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Word Finding Strategies for Dyslexics with Word Retrieval Deficits

We all suffer, from time to time, with that feeling that a name or phrase we are trying to recall is on the tip of our tongue, but somehow we just can't access the needed information in the moment. For many students this happens during stressful moments such as test taking, but for others, such as most students with dyslexia , this is a pervasive problem that requires intervention. What Exactly is a Wording Finding Problem? Word finding problems, also known as word retrieval difficulties, dysnomia, anomia or semantic dyslexia, result in difficulties recalling names of objects, places, and people, with no impairment of comprehension or the capacity to repeat the words. This difficulty can stem from the cognitive processes of encoding, retrieving or a combination of encoding and retrieving. What Are the Symptoms of Word Finding Problems? A student with word finding difficulties may display the following challenges: Word Substitutions - Using another word that ...

Mindfulness and Resilience for Teachers and Students: An Interview with Renee Jain

I am truly honored and very excited to share an interview that I conducted with Renee Jain. Renee is an award-winning technology entrepreneur, speaker and certified life coach that specializes in cultivating mindful resilience skills for children and adults. Renee has transformed research-based concepts into fun and multisensory learning modules and workbooks that are ideal for teachers and students. My questions focused on her site, GoStrengths! , that offers metacognitive techniques through digital animation and activities. However, I soon learned, as will you, that she has a number of fabulous products and resources. Erica: Hi Renee. Thank you for making the time to speak with us. If you had to put it into a single sentence, what is the heart of Go Strengths? Renee: The idea that happiness is a skill that can be fine-tuned with practice. Erica: Why did you create the Go Strengths website and products? Renee: There are simple research-based tools that ...

The Reading Focus Card: An Interview with Designer Joan Brennan

This week's blog features an interview with Joan Brennan, a teacher and inventor who designs reading tools for struggling readers. We will focus our discussion on her ingenious Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) and her Reading Focus Cards desktop application (Patent 8,360,779). Erica: Hi Joan. Can you tell us about your mission to help struggling readers? Joan Brennan Joan: My mission and that of my company, Brennan Innovators, LLC, is to create and provide inexpensive yet helpful low-tech AND digital tools to challenged readers of all ages. In addition, as certified educators, we also present parent and educator workshops, consultation services and other professional development opportunities in the Greater St. Louis Area. We work diligently to bridge the gap between no services for challenged readers and expensive therapies, methods and other resources that are not accessible to many because of the cost or the location of su...

Show Don't Tell 2: A New Descriptive, Suspense Writing Game

Have you ever read a book that you couldn't put down, because the author's words allowed you to visualize the scenes as if you had a movie going on in your head? These authors are masters of descriptive writing and have learned to paint pictures in their audiences' minds eye through the use of descriptive and figurative language. Have you ever read a book that you couldn't put down, because the author's words allowed you to visualize the scenes as if you had a movie going on in your head? These authors are masters of descriptive writing and have learned to paint pictures in their audiences' minds eye through the use of descriptive and figurative language. H ow Can Descriptive Writing Be Taught to Students? Many teachers instruct their students to "show" their readers the scenes through rich descriptions, instead of just telling the audience what happens. In fact, a common critique that students might hear is, "Show me; don't tell me!...

Two Best Apps for Dyslexics: Words from Designer Winston Chen

Voice Dream Reader and now the new Voice Dream Writer are what I believe to be the best apps out there for dyslexics as well as struggling readers and writers. I am so pleased to feature an interview with Winston Chen: the creator these Voice Dream apps. We focused our discussion on his recent release, Voice Dream Writer . Erica: If you had to put it into a single sentence, what is at the heart of Voice Dream Writer ? Winston: It helps everyone write better. Erica: Why did you create Voice Dream Writer ? Winston: Over the 3-year period during which I worked on Voice Dream Reader , my reading app, I became aware that reading and learning isn't the only challenge facing students with dyslexia. Writing is as just as problematic. This was obvious from the emails that I receive from users. Beyond education, in the workplace, poor writing puts people with dyslexia at a severe disadvantage. I started to think about ways in which t...

