International Dyslexia Association Recognizes Nine Universities for Meeting Teacher Training Standards in Reading

International Dyslexia Association Recognizes Nine Universitiesfor Meeting Teacher Training Standards in Reading

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) announced that nine university programs in the U.S. have met the standards outlined in the IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.

Top of the list:

College of Mount Saint Joseph (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Reading Endorsement
Master of Arts in Reading Science

Click here to read the entire list.

Understanding High-Stakes Testing and Its Impact on LD Students

"High-stakes" testing is used to describe tests that have high stakes for individual students.

Students who do not pass these standardized tests may face serious consequences, such as being held back a grade level or not receiving a standard HS diploma.

Twenty-six states now either have or are preparing to implement high school exit exams.

To learn about how these tests can effect LD students, download and read this informative article from the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

Dyslexia Impacts Math

According to an article entitled, The Impact of Dyslexia on Math" by Rosalind W. Rothman, Ed.D., Director, Language and Learning Associates & Claire Lavin, Ph.D., Professor, College of New Rochelle, "The mastery of the symbolic language of mathematics involves many verbal cognitive processes that can be affected by dyslexia. Ignoring the impact of dyslexia on the mastery of mathematics can hamper a child’s progress in school and in life."

Children with dyslexia may need tutoring and accommodations in Math as well as Reading, Writing, and Spelling.

Recommended Programs for tutoring:

Times Tales- www.timestales.com

TouchMath- www.touchmath.com

Kahn Academy- www.khanacademy.org

Accommodations might include:

Use of a calculator and/or number line to work through multi-step problems

Use of a multiplication chart- google images multiplication charts

Sample problems available even during tests

Shortening the number of problems to complete

Extended time- especially on tests

Avoid timed math tests/ assignments

8.5 Million Dollar Grants Funds Dyslexia Research

A team of researchers at Florida State University was just awarded an 8.5 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue genetic research into the causes of dyslexia.

The 5 year grant continues the funding for the Florida Center for Reading Research--the only learning disabilities research center in the southeast.

According to Richard Wagner, the principal investigator on the project and an Akron, OH native,

“It is really important to be able to identify children as early as possible and try to provide them with prevention programs that are designed to strengthen weak areas, so that when they do get to the point of learning to read, they will have a better outcome than they would otherwise.”

To read the entire article about the grant, click here.

3,415 Mile Bike Ride for Dyslexia

Tour For Dyslexia- Beginning May 13, 2012

To raise money for the Children's Dyslexia Center in State College, PA, Larry Emigh will ride his bicycle across the United States, from Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA.

Raising funds to support the Center is important because it provides free tutoring to dyslexic children between 6 and 18 years of age.

To learn more about Larry's ride or to donate, click here.

Dyslexia Discussed on NPR Radio

Today, February 15, 2012, Diane Rehm, host of the Diane Rehm Show on NPR, discussed aspects of the dyslexic brain.

To listen to this informative discussion visit The Diane Rehm Show website. Search for the story entitled The Dyslexic Brain, and click on the "listen" button.

Improving Comprehension for Struggling Readers

A helpful article from www.ldonline.org:

"Reading comprehension is critical for school success, and students with LD often struggle to understand what they read. As parents and teachers, it's important to learn ways to help students read more successfully and with meaning."

Learn more here.