Beyond Words
Round Rock ISD Dyslexia Newsletter
FALL 2023
WELCOME!
Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of Beyond Words, a newsletter written for parents and families of students with dyslexia in Round Rock ISD.
From the Desk of Donna Wise
Welcome to the Fall edition of the 2023-2024 Beyond Words! This newsletter is designed to provide parents and students with information regarding dyslexia and related disorders.
I would first like to introduce myself as the new Director of Dyslexia Services for Round Rock ISD. I have been involved in dyslexia services since 2005, serving as a Special Education Dyslexia Teacher, General Education Dyslexia Teacher, district-level Dyslexia Specialist, and district Dyslexia Evaluator. Throughout my career I have been trained as a Basic Language Skills (BLS) teacher. I am Wilson Level I certified and have a Texas Reading Specialist Certification. I am returning to Round Rock ISD after spending the last two years serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in a small, remote, west Texas school district. I am proud to return to Round Rock ISD and lead the Round Rock ISD Dyslexia Services Team.
Our team’s mission is to provide reliable, intentional support with programming and compliance to ensure student success. We are committed to providing staff, students and parents with up-to-date information about what is happening in the world of dyslexia and across Round Rock ISD.
Donna M. Wise
Director, Dyslexia Services
In This Issue:
- October is Dyslexia Awareness Month;
- Round Rock ISD Summer 23 Dyslexia Camp Highlights;
- Reading by Design Implementation in Round Rock ISD;
- Resources for students and parents of students with dyslexia including:
- Allowable accommodations from the College Board
- Dysgraphia Friendly Classrooms
- Good read book selections for all ages;
- Famous people with dyslexia feature: Octavia Spencer;
- Local upcoming events for dyslexia;
- and much more!
OCTOBER IS Dyslexia Awareness Month!
Ways to Promote Dyslexia Awareness Month
Summer 2023 Dyslexia Camp Highlights
Reading by Design (RbD) Implementation in Round Rock ISD
What is RbD?
The Region 4 ESC Reading by Design Program is a systematic, multisensory set of instructional routines that include content and pedagogically appropriate practices compiled from sources, such as Foundations for Literacy: Structures and Techniques for Multisensory Teaching of Basic Written English Language Skills by Aylett Royall Cox (1980). This program is aligned with research‐based practices for developing literacy and is designed for students with basic reading difficulties, such as dyslexia. This intervention follows an intensive, explicit, and cumulative design for the remediation of reading and writing skills at all grade levels. Reading by Design includes all of the components of instruction and instructional approaches supported through research as cited in The Dyslexia Handbook – Revised 2018: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders (pp. 40‐41).
RbD Implementation
The Texas Dyslexia Grant awarded Round Rock ISD with funds to support the training of Special Education staff in Reading by Design. We partnered with Region 13 to provide training to 60 Special Education Teachers and Instructional Coaches so far this school year. Reading by Design is an SBOE-approved dyslexia program being utilized by our Special Education Dyslexia Service Providers for students identified with dyslexia needing adaptations to the curriculum in order to be successful.
Adapting RbD
Teachers learn how to adapt Reading by Design for students identified through IDEA as having the reading disability of dyslexia.
Specially designed instruction is defined under IDEA as “adapting . . . the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction” to a child eligible under IDEA. This instruction must address the unique needs of the child that result from the child’s disability and must ensure access to the general curriculum so that the child can meet the state’s educational standards (34 C.F.R §300.39(b)(3)).
In RbD we accomplish this by adjusting the content, adding additional manipulatives and other multi-sensory strategies, or slowing the pace to meet individual student needs. Some examples would include adjusting the number of letters in the alphabet (use quartiles) that are introduced until the student reaches mastery and then build on those mastery levels. Teachers may need to focus on a concept for a longer amount of time, or until the student reaches mastery and then add additional concepts presented in the curriculum. Methodology adjustments may be adding picture cues to the phonological awareness component (but NEVER print), or adding in students echoing teachers during name and touch activities or review decks. The delivery of instruction would slow the pacing, giving more time to some of the components in the lesson cycle.
