Beyond Words
Round Rock ISD Dyslexia Newsletter
Spring 2023
WELCOME!
From the Desk of Kimberly Berry-Corie
Happy Spring! Welcome to the spring edition of Beyond Words!
This quarter I am excited to share with you our dyslexia continuum of services for the 2023-24 school year. Next year, our programming will continue to include 4 multi-sensory programs that align with the Texas Dyslexia Handbook.
Wilson Reading System (WRS) is taught on the majority of our campuses. It is the instructional program we support in Round Rock ISD with training and certifications. I am very proud to say that Round Rock ISD is one of only THREE districts in the state of Texas to provide a district staff Wilson Credentialed Trainer!
Basic Language Skills (BLS), also a multi-sensory program meeting our handbook expectations, is utilized at 4 of our elementary campuses. These campuses always have the ability to use the Wilson Reading System, and for a variety of reasons choose to utilize Basic Language Skills (BLS) as their program of choice.
Esperanza is our Spanish dyslexia program. Esperanza is specifically chosen when it is necessary to first support a student’s Standard Protocol Dyslexia Instruction (SPDI) in Spanish before moving to an English program.
Our new initiative, and honestly one I am so proud to see come to fruition, is the implementation of Reading by Design (RbD) for use in the special education setting. We carefully chose Reading by Design for use in the special education setting because of its ability to be modified to meet the needs of students with Individual Education Plans (IEP). This addition offers our students an alternative to the Wilson Reading System should they need it. Reading by Design is currently available on 11 of our elementary campuses and at our GOALS campus. We are excited to expand this option to other campuses next year.
Beginning in the 23-24 school year, our direct instruction for dyslexia at secondary will no longer include the Tier 2 program, Just Words. All of our secondary students who require direct services will be offered the Wilson Reading System or Reading by Design in future years.
Our Standard Protocol Dyslexia Instruction (SPDI) in Round Rock ISD is robust and well-supported. We are proud to serve students with this programming and welcome you to reach out to your campus Dyslexia Support Providers with any questions you may have.
Our team’s mission is to provide reliable, intentional support with programming and compliance to ensure student success. This commitment goes beyond our students and campuses to include you, our parent community. It is from this intentional commitment to serve you, that the newsletter was created.
I hope that each time you open our quarterly newsletter you will find inspiration, new learning, and insight into the world of dyslexia.
We are so glad you are here!
~ Kimberly
In This Issue:
- feature article: Accommodations: The How of Accessing Grade-Level Content;
- feature article: Dr. Sally Shaywitz, author of Overcoming Dyslexia, podcast guest speaker;
- student quote around his Wilson Reading System experience;
- resources for students and parents of students with dyslexia;
- good read book selections for all ages;
- famous people with dyslexia feature: Keira Knightley;
- and much more!
Feature Article: Accommodations & Accessing Grade-Level Content
The Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting can be overwhelming to a parent. There is educational “lingo” in play, data to review, and lengthy evaluations to discuss. So, when it comes time to discuss your child’s accommodations, you may already be mentally maxed out. Accommodations, however, are vital to the success of your child throughout their education and important to understand.
WHAT ARE ACCOMMODATIONS?
Accommodations serve the purpose of making grade-level content accessible to students with a learning disability by changing the "how", not the "what". This is opposed to modifications, which support a more intensive level of special education needs. Modifications change the "what", or, modify the grade-level standards to fit the needs of a student.
Accommodations do not lower expectations, rather they are intended to reduce or eliminate the effects of the student’s disability on academic tasks. Accommodations can address the presentation of instruction, the method of student response to demonstrate mastery of content, the instructional setting or conditions, and/or the time to complete tasks.
INSTRUCTIONAL VERSUS TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
There are two kinds of accommodations: instructional and testing. Both types will be written into a student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
Instructional accommodations address the student and their learning in the classroom. Instructional accommodations can address the presentation of instruction, the method of student response, the instructional setting or conditions, and/or the time to complete tasks. These are all ways to change how students are accessing and demonstrating their understanding of content without modifying what they are responsible for learning. Most accommodations are not intended for use in a student’s direct dyslexia instruction because this is not grade-level content. The content in direct dyslexia instruction is conceptual, and the program goes at the pace of student mastery. Accommodations help students achieve success with grade-level content by supporting their specific needs.
Testing accommodations address the format and conditions of tests. Testing accommodations apply to classroom assessments, district common assessments, and state standardized assessments. Most accommodations are not used on universal screeners, as screeners are intended to see the present level of student abilities, not their ability to perform to a grade level.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE? WHICH ONES ARE RIGHT FOR MY CHILD?
