Educators

Dyslexia is the most common reading disability affecting 1 in 5 students in classrooms, yet it is often unidentified and misdiagnosed. We have a wonderful network of teachers who are part of the Decoding Dyslexia Idaho team. Together we will help to answer questions you may have about dyslexia, discuss best practices to identify dyslexia in your classroom, and offer tips, tools, and strategies to guide you in bringing new life to reading solutions within your classroom.

WHAT DOES DYSLEXIA LOOK LIKE?

Students with dyslexia are smart and many can be identified as twice exceptional. There is often a family history of siblings, parents, aunts/uncles or grandparents who struggled in school. Students with dyslexia often have difficulty reading single words in isolation, accurately decoding nonsense words, slow inaccurate reading fluency, and difficulty with learning to spell. In the classroom, to a teacher who may not yet be aware of dyslexia signs, the student may be considered "lazy" or "not trying hard enough". Here are some common signs you may see in the classroom in early education:

difficulty with days of the week or month
difficulty with the alphabet
trouble with rhyming words like cat, mat and bat
substitutes a word for another; puppy for dog
problems following directions

HOW CAN YOU LEARN MORE?

We know your time in the classroom is limited. We have compiled a list of books, articles, and websites great for educators. Please visit our Resources page to learn more.

What to Read First

Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

International Dyslexia Association

Essentials of Assessment and Intervention

Nancy Mather & Barbara Wendling

Practical e step-by-step information on accurately identifying, assessing, and using evidence-based interventions with individuals with dyslexia. Addressing the components that need to be considered in the assessment of both cognitive and academic. Includes descriptions of the various tests used in a comprehensive dyslexia assessment along with detailed, evidence-based interventions that professionals and parents can use to help individuals struggling with dyslexia.

Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level

Sally Shaywitz, M.D.

A great book that explains what dyslexia is and gives parents tools for helping their children become fluent readers. One of the most helpful and informative books that many parents read early in their journey that really opened their eyes and pointed them in the right direction to seek the help their kids needed.

Effective Reading Instruction for Students with Dyslexia

International Dyslexia Association

OG Teachers Training Manual

M.A. Rooney Foundation

Educator's Resources

Assistive Technology Toolbox

Assistive technology tools for learning differences, ADHD, and executive function challenges

Dyslexia Training Institute

National Center for Learning Disabilities

The National Center for Learning Disabilities is the leading online resource for parents and educators on learning disabilities and related disorders.

At a Loss for Words: What's wrong with how schools teach reading

For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't know there's anything wrong with it.

How to Spot Dyslexia in a Writing Sample

How to analyze a writing sample for classic indicators of dyslexia.

National Institute for Learning Development

Bookshare

Bookshare is an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. Students who qualify can access free audiobooks due to an agreement with the US Department of Education.

International Dyslexia Association

The mission of the International Dyslexia Association is to create a future for all individuals who struggle with dyslexia and other related reading differences so that they may have richer, more robust lives and access to the tools and resources they need.

Payne Education Center

The Payne Education Center trains teachers to prevent reading difficulties in children and to remediate dyslexia, while serving as a resource and referral center.