SAISD 504/Dyslexia Newsletter
March 2023
504 Coordinator's Corner
Please join us in recognizing these exceptional coordinators below who do an exemplary job handling this important task!
Julia Renner- Woodlawn Hills
“As a 504 Coordinator, it is my responsibility to help find those students who have a disability and need additional support. I feel it’s important to be sure all students have equal access to learning.”
Bernice Adams- Poe Middle School
"The impact 504 has on students is that it allows teachers to provide additional support and services to enhance their learning, so they can experience academic success."
Section 504
The Texas Education Agency has developed a document with embedded links to provide technical assistance to local education agencies and parents. Click on the following link for more information: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/504_guide.pdf
Congratulations to our February giveaway winner Leandra Castaneda, Inclusion/Resource teacher at Neal Elementary!
Color in the Classroom
Research shows that color has the ability to capture attention, increase alertness, and create calmness. Adding colors can also help with memorization and influence the way we see and process information. As educators, we have the ability to add color in our classrooms by creating colorful anchor charts, utilizing highlighters, writing with colorful pens, etc. So bring some color into your classrooms; your students will appreciate it.
All SAISD employees are eligible to enter this month's giveaway for supplies that will help to bring color to any classroom. Click here link to enter.
What is Dyslexia?
Click on the following video to get more information on what could dyslexia look like in the classroom. Courtesy of The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity.
Dyslexia Myth
Dyslexic Success Story - Joe Whitt, Jr., NFL Coach
Joe Whitt, Jr., is a teacher at heart. He has a true understanding that people learn differently, and therefore need teachers who can alter teaching styles to get the best out of their students—or in Whitt’s case, his players. Perhaps this comes from following in the footsteps of his father, a coach for Auburn University’s football team for 25 seasons. Or perhaps it stems from an early struggle with, and overcoming of, dyslexia, where he was spurred along by a standout teacher-tutor and the ascertainment of how to learn and advocate for himself.
Whitt, former cornerbacks’ coach for the Green Bay Packers, has a transformative approach to coaching that helped to garner a 2010 Super Bowl win, as well as a 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for Charles Woodson and Pro Bowl entrees for Woodson and another player he coached, Tramon Williams. What does Whitt’s unique approach involve? Well, in part, it has to do with what he does in the off-season. It is then you’ll find him returning to his hometown of Auburn, Alabama, and shadowing public school teachers to learn from them how to most effectively access his players and get them playing their best.
To read more about this successful dyslexic, please click the following link: https://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/joe-whitt-jr/
Classroom Resources
Learning Ally
More than 80,000 human-read audio textbooks! Learning Ally offers an expansive library of titles built with the help of our nation-wide network of volunteers and professionals with subject matter expertise in areas such as science, technology, engineering and math, making our digital audio books both effective and essential. As a result, now struggling readers can access and absorb the classic books they want to read or need to read for school. The best audiobook app helps your students, regardless of grade-level, thrive in the classroom and beyond. Learning Ally audiobooks can provide confidence in students which can improve all aspects of their lives.
How students can access via SAISD Classlink:
Students login to their Classlink.
Search for Learning Ally and click it.
It will automatically log them in.
Use the “Browse Audiobooks” to find books by title, author, or topic to download.
“My Bookshelf” shows all the books that have been downloaded.
“Read Now” lets students pick one of their books and start reading.
Talking Book Program
Previous Newsletters
American Sign Language Interpreter Posters
Contact Us
Email: csosa2@saisd.net
Website: https://www.saisd.net/page/dyslexia-home
Location: 514 West Quincy Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-554-2570