CHC Dyslexia Classroom Newsletter- October 2022
“A teacher educated about dyslexia can be the one person who saves a child and his or her family from years of frustration and anxiety. That teacher can play pivotal role in changing the whole culture of a school.”
~ Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley
Listen on October 17, 2022 as Cindy is a guest speaker on the Together in Literacy podcast hosted by Emily Gibbons and Casey Harrison.
The following article, authored by Cindy Hall, first appeared in the Journal for Christian Educators, Winter 2012. Rights to the article are reserved.
“If life gives you melons, you may have dyslexia.” Most of us smile and shake our heads at this type of witticism. Our knowledge of dyslexia may begin and end with reading backward jokes. Yet if one child in five has some degree of dyslexia, you probably have four dyslexic children in your classroom of twenty students! That makes it your job to learn more about exactly what dyslexia is and how to identify which of your students show warning signs for dyslexia.
Visit my blog to read the rest of the article.
Dyslexia TED Talk review
The best five minute talk ever to explain dyslexia! Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley hits it out of the park with this animated TED talk that has over 5 million views yet does not feature one single singing kitten nor car repair hack. Watch, then bookmark this one to use any time you need to explain dyslexia as a brain architecture issue to a family member or friend. Click here to watch!
The Power of One: Cindy Hall
It can be frustrating to feel as if you are the lone voice calling out for help to be given to children with dyslexia. You may feel as if you are in a David and Goliath battle. You may wonder if the “five smooth stones” of your Science of Reading knowledge could possibly be enough against the “Goliath” of administrators and teachers who think the problem is the student with dyslexia, not their approach to teaching that student.
The astoundingly good news is that one person can indeed make a difference, and as Dr. Sandman-Hurley states in the quote above, one person certainly can change the whole culture of a school.
This month we begin a recurring series I am calling “The Power of One,” about individuals who been the one to spark change. In their sphere of influence, they have been the sole voice speaking up for a different, better way to instruct the dyslexic students. Over time, with cheerful, stubborn persistence, they have changed their corner of the world for the dyslexic students and their families who live there. I will start with the story I am most familiar with, my own.
Visit my blog to read the rest of the article.
Compressed Schedule option
A compressed schedule Dyslexia Friendly Classroom course will be taught the week of December 26 - 31, 2022. This is the perfect opportunity for teachers who need professional development hours this year, since it can be completed from your laptop in a couple hours per day the week between the holidays. Register here!
Six Weeks Schedule Option
A six week schedule Dyslexia Friendly Classroom cohort is forming for January 16, 2023 - February 25, 2023. This version of the course plans one self paced module of about two hours per week, spanning a six-week time period. Friday Zoom calls with Cindy keep everyone in the cohort on schedule and provide a discussion platform for the week’s lesson. Register here!
What do teachers who have gone through the online course say?
Leah, a first grade teacher from South Carolina says, “After completing this course, I went back to my classroom armed with fresh ideas for how to understand and help not only my dyslexic students, but my entire class!”
Ginger, an elementary teacher from Colorado, liked gaining an understanding of her dyslexic students. She especially liked the practical tips. Her favorite tip was for her to write on the homework assignment how long she anticipated it would take the student to complete. This helps parents of struggling students set expectations during evening homework sessions.
National Teacher Conference Appearances
Mid-Atlantic Christian Educator’s Summit in Fairfax Station, VA on November 10 - 11, 2022. Registration and more information on their website! Cindy will be presenting six workshops on the topic of dyslexia.
Dyslexia Friendly Classroom Summit 2023
After the very positive feedback from attendees of the 2022 Dyslexia Friendly Classroom Summit, Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa has invited Cindy back for June 23-27, 2023. Save the dates now and check the FBBC website for registration information to come soon.
Do you want to book Cindy to speak at your teacher training event? Cindy speaks at events from small to large, live or via Zoom. Visit her website Services tab to view all the options available, or email Cindy to talk through a custom training perfect for your situation.
Local Parent Workshop Trainings
The September 20 Parents as Learning Coaches training was well received by all who attended! It was a great day of parents learning about how dyslexia affects their child and ways parents can help with homework and learning tasks. We truly can have homes that are friendly to dyslexia’s challenges!
Casey was a great sport by modeling the Brain Hat! I demonstrated how brains of individuals with dyslexia are wired differently from brains of non-dyslexic folks.
New friendships were formed as groups worked together to practice strategies or make manipulatives, directed by me.
A big shout-out to Madison Public Library for the beautiful meeting room where our Parents as Learning Coaches training was held.
Parents commented:
” I love the combo of information and manipulatives I am taking away from this class!” “Being a parent to whom dyslexia is all new, this was great for me.” “Knowing there are strengths to balance out the weaknesses of dyslexia was a new way of thinking to me. I loved the vocabulary manipulative made from a ziplock bag.”
Friday, October 14, 2022, I will be conducting a Parents as Learning Coaches Workshop sponsored by Lindsay Lane Baptist Church Homeschool Co-op for members of Lindsay Lane Baptist Church or the Homeschool Co-op. Click here to Register (church or co-op members only).
Want a parent workshop for your group? Email Cindy to talk through options, either live or Zoom, which is just right for your peeps!
October Freebie: Printable Brain Hat
Thanks to illustrator Ellen Chenry for this amazing tool. Visit her website!
Background understanding:
The TED Talk and the Warning Signs of Dyslexia Article in this month’s newsletter both focus on the unique brain structure which results a person being dyslexic. Understanding new information through hands-on methods is a huge advantage to all learners, but especially for individuals with dyslexia. Since most of us don’t have access to an actual brain to study, the printable brain hat is the next best thing, especially if you are explaining the brain based nature of dyslexia to a child.
Print and construct the brain hat, then notice especially the areas over the left ear marked Broca’s Area and Wernicke’s area. These are where language is processed in the brain of a non-dyslexic child, shifting the areas at the back of the brain in the Occipito-temporal (purple on the brain hat) area as the person becomes a skilled reader, around age 10.
In a dyslexic person, there are brain differences which cause the person to inefficiently use his or her brain for language tasks, relying on Broca’s area differently and longer as well as using auxiliary systems located on the front right side of the brain for language processing. On the brain hat, trace that path, from Broca’s area in the left side, over the top of the brain to the front right area usually reserved for more creative tasks. That’s long trip! No wonder it takes longer and information sometimes gets lost. The great news is that with the right kind of practice, neural pathways (think brain roads here) get formed which make the long trek across the brain more reliable.
Want a deeper dive into the brain differences between the non-dyslexic and dyslexic brain? Check out Dr. Sally Shaywitz’ book Overcoming Dyslexia, chapter 7 - The Working Brain Reads.
Download your own brain hat!
Happy Learning!
Cindy Hall