Offering readers honest advice, in this new book Dr. Selznick uses plain language to make dyslexia understandable and cut through confusion. It's like chatting with a knowledgeable relative or friend who's concerned about your child. Dr. Selznick offers hope grounded in realityâ€"no sugar-coating the issues. His 25 essential points include the definition and characteristics of dyslexia, how dyslexia is assessed, how to approach remediation, and tips for conquering the most common learning disability.
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
PART I UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA
Essential #1 The Definition of Dyslexia
3 (8)
Use and Misuse of the Dyslexia Label
8 (2)
Takeaway Point
10 (1)
Essential #2 Know the Myths About Dyslexia
11 (4)
Myth #1 Isn't dyslexia when you read upside down and backwards?
11 (1)
Myth #2 A child is dyslexic if there is a discrepancy between her IQ and her reading achievement
12 (1)
Myth #3 They don't really know what dyslexia is
12 (1)
Myth #4 Only medical doctors can diagnose
13 (1)
Myth #5 You need to wait until third grade to diagnose
13 (1)
Myth #6 Dyslexia can be fixed
14 (1)
Essential #3 The Weaker Language Functions Are at the Heart of the Matter
15 (6)
Jamie, Age Seven
17 (3)
Takeaway Point
20 (1)
Essential #4 Work for Improvement, Not a Cure
21 (4)
Why Can't This Be Fixed?
21 (1)
Rate of Response
22 (1)
Takeaway Point
23 (2)
Essential #5 Reading, Spelling and Writing -- A Package Deal
25 (4)
Reading, Spelling and Writing
25 (1)
Rule of Thumb
25 (1)
Just Do More of It
26 (1)
Beth Ann, Age Nine
26 (1)
Need for Structured Intervention
27 (1)
Takeaway Point
28 (1)
Essential #6 Understand Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors
29 (4)
Extrinsic Factors
29 (1)
George, Age Ten
30 (1)
Intrinsic Factors
30 (1)
Edward, Age Forty-Nine, and Abigail, Age Twelve
31 (1)
Takeaway Point
32 (1)
Essential #7 Most People with Dyslexia Are Lego Kids or Visually Creative
33 (4)
Takeaway Point
35 (2)
Essential #8 Matthew Effects Are Powerful - Act Early
37 (4)
The Rich Get Richer
37 (2)
Negative Cycle
39 (1)
Takeaway Point
40 (1)
Essential #9 Dyslexia Erodes Self-Esteem and Confidence
41 (4)
Takeaway Point
44 (1)
Essential #10 Dyslexia Is a Mixed Bag -- There Are Strengths and Struggles
45 (7)
Nicole, Age Eight
46 (1)
Takeaway Point
47 (2)
Understanding Your Child with Dyslexia: A Recap
49 (3)
PART II ASSESSMENT
Variation in Approach
52 (1)
Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment
52 (2)
Dyslexia Occurs on a Continuum
54 (3)
Essential #11 Necessary Components of an Assessment
57 (8)
Words in Isolation
57 (2)
Nonsense Words
59 (1)
Reading Orally in Context
60 (1)
Reading Comprehension
60 (2)
Spelling
62 (1)
Written Expression
63 (1)
Phonological Processing
63 (1)
Phonemic Awareness
63 (1)
Rapid Naming
64 (1)
Cognitive Functioning
64 (1)
Takeaway Point
64 (1)
Essential #12 Dyslexia Assessment -- A Process, Not a Score
65 (4)
Jacob, Age Ten
65 (3)
Takeaway Point
68 (1)
Essential #13 Finding the Right Evaluator
69 (4)
Not Part of a Typical Neurological Examination
70 (1)
Choosing an Evaluator
71 (1)
Takeaway Point
72 (1)
Essential #14 Understanding Active Working Memory
73 (6)
Classic Active Working Memory Tasks
74 (2)
Takeaway Point
76 (3)
Essential #15 The Name Game Explains Phonemic Awareness
79 (2)
Takeaway Point
80 (1)
Essential #16 Private Assessment and Special Education Assessment
81 (6)
Special Education Classification vs. Dyslexia Diagnosis
81 (1)
Varying Regulation
82 (1)
Difference of Emphasis
83 (1)
Why Get a Private Assessment?
84 (3)
Essential #17 The Curse of the Gray Zone
87 (6)
Suzette, Age Nine
87 (2)
Zachary, Age Seven
89 (1)
Takeaway Point
90 (1)
Assessment: Summary and Takeaway Points
91 (2)
PART III INTERVENTION AND INSTRUCTION
Intervention and Instructional Considerations
93 (4)
Essential #18 Multisensory Methodologies - The Primary Ingredients
97 (6)
Reading Is a Skill and Must Be Directly Taught and Practiced
98 (2)
Direct (Explicit) vs. Incidental
100 (1)
Simultaneous Multisensory
101 (1)
Sequential and Systematic
102 (1)
Highly Individualized
102 (1)
Essential #19 The Decoding Hurdle
103 (4)
Takeaway Point
105 (2)
Essential #20 The Orton-Gillingham Programs Can't Be Rushed Child's Age
107 (6)
Level of Cognitive Functioning
108 (1)
Frequency and Intensity of Remediation
108 (1)
"Under the Hood" Variables
109 (1)
Student/Teacher Connection
109 (1)
Harry, Age Nine
110 (1)
No Mastery Without Practice
111 (1)
Takeaway Point
112 (1)
Essential #21 Improvement Does Not Always Mean Immediate Fluency
113 (4)
Practice, Practice, Practice
114 (1)
Takeaway Point
115 (2)
Essential #22 Make Things Visual
117 (4)
Takeaway Point
120 (1)
Essential #23 Maintain a Two-Column Mindset
121 (4)
Takeaway Point
124 (1)
Essential #24 Dyslexia into Adulthood
125 (8)
Ryan, Age Twenty-One
125 (5)
Takeaway Point
130 (3)
Essential #25 The Trajectory of the Positive
133 (18)
Takeaway Point
135 (2)
In Conclusion
137 (4)
Resources
141 (1)
Warning Signs of Dyslexia
141 (2)
Stages of Reading Development and Instructional Guidelines
143 (3)
Multisensory Programs
146 (1)
Helpful Websites
147 (1)
Staying in Touch with Dr. Selznick
148 (1)
Books
149 (2)
Dr. Selznick
Acknowledgments 151 (2)
About the Author 153