GISD Dyslexia Informer
Febuary/March 2021
Thanks to All Who Participated in the Spring Dyslexia Intersession!
Teachers and students had a great week of learning, fun and connecting with others at our Spring Dyslexia Intersession at Sellers Middle School. It was great to see students making new friends, learning and actively engaging thorughout the week. The only disappointment, as stated by several of the students, is that they were sad it was over. One student asked, "Can we come back next week!".While it may be over, we are looking forward to an even better summer.
See you in June. . .stay tuned for more details and registration information.
Celebrating our Students Accomplishments: "We Got You" Podcast Features Garland High School Student with Dyslexia
Congratulations to our very own Melissa Barragan, a Senior at Garland High School, for being featured in the "We Got You" podcast. The "We Got You" podcast is hosted by Samantha Logan of Netflix fame. This podcast is a weekly advice and support podcast for students where teens answer questions about relevant topics that are important to middle school students.
Melissa's podcast is Melissa - "My Estranged Father Gave Me Strength".
"We Got You" is a production of Sonic Union for TRAX with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Find out more at www.wegotyoushow.com
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-got-you/id1533795851?i=1000507392692
“I wish I had known in middle school that regardless of how anybody sees me, or how anybody makes me feel, it doesn’t matter. I am worthy of everything that I want to achieve.” -- Melissa Barragan, Garland High School, 12th grade senior.
Help for Parents
Parents have many questions about dyslexia. In addition to your dyslexia therapist on your campus, there are many resources out there to help parents support their child with dyslexia. Regardless if you have a child who is newly identified, or if you have a student that has been identified and getting ready to graduate, the resources available can be life changing for you and your student!
Here is just one of those resources: https://www.nessy.com/us/parents/dyslexia-information/10-facts-every-parent-needs-know/
This page talks about 10 basic facts that parents should know about dyslexia.
Quote of the Month
“You don’t have any idea how powerful you are and what you can achieve. You literally cannot give in to your fear. You literally have got to walk over it, step on it’s face and keep moving toward where you want to go and eventually, if I can get there, there’s no reason you can’t get there.”
- Henry Winkler
The Texas Dyslexia Handbook: A great place to start learning about dyslexia in Texas schools.
GISD Dyslexia Therapist Spotlight
Teri Steeger, Liberty Grove Elementary
Teri Steeger began her career as a teacher at John W. Armstrong Elementary the year the campus opened (2002). She served as a 3rd-grade, self-contained teacher and later as a 5th-grade math teacher. After earning a Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership, she joined the GISD Elementary Math Curriculum department as an Elementary Math IST. It was during her second time working as a 3rd grade teacher at Armstrong that she found a passion for teaching dyslexic students. She was inspired by the transformation of one of her students who learned to read while following a curriculum developed by the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The following year she began the training to become a dyslexia therapist. Teri considers teaching children to read a privilege and her favorite teaching position! She serves on the campus of Liberty Grove Elementary. Go Gators!
