lucky to work with a wide variety of students across all age groups and grades. The beauty of Orton-Gillingham is that it works for so many different ages and grades!

Tune in as we share our perspective and give you actionable tips you can use to work with older students with dyslexia while remaining mindful of the social-emotional piece.

Hang around until the end when we tackle a question about tutor-parent collaboration!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 2.3: Why Students With Dyslexia Struggle with Homework with Cindy Hall
• Episode 1.15: All About Accommodations for Dyslexia
• Episode 1.3: Connecting Metacognition to Your Literacy Lessons
• Episode 1.7: Hope’s Journey with Hope McNabb
• Dibels
• High Noon Books
• Saddleback Publishing
• Simple Words Books
• Episode 1.8: How Decodable Texts Support Social-Emotional Learning
• Phonic Books
• Rewards reading intervention program
• Megawords
• Take Flight
• Learning Ally
• Bookshare
• Skybrary
• Casey on TpT - The Dyslexia Classroom
• Emily on TpT - The Literacy Nest

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredible Cindy Hall.

Mrs. Cindy Hall is the founder and director of Cindy Hall Consulting and Mustard Seed Tutoring and the author of Dyslexia Friendly Classroom professional development. It is her passion to help struggling students identify why they are struggling and architect a plan for success.

Cindy is excited to work with individual students in a tutoring setting or to help teachers understand the characteristics of dyslexic students and best practices that are vital for dyslexic learners, yet good for all students. 

Cindy was the founding director of the Dyslexia Center at Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, which she directed for a decade before retiring from full-time school-setting work. She has 17 years of classroom teaching experience with elementary students and another 17 years focused on teaching dyslexic learners. 

She is a graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College with postgraduate work in special education at Iowa State University as well as many hours of training in the Orton-Gillingham approach for dyslexic learners. 

In this episode, we speak with Cindy about the biggest challenges dyslexic learners and their families face, why children with dyslexia struggle with homework, and some of the best strategies you can use to help them with homework.

Tune in as we share 5 tips for parents to help their dyslexic children with homework and 5 strategies for teachers to help dyslexic students in their classrooms.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dyslexia Friendly Classroom online course (Cindy is offering our listeners 20% off this course through December 31, 2022. Simply use code: TIL20)
• 2.2 The Contradictory Signs of Dyslexia 
• Parenting a Struggling Reader by Susan Hall and Louise Moats
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz
• Speech to Print by Louisa Moats
• Make it Stick by Dr. Peter Brown
• Helping Students Remember by Milton Dehn

For more from our guest, Cindy Hall, check her out at Cindy Hall Consulting.

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. So, we’re kicking off October with a discussion of the Contradictory Signs of Dyslexia. 

In this episode, we take a closer look at the importance of recognizing the common signs of dyslexia, the often contradictory signs of dyslexia, and if there is such a thing as late bloomers when it comes to reading instruction.  

Tune in for a concise definition of dyslexia, some early signs, typical ways it will present as children get older, and some deeper challenges of dyslexia that almost feel contradictory.

We’ll also tackle a listener question about nonsense words, so stay tuned until the end of the episode!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Overcoming Dyslexia (2020 Edition) by Sally Shaywitz

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

We’re back for season 2 of the Together in Literacy Podcast! We took the summer off from recording so that we could spend some time with our families and now we’re back and ready to dive even deeper into The Science of Reading!

In this episode, we’ll fill you in on some of the exciting things we did (both professionally and personally) over the summer. Then, we’re digging into some important info about the Science of Reading!  

Tune in for an exciting discussion of the Science of Reading and how it relates to dyslexia and teaching the whole child. We’ll look at some misunderstandings we see, offer some recommendations that we have, and share some important points to remember when choosing what training to invest in.  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Season 1, Episode 12: The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect
• Teaching Reading is Rocket Science by Dr. Louisa C. Moats
• Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz
• Decoding Dyslexia -  a network of parent-led grassroots movements across the country concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within the public education system.
• Season 1, Episode 10: The Gradual Release of Responsibility

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

We’re wrapping up season 1 of the Together in Literacy podcast! 

When we started this podcast, our mission was to create a pathway to learning for educators and families, share our own expertise with you, create a dialogue around SEL and the link to dyslexia, and make the research of reading accessible. We had big goals for season one and we are so proud of how it went!

In this episode, we share our major takeaways from season 1, our summer reading suggestions for teachers and parents, and then we’ll give a sneak preview of what you can look forward to in season 2!

Please feel free to keep in touch with us throughout the summer! You can find Emily at The Literacy Nest and Casey at The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

A list of all Together in Literacy Episodes

Unlocking Literacy by Marcia Henry

Structured Literacy Interventions by Louise Spear-Swerling

Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz

Conquering Dyslexia by Jan Hasbrouck

Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf 

The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

The Writing Revolution by  Judith Hochman and Natalie Wexler

Top 10 Books About Dyslexia for Parents and Teachers - The Literacy Nest

10 Books Every Dyslexia Educator Should Own - The Dyslexia Classroom

Color-Coding Method to Teaching Sight Words - online course with Casey Harrison

Building Readers for Life Virtual Conference hosted by The Literacy Nest

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching here in the United States. For many children,  the end of the school year can bring about stress and uncertainty. Many of our students have feelings of anxiety - they may be a bit more anxious than excited about the end of the school year. 

