Ask Dr. Pierson and Dyslexia Reflections

March is Reading Month: Like a Field Day Might Feel for a Student in a Wheelchair

For a child coping with dyslexia, March is Reading Month might feel like more of a struggle than fun. In this article, 12-year old Zach shares his perspective and offers some suggestions on how to make the month more inclusive and fun for everyone.

March is Reading Month

6 Tips for the Holiday Break

The holiday season is upon us and school’s out for winter break. Getting out of our routine can offer opportunity, as well as challenge. Here are some tips to deal with some of the challenges and embrace the opportunities.

6 Tips for the Holiday Break

The Gift that Keeps on Giving All Year Round

As we bring another year to a close, the minds of many of us turn to gift-giving. Thinking about this topic led me to realize that the perfect gift to give anyone (including ourselves) is the gift of time.

No-cost Gifts You Can Give Your Students this Year

The most precious gifts you can offer your dyslexic students won’t cost you a penny but can yield invaluable benefits in boosting their confidence and self-esteem while building a positive, productive classroom. Here are six no-cost “gift” ideas to help promote their success this year.

Improving Reading Fluency

Reading fluency is key to learning and comprehension from written texts, which is the goal of reading. In order to optimize reading comprehension skills, we need to set realistic reading fluency goals for our students with dyslexia.

5 Tips to Get or Keep Kids Reading this Summer

Summer is in full swing around the country and for many of us that means it is time for our "summer reading." We’ve a bit more time to sit and relax with a good book. But, as those of us who live and work with dyslexics know, this may not be their idea of a good time.

Keep Em Reading: The Importance of Audiobooks for Dyslexics

I am frequently asked whether my clients with dyslexia should only read text with their eyes – or should they be allowed to listen to text (sometimes called “reading with one’s ears”). To a person who is dyslexic, I recommend the use of text-to-speech software as an accommodation.

Balancing Intervention with Summer Fun: Somewhere Between a Seal and a Juggler

It can be a real dilemma for you to balance your child’s summer fun and respite with continued dyslexia tutoring or therapy. You feel somewhere between a seal balancing that ball and a juggler keeping those balls in the air!

The Pieces of a Dyslexia Diagnostic Assessment

Parents frequently ask me how a diagnosis of dyslexia is made. Recently, one parent questioned whether there was one test for dyslexia because she was told that an IQ test would be the sole test used to determine whether her son was dyslexic. In the past, intelligence tests were a part of the testing battery, but this is no longer the recommended practice. Here is an article from NIH that explains why we no longer use IQ for determining dyslexia. I suggested that the parent who inquired might consider sharing this article with her son’s team.

Find their Gifts through Strengths and Interests

One of our goals on DyslexiaHelp is to increase understandings about the potential of those with dyslexia. This month we are featuring stories about engaging students in learning and building self-advocacy skills through topics of interest that utilize their strengths.

Structured Literacy: Setting the Stage for Student Literacy Success

The explicit and systematic instructional approach of Structured Literacy ensures students build their skills in each component area of literacy.

Finding Interests for Your Kids this Summer

Now that summer is here, the challenge for you as a parent is to create a summer program for your child that includes both summer therapy or tutoring, as well as some fun!

Here are Dr. Pierson's tips that can help you to help them 'catch up' and/or maintain their skills while still enjoying your summer.

Designing an Intensive Therapy Program

Suggestions for planning a course of action: I understand that as a parent it can be daunting and overwhelming when your child receives a diagnosis of dyslexia, language disability, or anything similar.

10 Tips for Improving and/or Maintaining Your Child’s Language and Literacy Skills this Summer

Summer is an ideal time to work on improving skills, but it is also equally important that our students have a much-needed break from the challenges associated with school. Here are 10 tips to consider as you plan your child's summer activities.

Keeping the Fish Out of the Tree: Strategies for Teachers

I was inspired to write this piece after reading A Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (2015). The book (without giving it away for those of you who haven’t read it yet) tells the story of a sixth-grade girl who struggles because of dyslexia that goes undiagnosed until a wise teacher sees, and more importantly, fosters and celebrates her gifts, while teaching her to read.

