Can you believe Thanksgiving is already here? We have definitely been enjoying the cooler temperatures, crisp morning air, spectacular fall foliage, hot cocoa, and the smell of the fireplace. This is a wonderful time of the year to get together with friends, and family to celebrate and be thankful for the wonderful people in our lives, as well as, fill our hearts with joy. During this time of Thanksgiving, we want to share our gratitude for entrusting us with your most precious gift, your child, and for letting us be a part of their lives. We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoy the break spending time with your loved ones. Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Did you know that many people with dyslexia often have a variety of cognitive strengths? These strengths are part of the reason why we see so many people with dyslexia who are successful entrepreneurs, inventors, leaders, artists, and musicians. They possess the ability to process information in a three-dimensional spatial context, and often think of creative and unexpected ways to solve problems. For example, over 50 percent of NASA employees are reported as being dyslexic. Other examples include: Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants books, Scott Adams, who draws and writes the popular comic strip Dilbert, and famous performers such as John Lennon, Whoopie Goldberg, and Salma Hayek. Remember, having trouble with reading does not mean that students have trouble with everything. Focusing on the strengths that dyslexic students bring to the table is vital for their confidence, success, and lifelong learning.
Snap&Read offers the most complete toolkit available to help dyslexic students comprehend everything they read. It allows them to be equal participants in school-based learning experiences by having tools that assist with reading, organizing information, and annotating PDFs, helping them perform to their highest potential.
To Get started click on the links below.
-The installation page provides instructions on how to add the Snap&Read extension to your browser.
-Click on the Intro to Snap&Read to start learning about Snap&Read with a short demo.
-Learn how to use the Text-to-Speech tool in this short demo.
-Lastly, use this Quick Reference Card as your go-to guide while using Snap&Read on Google Chrome.
If you would like to learn more about Snap&Read, reach out to your student’s dyslexia teacher for more information.
Learning Ally is an audiobook program that is completely free for GISD students with a print disability. All of the books are high quality and human-read. LA can be accessed anywhere by using ReadyHub’s Learning Ally portal.
Audiobooks improve reading accuracy, fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge, and comprehension. Encourage your child to listen and learn with audiobooks!
Accommodations make sure that an eligible student has equal access to learning as their non-disabled peers. In her book, Overcoming Dyslexia, Sally Shaywitz, M.D. emphasized that, “If you are a dyslexic reader, accommodations represent the bridge that connects you to your strengths and in the process allows you to reach your full potential.” There are a number of accommodations that may be helpful for students with dyslexia, including offering extra time on tests, small group administration, providing teacher notes, and encouraging speech-to-text or text-to-speech tools. Accommodations allow students with dyslexia to demonstrate their true ability.
Talk with your child about which accommodations are working and which are not. Certain accommodations may greatly help a student, while others may not be as beneficial. This is a great time to help your child become the best advocate for themselves, so they can find what will help them the most. If you have any questions, the Dyslexia Department is here to help in any way we can.