We never adapt the order of the lesson cycle or eliminate a component (but we may add a component back into the lesson cycle, for example the PA component in volumes 3 and 4). This way we do not infringe on the fidelity of the program, but we meet student needs.
Other programs do not allow for any adjustments to any aspect of program - not content, methodology, or delivery.
A Continuum of Services
The addition of Reading by Design provides for the continuum of services for students with dyslexia in Round Rock ISD.
Accommodations ~ College Board Exams
How Accommodations Work
READ to find out eligibility and specific information about accommodations for each test.
Resources for Dysgraphia
How Teachers are Creating Dysgraphia-Friendly Classrooms
Dyslexia specialists and general education teachers can use a variety of strategies and tools to make the classroom experience more accessible for students with dysgraphia. Read to find out a few that your child's teacher may be using.
Campus Highlight in Round Rock ISD
Redbud Elementary School
Dyslexia Teacher & School Librarian Collaborate for Book Selections
Finding a “just right” book can be a challenge at times. Students at Redbud shared that often times they visit the library and find a chapter book of interest, but are hesitant to read it because of the length. One student remarked, “It’s hard to find a great book. I don’t love to read, but when I can find a book, it’s a 300-page chapter book.”
Carrie Boelter, the dyslexia support provider, and Shannon Houston, the school librarian, decided to host a special lesson and check-out time at Redbud. Students were given time to find and check out books of interest, regardless of book-length. Ms. Boelter was able to find most of the titles on the audiobook resources Learning Ally and MackinVIA. The educators were able to level the playing field and allow students the opportunity to try a book that at first glance seemed a challenge.
Job well done to these educators and to our many other educators who go above and beyond for students.
Upcoming Local Events for Dyslexia
DyslexiaCon
International Dyslexia Association
Columbus, Ohio (Virtual option offered)
October 23-24
22nd Annual Dyslexia Conference
Kalahari Resorts, Round Rock, Texas (Virtual option offered)
Famous People with Dyslexia
*Octavia Spencer*
Video credit: Understood.org
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.
If your Round Rock ISD student doesn't already have a Learning Ally audiobook account, please contact the campus dyslexia teacher.
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.
For access to this resource, please contact the Talking Book Program part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, at the link above.
Bookshare
Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, or other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style.
If your Round Rock ISD student doesn't already have a Bookshare audiobook account, please contact the campus dyslexia teacher.
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 READS
Tom's Special Talent ~ A Story About Dyslexia
Young Readers Ages 4-8
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by Kate Gaynor
This story brings to light the fear that being in school can sometimes bring. This story encourages kids to be mindful of differences that exist between classmates and know that all children learn differently.
Close to Famous
Older Readers Age 10+
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by Joann Bauer
Can twelve-year-old Foster bake her way to fame. When she and her mom move to a new town, they aren't sure what to expect. The townspeople quickly warm up to the pair and find a way to become a part of the new town.
Seeing What Others Cannot
Adult Readers
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by Thomas G. West
Seeing What Others Cannot See: The Hidden Advantages of Visual Thinkers and Differently Wired Brains discusses the importance of visual thinking and technologies, as well as individual's with dyslexia creative potential.
Dyslexia Services in Round Rock ISD
The District Dyslexia Services 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, Westwood Vertical Learning Community
Martha Garza, Cedar Ridge Vertical Learning Community
Beyond Words is published annually in Fall, Winter, and Spring.
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
Heart leaf Image by Rebekka D from Pixabay
Calculator Image by Robert Owen-Wahl from Pixabay
Girl writing Image by Amir Imani from Pixabay
Boy writing Photo by Santi Vedrí on Unsplash
Blackboard cursive Image by Katie Phillips from Pixabay
Teacher and students Image by Anil sharma from Pixabay
Calendar Image by tigerlily713 from Pixabay