The Right Kind of Tutoring for Dyslexia
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If research states…(According to the National Institute of Health)
- 1 out of 5 children in the United States is affected by dyslexia.
Dyslexia is the leading cause of reading failure and school dropouts in our nation. - Early intervention is essential for this population.
- Children do not outgrow reading failure or dyslexia.
- And most importantly…reading failure caused by dyslexia is highly preventable through direct, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness.
Of the children who display reading problems in the first grade, 74% will be poor readers in the ninth grade and into adulthood UNLESS they receive informed and explicit instructions on phonemic awareness.
…What are we waiting for?
According to the Institute for Multisensory Education/Orton-Gillingham, 30-40% of American students entering the 4th grade are reading below grade level, and 50% of them will NEVER catch up!
Reading, spelling and writing failures caused by dyslexia are preventable and fixable.
Research shows that the crucial window of opportunity to deliver help is during the first couple of years of a child’s education.
The Help They Need
So what can we do about it?
There are no magic tricks to be performed or quick fixes for dyslexia.
Research shows that it can take from 1 to 3 years to get a dyslexic child reading and spelling at grade level, depending upon their level of severity, the frequency of their remediation and other issues.
A child with dyslexia needs 3 things:
Identification, Tutoring, and Classroom Accommodations
1 – Identification:
Symptoms of Dyslexia
2 – Tutoring:
Tutoring should be at least twice a week, for one hour each time. Tutoring requires a systematic, multi-sensory based method.
Dr. Samuel Orton and Ann Gillingham developed the Orton-Gillingham system in the 1930s. They developed a teaching method that was systematic in its approach to printed language while also taking advantage of a dyslexic person’s strengths.
It was determined that the approach must be multisensory, as dyslexic individuals learn best by involving all of their senses. The Orton-Gillingham method utilizes phonetics and emphasizes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Instruction begins by focusing on the structure of reading and gradually moves toward reading.
According to Susan Barton, founder of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia and leading expert in the field of dyslexia and ADD/ADHD, a dyslexic individual needs 5 things:
- The RIGHT System (Orton-Gillingham Method)
- The RIGHT Tutor or Teacher (Well trained and Certified in Orton-Gillingham)
- The RIGHT Intensity Level of instruction (1 Hour at least 2 times per week)
- The RIGHT Setting (One-on-One is best, 1-to-3 maximum)
- The RIGHT Duration (Until the student’s skills are at or beyond grade level)
The following are the most well-known adaptations of the original Orton-Gillingham method:
- Barton Reading and Spelling System
- Project Read
- Recipe for Reading
- Alphabet Phonetics
- Wilson Reading System
The Barton Reading and Spelling System is an Orton-Gillingham approach to reading and spelling.
The Barton Reading and Spelling System has a total of 10 levels. It can take a “classic or moderate” dyslexic individual being tutored 2 times a week, 18 months to three years to complete all 10 levels. Each level contains 10-15 lessons.
The Barton Levels are as follows:
- Phonemic Awareness
- Consonants and Short Vowels
- Closed Syllables and Units
- Syllable Division & Vowel Teams
- Prefixes and Suffixes
- Silent-E Syllables
- Vowel-R Syllables
- Advanced Vowel Teams
- Influences of Foreign Languages
- Greek words & Latin Roots
3 – Classroom Accommodations:
Lastly, a child needs proper support in the classroom setting. You can get a list of classroom accommodations from your tutor.
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