GISD Dyslexia Informer
September/October 2022
Hello Dyslexia Families!
We are off to a great start this year and have been working toward providing a positive, successful experience this year for our students and families.
Here is what we have to look forward to this year;
- Dyslexia Events: Just like in years past, we will continue to have dyslexia events! Some events we will be hosting, virtual and/or face to face will be: Dyslexia Simulation, Bilingual Events and Bilingual Simulation, Parent Resource Groups, Don Johnston, and more!
- GISD Symposium: We will be hosting another GISD Symposium for parents, teachers, dyslexia professionals and community members!
- Dyslexia Instruction and Support: Every student identified will receive the services they need. Every grade level and campus provides dyslexia instruction, accommodations and support. We are here for you!
Mark Your Calendars
Please Click Link to RSVP
Por favor, haga clic en el enlace para RSVP
How to Support Your Student at Home
Knowing how to help your child at home with school work is difficult enough, add on learning disability and it can become even more challenging. See below for some tips to help make this transition easier.
1. Decompress- It is so important to give your child time to decompress from the day's activities when they get home. Your child's brain has been on overload all day and they need time to decompress from the day before they tackle homework. Set a timer and give students at least thirty minutes to relax and enjoy some stress-free time after school before tackling homework.
2. Designated Working Space- During the school day, your child has supplies ready at their fingertips. Help recreate this at home by setting up a work area that has a hard flat writing surface, a bin with needed supplies including; pencils, tape, markers, crayons, scissors, paper, etc., and all notebooks or books from school that might be in their backpack. You want to eliminate the need to go searching around the house for items. A student with a learning disability has limited working memory and can forget instructions and train of thought if they constantly have to stop and search for supplies.
3. Password Sheet- Create a sheet of paper that has all log-ins, Zoom Links, passwords, and codes on the page so that students do not have to tax their memory to remember their log-in information. Ask your student's teacher for this information if you are unsure. More than likely they already have this at school.
4. Accommodations at Home- The same accommodations that your student has at school need to be applied at home. Make sure to have a list of your child's accommodations posted in their workspace. Talk with your child's teacher and specialists about what accommodations could be easily applied at home and if any extra materials need to be sent home.
For more tips see the link below :)
Don Johnston Human Learning Tools: What are They and How They Can Help Your Student?
Don Johnston tools, such as Snap&Read and Co-Writer are available for all of our students, and can be a game changer in the life of students and families.
Check out Don Johnston Webinars and their Learning Academy, here: https://learningtools.donjohnston.com/learning-academy/
Check Out Our Website!
WIth resources available with a click of a button, you can access the Texas Dyslexia Handbook, Don Johnston tools, Learning Ally, GISD Informer newsletters, Dyslexia Calendar of Events and more!
Not sure how to access it? You can follow this link:
https://garlandisd.net/programs-services/dyslexia
We will continue to update the site with new informatio as we move throughout the year. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.
GISD Dyslexia Therapist Spotlight
ANN ATHERTON, M.ED, LDT, CALT, SLDS, DYSLEXIA THERAPIST AT PARK CREST ELEMENTARY
Ann Atherton is a Licensed Bilingual Dyslexia Therapist at Park Crest Elementary. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University, then earned her Master’s degree in Special Education, specializing in Dyslexia, from Midwestern State University. She also obtained her Educational Diagnostician certification, in order to continue to learn and grow in the area of dyslexia identification. She is a product of GISD and has loved her 26-year career in her hometown. Teaching children how to read is her passion and after many years as a classroom teacher, Literacy Specialist and Interventionist, she knows that dyslexia therapy is exactly what she is called to do. After the rigorous 2-year training program to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, she is now a Qualified Instructor in-training, as GISD pursues becoming a National accredited training center for Dyslexia. She loves helping other educators learn how to teach reading and spelling in new ways! In her free time, Ann enjoys being with her family, watching Aggie football, and traveling. She adds, “Educators, please continue building your dyslexia awareness, because early identification is a key factor for student success.”
Celebrate Your Child's Dyslexia Therpist
Community Dyslexia resources
International Dyslexia Association
StandUp LD
Our goal is to inspire students, educate parents, and support teachers! We have programming throughout the year in Dallas that is free for parents and students. Our target audience is parents and students who want support with Dyslexia, ADHD, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, & Dyspraxia. Stay connected with us via Facebook and our website. Also, if you need help with anything feel free to contact us.
Contact: Heather McGehearty
cell: 972-948-1568
email: heather@standupld.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StandUpLD/
Website: https://standupld.org/
Decoding Dyslexia
Online parent resources about dyslexia
Contact Us
Email: MEisinger@garlandisd.net
Website: https://www.garlandisd.net/content/dyslexia
Location: 501 South Jupiter Road, Garland, TX, USA
Phone: (972)487-3347
Twitter: @gisd_dyslexia