Eight, Dyslexia Games Make All Reading Programs Fun and Memorable

Do you ever have to bribe your students with candy or stickers to entice them to read through long lists of words or complete workbook activities? There are a multitude of phonics and Orton-Gillingham based reading programs available on the market, but so many of them place struggling readers through boring drills and activities. I experienced the same problem. What could I do? I Created Games to Bring the Fun Factor into My Lessons: Over the past few years, I created a system to make any reading program fun and motivating. I designed and published board and card games to weave into reading lessons. Now, my students can't wait for their sessions, are reading more, have increased stamina and they are mastering concepts at a faster pace. A series of three reading game publication bundles have been available and selling like hot cakes, but upon popular request, I have released a new title, Reading Games Primary. This publication offers new games that help students master ba...

Our Golden Anniversary – Celebrating 50-Years Married to Dyslexia

I'm so pleased to feature this heart-felt and beautiful piece by my dear friend and fellow dyslexic, Stan Gloss. Stan provides a glimpse of his "marriage to dyslexia" and shares his life's challenges as well as his most recent realization that dyslexia is, in fact, a gift. A golden anniversary is an amazing milestone to reach in any relationship. It is even more remarkable when your marriage is to Dyslexia. Although this can be a challenging relationship, you can learn to work together to create success. Please join me on my 50-year journey with Dyslexia. My relationship with Dyslexia began in 1963. My mother spoke to our family doctor, Dr. Gregory, because she was concerned that I was struggling in school with reading and writing. Initially he sent us to an eye doctor to check my vision. After a comprehensive assessment, I was diagnosed with a “lazy eye.” To treat this condition, a special screen was attached to our family’s 19” black and white TV set....

The American Dyslexia Association Offers Free Worksheets for Children With Dyslexia

This week, I would like to feature a guest blog by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA), a wonderful resource for teachers, parents and individuals with dyslexia. What is ADA and What Resources Do They Offer? ADA is a not for profit organization that provides help for individuals with dyslexia and dyscalculia by offering free online printable worksheets to help children improve their reading, writing, spelling and calculating difficulties. The worksheets, that are based on the Attention Function Symptom (AFS) Method, help children improve academic challenges. This scientifically proven method has been helping children with dyslexia worldwide for over 20 years. Tell Me More About the AFS Method: Livia Pailer-Duller, Executive Director of American Dyslexia Association, emphasizes that children with dyslexia see (perceive) things differently than non-dyslexic children because of genetically inherited difference in brain functions. This causes children with dyslexia to have...

Affording Academic Support For Students with Dyslexia

Many families hope that their insurance coverage can help lessen the financial burden of academic assistance for children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, as study skills, development of cognitive abilities and homework help is often necessary for this population. Although this appears to be a reasonable service, particularly for children that have a diagnosis, upon investigation, you will find that this is not the case. Insurance companies will often accommodate medical and mental health services, but because tutors, learning specialists and educational therapists, are trained primarily in education, they don’t have the licensing credentials and codes needed for insurance companies to cover the costs. Are There Any Tax Benefits for Tutoring for Students with Dyslexia and other Learning Disabilities? Before disregarding this option all together, there is good news. According to the IRS publication 502 , under the heading Special Education, with a doctor...

10 Great Games for Students with Dyslexia

With the holiday season almost upon us, finding fun and beneficial educational materials can be key for keeping students with dyslexia busy over the break. What's more, you can continue to use these activities throughout the year to help remediate areas of difficulty. Games can be one of the best ways to help these kids, especially because struggling learners won't even know that their brains are hard at work! Holiday Gift: One of my favorite games, Puppy Party, helps students to master the short vowels sounds and is great for any Orton-Gillingham or phonics-based reading program. Click here to get your free downloadable copy! Ten Great Games to Buy for Kids with Dyslexia: Hey What's the Big Idea : This is a fun, family game that teaches children how to generate and discriminate between main ideas and details. Word Shuffle : Word Shuffle is a fabulous word game that strengthens processing speed and language skills. With three levels - elementary, mid...

The CodPast Celebrates the Cool and Creative side of Dyslexia

I’m so please to feature and share an interview with Sean Douglas and his Codpast! Sean is an internet broadcaster with experience in broadcast TV news, public relations, corporate communications and podcasting. After Sean was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and met other successful dyslexics, he created the Codpast, to share those stories and more with the public. My Interview with Sean: 1) Can you please give us a brief description of The Codpast? The Codpast is a media portal which consists of three online radio shows (podcasts), a blog, news articles and videos. The main purpose of The Codpast is to celebrate the cool and creative side of dyslexia. We hope it will be a place where people can come to hear positive stories that they can identify with and pick up tips and advice. Ultimately though, we hope it will be a place where people can come to find compelling and interesting content. 2) I understand that you were diag...

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