Good news: Although a person

cant get rid of or cure dyslexia,

Just the Facts.

we now know how to fix the

reading and spelling difficulties
that come with it! Specialized
lessons using an approach that is

Good News about Bright

Children Who Struggle
with Reading and Spelling

share what dyslexia is, what it

multi-sensory, explicit, and

looks like, and how it can be

systematic can help a person

helped.

literally rewire the brain so that

DYS = difficulty with

LEXIA

reading and spelling no longer

by Karin Merkle

= language -- spelling, reading,

have to be a struggle. One

I have great news to share with

writing, speech

example of a well-known and

you about bright children (and

Dyslexia is a genetic brain

successful system is called the

adults) who struggle with reading

difference that causes difficulty

Barton Reading and Spelling

and spelling. In a moment, when I

with language despite

System. This 10-level system

share a specific word with you,

intelligence, motivation, and

trains students in phonemic

you might think that this article

education. Good news: People

awareness (the awareness that

does not apply to you and you

with dyslexia typically have great

spoken words are made up of

may be tempted to stop reading. I

imagination skills, and tend to be

sounds, and that sounds can be

challenge you to read on. You

creative, out-of-the-box

added, removed, or changed to

may be surprised by what you

thinkers. You will also find that

make new words), and then brings

learn, and chances are high (1 in

many people with dyslexia are

them through a sequential set of

5) that you, your child, or

very kind, intuitive, and sensitive

lessons that teach reading and

someone you know is dealing with

to the needs of others. Most also

spelling simultaneously and add

this soon-to-be revealed word

have at least one area that is a

logic to the reading and spelling

and I have some exciting news to

HUGE strength such as

of our language. Students learn

share with you about it.

mechanical skill, art, sports,

how to read and spell without

HINTS about the word: It is not

public speaking, music, building,

having to guess or memorize. My

rare. In fact, it affects about 5

logic, inventing, comprehension of

students can tell you when to

or 6 kids per classroom to some

stories read TO them,

use a c, a ck, or a k when

degree.

acting/performing, and problem-

spelling a word with the /k/

It happens to intelligent people. I

solving. Once I was aware that

sound. Good news: Once students

have a student who scored high-

dyslexia often came with gifts, I

get the type of teaching that is

superior on IQ tests but

started wondering if certain

designed for their brains, they

couldnt read or spell very well.

people had dyslexia, based ONLY

excel. By the end of level 4,

It comes with some pretty cool

on their strengths. Without

students are reading and spelling

skills. It occurs in people all over

knowing anything about their

words such as represent,

the world in people of all ages.

reading and spelling skills, I

confident, indignant, and

The word is dyslexia. Dyslexia is

correctly guessed that James

pendulum. By the end of Level 5:

not new, but for a long time,

Dyson (think creative inventions

unfrequented, noncommissioned,

scientists and educators had to

such as a fan without a blade,

incontestable, preexisting,

make guesses about it. Since the

new types of hand dryers, and

misconstrue, and overwhelmingly.

use of fMRIs (brain-activity

very awesome vacuums) and

By the end of Level 6: hypnosis,

movies!), it is no longer a

Steve Jobs (Apple CEO) both had

petroglyphs, outrageous,

mystery and it no longer has to

dyslexia.

procrastination, inadequate, and

be a big shameful secret. I will

scandalous.