Accommodations should be tailored to fit the unique needs of your child. Therefore, while there are commonly used accommodations, there is not one list of all accommodations. By first identifying the barriers to a student’s learning that result from their disability, the ARD committee can determine which accommodations would best aid the student in minimizing those barriers. Members of the ARD committee, including classroom teachers, special education teachers, and parents, will be able to offer important information in this conversation.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It is important that you understand the purpose of and process behind identifying appropriate accommodations for your child. If you ever have questions or want to discuss your child’s accommodations, always feel free to reach out to your child’s case manager.
Sources: TEA Development Guidebook: Goals, Accommodations & Modifications, 2020; IDA presentation “Fostering Independence in Secondary and Post Secondary Students with Dyslexia” (2022), College Board: Accommodations,
Feature Article: Dr. Shaywitz Talks about Overcoming Dyslexia
The Learn Smarter Podcast, hosted by Rachel Kapp, Kapp Educational Therapy Group and Stephanie Pitts, My Ed Therapist, provides educational resources, ideas and tips for students.
Episode 151, Part 1 Overcoming Dyslexia welcomes Dr. Shaywitz as she discusses the Sea of Strengths Model, the signs of dyslexia, and more! She continues her discussion on Episode 152, Part 2 Overcoming Dyslexia by sharing information on high-achieving dyslexia adults, evidence- versus research-based interventions, fluency improvement, and much more.
You can find these episodes by clicking on the linked titles, or by viewing and searching within the Learn Smarter Podcast.
We hope you enjoy the insightful information.
Student Highlight in Round Rock ISD
An Elementary Student in the Cedar Ridge Learning Community says ...
Famous People with Dyslexia
*Keira Knightly Talks about Her Dyslexia*
Video credit: Made by Dyslexia
Resources for Parents and Students
Spelling and Dyslexia
Engage Students in Reading
Social Emotional Learning
Informational Sites About Dyslexia
Audio Book Resources
Learning Ally
Learning Ally is a free audiobook solution that helps to bridge the gap by providing equitable access to grade-level content.
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.
Bookshare
Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy or other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style.
Why Human Read Audio Books?
"Audiobooks, especially when read by humans, can be an important part of success..." Barbara Wilson, Co-Founder, Wilson Language Training & author of the Wilson Reading System
GOOD READ CHOICES FOR ALL AGES Younger Students*Older Students*Adults
Brilliant Bea
Young Readers Ages 4-8
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by S. Rudolph and M. Vukadinovich
This story for kids with dyslexia and learning differences tells about Beatrice, a natural and brilliant storyteller. With the help of her kind-hearted teacher, she learns to use technology as a technique for learning in a new way. This endearing and empowering story shows how learning differences, like dyslexia, don't define you.
My Name is (Brain) Brian
Older Readers Age 8-12
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by Jeanne Betancourt
Struggling with problems that the kids in his class see as clowning around, such as mixing things up and spelling letters backward, Brian learns he has dyslexia and suffers peer teasing when his friends do not understand.
Secret Life of the Dyslexia Child
Adult Readers
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by Robert Frank, PhD
Dr. Robert Frank, who has dyslexia didn't allow his diagnosis to stop him from becoming an educator, psychologist, and award-winning author. He takes the reader inside the emotions and frustrations of the dyslexia child and gives parents advice to help with improved academic achievement and work/study habits along with setting and meeting personal goals.
Dyslexia Services in Round Rock ISD
The District Team
Katie Bryan, Lead Instructional Specialist
Wanda McMillian, Lead Program Specialist
Allie Raney, Instructional Program Specialist
Jessica Abbott, Program Specialist, Round Rock Vertical Learning Community
Cheryl Baker, Program Specialist, Stony Point Vertical Learning Community
Ashli Framjee, Program Specialist, McNeil Vertical Learning Community
Ruthann Gaede, Program Specialist, Vertical Learning Community
Martha Garza, Program Specialist, Cedar Ridge Vertical Learning Community
Beyond Words is published 4 times annually, October, January, March/April, and August.
PAST ISSUES
Dyslexia Services Department
Round Rock, Texas
We are committed to providing reliable, intentional support within programming and compliance to ensure student success.
Photo Credits
Single tulip photo credit: Photo by RoonZ nl on Unsplash
Girl writing photo credit: free stock photos from www.picjumbo.com from pixabay
Binder resources photo credit: Photo by Agnivesh Jayadeep on Unsplash
Microphone photo credit: Matt Botsford on Unsplash