Description
This course is designed to help K-12 educators understand dyslexia and offer instructional supports for struggling students.
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. Dyslexic difficulties are best thought of as existing on a continuum from mild to severe. Whether mild or severe, dyslexia can make it difficult for a student to succeed academically in school.
About one in five students, or 15-20% of the population, have a language based learning disability. Dyslexia is the most common of the language based learning disabilities. When identified early, students with dyslexia can become successful readers and writers. With appropriate instructional strategies, children can make progress and may not need additional services.
Participants will gain new understanding of dyslexia and the instructional practices that support struggling learners. Based on relevant and recent research, this professional development offers a context for teachers to study, develop, share and learn effective instructional methods to meet their students’ diverse needs.
This course satisfies the same requirement as Read to Succeed: Instructional Practices for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers. Participants may take either course but not both.
* The current R2S courses are based on the 2015 South Carolina Literacy Competencies, which will be revised to meet Act 114 in the near future.
Course Outline
Week 1: Student Orientation
Week 2: Understanding Dyslexia
Week 3: The Importance of Multi-sensory Language Instruction
Week 4: Supporting the Struggling Learner – Part 1
Week 5: Supporting the Struggling Learner – Part 2
Week 6: Fluency Instruction
Week 7: Supporting the Diverse Learner
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate level course for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers with Internet access. In addition, participants should be proficient with browsing the Internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and with using word processing software, email, and attachments.
Required Materials
All materials in this course are the property of the South Carolina Department of Education Office of VirtualSC PD. All course materials needed/required for the workshop are available online.