Typically, the school year helps our students to establish positive routines and relationships that support them. A change in these routines can often trigger stress responses, especially in our students who learn differently.

In this episode, we’ll discuss signs and behaviors you should be looking for in your children as the school year comes to a close. We’ll also cover appropriate summer practice for your children with learning challenges. 

Tune in for our top tips for finishing this school year strong, especially if you feel like your child is suffering from the end of the year blues!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Cozi App

Season 1, Episode 9: Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren

Sounder & Friends

Wallykazam!

The Who Was Show

Wonderopolis

Season 1, Episode 13: The Matthew Effect and Literacy Development in Children

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

Join us in welcoming our special guest, Sabrina Axt. Sabrina is a practicing attorney based out of the San Francisco Bay area, and she has been for over fifteen years. 

Her career and personal journey have led her to leave civil litigation in order to advocate for her child and she now exclusively practices special education law. 

Sabrina guides her clients through the special education process, helping them to understand and advocate for IEPs and accommodations. She equips parents with the tools they need to advocate for their children 

In this episode, she speaks to us about the legal aspects of dyslexia and special education. 

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is just information and does not serve as legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are in need of legal advice, please consult an attorney regarding your specific case.  

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

WrightsLaw

Dredf.org

Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz

Dyslexia Advocate: How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System by Kelli Sandman-Hurley

Your Special Education Rights:  What Your School District Isn't Telling You by Jennifer Laviano and Julie Swanson

COPAA Seat training

For more from Sabrina, check out Law Office of Sabrina L. Axt.

You can also connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. 

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we are covering all things accommodations for dyslexia.

We’ll answer the following questions: What are accommodations? Why do we need accommodations? What’s the purpose of accommodations? What are the benefits of having accommodations?

Tune in to this episode for a review of the most common accommodations and things to keep in mind when choosing accommodations.

Accommodations are such an important topic, not only for families but for educators as well.  

Finally, we’ll tackle a listener question at the end of the episode. 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz

Learning Ally

Season 1, Episode 9: Working Memory with Dr. Erica Warren

CALL Scotland

Nessy

Early Literacy Screener App

International Dyslexia Association 

Season 1, Episode 2: Why We Raise Dyslexia Awareness

Joint Statement: Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Vision - Reaffirmed 2014

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In this episode, we’re joined by a very special guest, Sydney Bassard. Sydney is is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. She received both her B.S. in Public Health and her Master of Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina.

Sydney is licensed in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Through her private practice, The Listening SLP, she serves children from birth to 18 and the adult hearing loss population. Her clinical focus areas are working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing and literacy. With a passion for access to high-quality service and care for all, she purposefully invests in each client and their family.

In this episode, we hear about Sydney's personal journey into bridging speech and literacy. We discuss the top goals and the specific things an SLP will focus on when working with students with dyslexia. We also discuss who can diagnose dyslexia in a public school or private setting. And Sydney offers her best advice to both teachers and parents.  

Finally, we’ll tackle a listener question at the end of the episode. 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty (from The Questioneers series)

Bringing Words to Life by Isabel L. Beck, Margaret G. McKeown, and Linda Kucan 

For more from Sydney, check out The Listening SLP, LLC.

You can also connect with her on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!

In our last episode, we went deep into the Peter Effect and the importance of knowledge for educators. In this episode, we look at the Matthew Effect as it pertains to reading development in children.

What is the Matthew Effect? The Matthew Effect refers to the idea that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. 

Tune in as we apply the Matthew Effect to the education community. We’ll explore what it means for literacy and dyslexia and ways we can combat the Matthew Effect in our classrooms and our homes. 

Stick around until the end for a listener question about strategies for students who can decode well, their fluency is great, but they do not appear to be comprehending what they read.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Season 1, Episode 11: The Importance and Benefits of Playing Games with Your Students

Season 1, Episode 12: The Importance of Building Teacher Knowledge and The Peter Effect

For more on Keith Stanovich

Season 1, Episode 4: Books That Connect Social Emotional Learning and Dyslexia

Season 1, Episode 8: How Decodable Texts Support Social-Emotional Learning

Project Read

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty (from The Questioneers series)

If you like this episode, please take a few minutes to rate, review, and subscribe. Your support and encouragement are so appreciated!

Have a question you’d like us to cover in a future episode of Together in Literacy? Email us at [email protected]!

If you’d like more from Together in Literacy, you can check out our website, Together in Literacy, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from Emily, check out The Literacy Nest.

For more from Casey, check out The Dyslexia Classroom. 

Thank you for listening and joining us in this exciting and educational journey into dyslexia as we come together in literacy!