Beyond Words
Round Rock ISD Dyslexia Newsletter
Have you ever wondered what your child is doing in their dyslexia class? It's likely very different from their typical classes!
In dyslexia instruction, students actively engage in learning using multiple modalities, "see it, say it, write it". Students are engaged through repetition, writing letters in the air, moving tiles, and coding words. This multi-modality, multi-sensory approach brings reading concepts to life and is essential to the brain of a dyslexic learner.
Elementary students receive 45 minutes of instruction 4 days per week. Each lesson spans two sessions. Middle schoolers are scheduled into a daily class period for dyslexia instruction. They receive services 5 times per week. High schoolers receive 2-3 sessions per week in a 90-minute block (A day/B day). The number of minutes a student receives is aligned to the fidelity of the program and determined by the ARD committee.
Built-in assessments ensure students master key concepts before advancing to the next lesson. Eighty percent (80%) of students must demonstrate mastery in order for the group to progress and previously learned skills are continuously reviewed. Each program is designed to move as fast as the student can master the material, or as slow as the student needs to be successful. If needed, teachers can slow the pace while maintaining program fidelity. The complete sequence for the programs used in Round Rock ISD typically takes 3-4 school years to complete.
Success in the above programs is based on students completing all steps of their evidence-based dyslexia program. Our department recommends that all students complete the full sequence of lessons in their program to ensure they have the tools they need to be independent readers.
The goal is to equip students with engaging, personalized instruction designed to meet their unique needs. While dyslexia support looks different from typical classes, it gives students the tools and confidence to become successful, lifelong readers.
Learning Ally
Learning Ally is a free audiobook solution that helps to bridge the gap by providing equitable access to grade-level content.
If your Round Rock ISD student doesn't already have a Learning Ally audiobook account, please contact the campus dyslexia teacher.
Texas State Library & Archives Commission
The Talking Book Program provides free library services for Texans who are blind or have a visual, physical, or reading disability.
For access to this resource, please contact the Talking Book Program part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, at the link above.
Bookshare
Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style.
If your Round Rock ISD student doesn't already have a Bookshare audiobook account, please contact the campus dyslexia teacher.
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
Elementary Readers Aged 4-8
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by JoAnn Deak, Ph,D.
Illustrated by Sarah Ackerley
This book teaches how much your brain can grow and is the perfect introduction to the growth mindset. It teaches ways kids can develop their brain with exercise.
Eleven
Middle and High
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by Patricia Reilly Giff
Eleven year-old Sam goes on a journey of self-discovery. Sam has always had trouble reading and must use written clues, with the help of a new friend, to unravel the mystery.
