LAST YEAR I HAD A STUDENT WITH DYSLEXIA. HE WAS A TERRIBLE SPELLER, WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS AN INDICATOR FOR DYSLEXIA. SOME THINGS I DID WITH HIM TO HELP WITH SPELLING, THAT ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE: I USED A TEXTILE APPROACH. I PAINTED SIGHT WORDS ON INDEX CARD WITH PUFF PAINT AND LET HIM RUN HIS FINGER OVER THE LETTERS AS HE SPELLED THE WORDS, HE HAD A SAND TRAY THAT HE USED TO PRACTICE SPELLING WORDS, ON SPELLING TESTS, I CREATED WORD SHAPE BOXES, USING ATOZTEACHERSTUFF.COM AND THEN I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE VOWELS, I ALSO HAD HIM USE BODY MOVEMENTS LIKE CHOPPING WORDS LETTER BY LETTER, OR USING HIS FINGERS TO COUNT SOUNDS. HE WAS ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH TOO MUCH PRINT ON ONE PAGE, SO I WOULD EITHER DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF WORDS ON THE PAGE USING THE COPY MACHINE, OR I WOULD LET HIM USE A BLACK PIECE OF CONSTRUCTION PAPER WITH A CUTOUT PEEP HOLE ON IT, HE WOULD MOVE THE PEEP HOLE ALONG HIS PAPER, AND IT WOULD BLACK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER WORDS ON THE PAPER. REMEMBER THAT DYSLEXIA IS A VISUAL PERCEPTION THING, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP MINIMIZE THE TEXT ON A PAGE MAY HELP. GOOD LUCK!
ELISA On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 10:23 PM, Amy McGovern < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Carolyn, > I sympathize with your dilemma. There are some things you can do to help > your 3rd grade student. First, I recommend downloading for free the DIBELS > (Dynamic test of Basic Early literacy skills) test for free from the DIBELS > web site. Google DIBELS> This is a controversial test, but as a dip stick > --to help you get reliable data on what level the student is reading at-- > it's very helpful. The test is a screening tool that can also be used to > measure growth. If I were you, I'd give the K, 1 and 2 level tests. The K > test is a test of phonemic awareness and phonics skills. This test will > help you get a better glimpse into the student's weakness. It can also be > helpful to show parents. I would bother doing the comprehension section as > it is listed. But the rest is very good. > > DIBELS also has free progress monitoring stories. You could use the > independent level stories to practice from. > > I'd also recommend making some modifications to how you teach. I am a > Direct Instruction Consultant. And though I typically use DI materials, I > have found great success with these techniques regardless of what I am > teaching. > > Find some reading material that is at this student's independent level. > (95% accuracy) > Have her read out loud to you. Every time she makes an error, immediately > provide a correction. And by correction, I mean tell the word. This is > really a bottom up approach. A meaning based correction, for a student > with dyslexia, will only reinforce that reading is a guessing game. There > are clear rules to our language. And it's our job to take the mystery out > of decoding . It's not an easy job. The english language has only 40 > sounds that are used in very consistent and predictable ways. > > When correcting, The word "no" should not be used. Just let her know that > you are going to help her when she has trouble. As soon as the error > occurs, immediately tell her the misread word. If it is decodable, model > sounding it out. Then have her sound it out and repeat the word. If it is > not decodable, she should spell the word aloud and then say it again. She > should always start the sentence over after every error. I also highly > recommend that she follows along with her finger. A reader like this needs > a clear focus to promote accuracy. I have spent 13 years of my career > working with low readers. These techniques work. > > Treat self corrections as errors. She is probably beginning to over rely > on guessing. So when she self corrects, compliment her for getting the word > right. But then have her start the sentence again. This will help her with > comprehension while also improving accuracy and fluency. > > I hope these tips help! > Good luck. > > > Amy > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]> Date: > Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:43:07 -0400> Subject: [MOSAIC] Helping a third grade > struggling reader> > > > > Hello!> > I was wondering if you can help me. I > have a 3rd grade student whom I am currently servicing in a reading group. > She has been with me for three years. She has been brought up for testing, > but the parents will not allow us to test or classify her. I feel like I > have exhausted my repertoire of strategies to suit her needs. She is reading > approximately a year below her peers, and has a particularly hard time with > decoding and spelling. She shows many of the signs of dyslexia. Can anybody > give me any suggestions for materials or strategies I can try? The materials > need to be relatively cheap b/c I will most likely be purchasing them out of > my own pocket. Thus far, I have tried all the Reading Recovery and Pat > Cunningham decoding strategies, as well as some of Bear's materials and > various other eclectic resources. I have looked at Susan Barton's stuff (too > expensive) Word Workout ( too high), Wilson ( too expensive), etc. (You see > my dilemma!) Thank you for your feedback! > > Carolyn> > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________> Want to > do more with Windows Live? Learn "10 hidden secrets" from Jamie.> > http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008> > _______________________________________________> Mosaic mailing list> > [email protected]> To unsubscribe or modify your membership > please go to> > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.> > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _________________________________________________________________ > Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows > Live. > http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > -- Elisa M. Kifer Third Grade Literacy Teacher Fox Meadow Elementary "Love of reading and writing is not taught, it is created. Love of reading and writing is not required, it is inspired. Love of reading and writing is not demanded, it is exemplified. Love of reading and writing, is not exacted, it is quickened. Love of reading and writing is not solicited, it is activated." -Russell Stauffer, 1980 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