The Games People (Should) Play

The Games People Play, and Should!

It is that time of year when many of us are buying gifts for our kids. And, while they may be asking for the latest electronic game, we should not forget the wealth of people-powered games that are out there that can promote language and literacy learning while having fun.

Off to the Right Start! Direct, Explicit, and Systematic Instruction

Learning to read proves frustrating for far too many children. These evidence-based tips will help teachers promote effective reading instruction for all students.

Off to the Right Start! Direct, Explicit, and Systematic Instruction

First Step to Getting Your Child Help: A Diagnostic Assessment

It can be daunting to know what to do when you suspect or a teacher tells you that your child is struggling with literacy learning. For many parents, getting their child the right help is a new, dare I say, “adventure.” What should be your first step?

Dr. Pierson Asks

In my “Ask Dr. Pierson” column, I typically write about a dyslexia-related issue that has been asked of me by one of you. This month, I am turning that around to “Dr. Pierson Asks.” I am asking you to help.

Dr. Joanne Pierson

Avoid the Dyslexia Cure Merry-Go-Round and Stick to What Works

Before you invest your family’s time and money on what claims to be a quick, easy, and effective dyslexia intervention, be a good consumer and do your homework, starting with this article.

Oral and Written Expression Skills and Poor Reading Comprehension

Study suggests poor reading comprehension impacts oral and written narrative abilities including understanding of narrative text structure, effective use of connectives, and strategies for communicating relevant information.

Go with Your Gut

Parents are usually right about their kids. If yours is not achieving in school, RTI is not the only answer.

Vision Therapy for Dyslexia: Smoke and Mirrors

I recently returned from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) annual conference, which was excellent. One of the talks I attended was using Vision Therapy (VT) as a treatment for dyslexia. That same day I had a question from a parent on VT pop into my DyslexiaHelp in-box.

Why Doesn’t My Child Qualify for Help in the Schools?

My child is clearly not achieving in school. Why doesn't he or she qualify for help?

I see many children and teens who evidence language or reading disorder, including dyslexia, and who are not deemed eligible for services in the public schools.

Read more of Why Doesn’t My Child Qual

Sifting through the Mire: Finding Reliable Intervention

As the school year winds down, I receive an influx of questions via DyslexiaHelp and in my private clinical practice from parents relative to deciding on summer program options for their child with dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities.

Top 10 Tips for Teachers to Help Students in the Classroom

As my clients are preparing to return to school—some excited, some not so much—I thought it timely to offer 10 tips for teachers to create an environment that will increase the likelihood of success for dyslexic students in the classroom.

Ask Dr. Pierson and Dyslexia Reflections

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Dyslexia Reflections

A Closer Look at Dyslexia

March is Reading Month: Like a Field Day Might Feel for a Student in a Wheelchair

6 Tips for the Holiday Break

The Gift that Keeps on Giving All Year Round

No-cost Gifts You Can Give Your Students this Year

Improving Reading Fluency

5 Tips to Get or Keep Kids Reading this Summer

Keep Em Reading: The Importance of Audiobooks for Dyslexics

Balancing Intervention with Summer Fun: Somewhere Between a Seal and a Juggler

The Pieces of a Dyslexia Diagnostic Assessment

Find their Gifts through Strengths and Interests

Structured Literacy: Setting the Stage for Student Literacy Success

Finding Interests for Your Kids this Summer

Designing an Intensive Therapy Program

10 Tips for Improving and/or Maintaining Your Child’s Language and Literacy Skills this Summer

Keeping the Fish Out of the Tree: Strategies for Teachers

The Games People (Should) Play

Off to the Right Start! Direct, Explicit, and Systematic Instruction

First Step to Getting Your Child Help: A Diagnostic Assessment

Dr. Pierson Asks

Avoid the Dyslexia Cure Merry-Go-Round and Stick to What Works

Oral and Written Expression Skills and Poor Reading Comprehension

Go with Your Gut

Vision Therapy for Dyslexia: Smoke and Mirrors

Why Doesn’t My Child Qualify for Help in the Schools?

Sifting through the Mire: Finding Reliable Intervention

Top 10 Tips for Teachers to Help Students in the Classroom