Reading VelocitySession 3

“Wait a minute. Me? Read a Book?”

LISD Dyslexia Services

“I’ve got dyslexia, remember?”

Yes, we do remember.

It’s always been harder for you to read.

But you’ve also been working hard to retrain your brain so that you can read whatever you need--or want--to.

Think back to when you first started. What did you see when you looked at a

book?

Every person is different, but did any of these examples come close to your experience?

Click to watch the video

In My Life with Dyslexia, Sam Sagmiller describes his dyslexia like this:

“When speaking to groups, I explain that being dyslexic is like running a 100-meter track race. In my lane I have hurdles, but no one else does. I have this feeling that it's unfair that I’m the only one with hurdles but don’t know how to explain it.”

What I see aheadWhat they see

ahead

“Soon the feeling leaves me as the starting gun shoots and I take off running. I try running like the other classmates, because we have all had the same education on how to run. But then I hit the first hurdle and fall flat on my face.”

“My parents and teachers are yelling at me from the sidelines ‘try harder, the other kids are making it down the track ok, you must be lazy or slow’. Pulling myself up I try running faster and fall even harder after hitting the next hurdle.”

“Then someone takes the time to show me how to run hurdles and like an Olympic hurdler, I outrun the other classmates.”

Do it this way.

Like this?

“The key, though, is that I have to do it differently, the way that works best for me. Learning is like a tailored suit; it takes a while and is unique to everyone.”--Sam Sagmiller

Do you agree with Sam? Click here to post your opinion about

his idea about dyslexia being a hurdle to overcome.

Does he get it? Is there a better way to explain what it is like?

So, yeah. Books. Increasingly, you have to

be able to express--or articulate--the things that help you in getting over those dyslexia hurdles. What do you need in order to be successful? Which brings us back to books.

Having a wide reading background helps you articulate* what you need (among other things).

● What is easier: fiction or nonfiction? Biography or informational text?

● What page layouts are easier? Harder?● What size font is just right? ● When do you get overwhelmed with text and

when do you feel in control? ● How long does it take you to read a chapter? ● Are some things easier to read than others?

The key is finding the just right book

● No one should ever be embarrassed about his/her choice of books

● A just right book is one that is○ interesting to you right now○ not too hard to read, but not too easy

either○ will tell you something new or entertain

you○ worth the effort it takes to read it○ not the same book for everyone

“So how do I find this just right book?”● Look at books and be choosy. Consider the

covers and read the jackets. Know what you like like(and don’t like). For example, have you had enough vampires to last you til 2113?

● Ask for recommendations from your teachers, librarians and friends.

● Read the first page using the “five finger” test. (Put out one finger for every word you don’t know or can’t pronounce. If it’s five or more, the book is probably too hard for you at this time.)

Here are some suggestions. These are all good books, but only you can determine if they are just right books!

● lots of white space, print isn’t too small● plus, Alvin Ho is pretty funny

● a little more sophisticated than Alvin Ho, but still funny

● lots of short chapters● a book about not reading

● books too long? ● try short stories● Jon Scieska has a series especially for guys

with short stories that are funny or about sports or even scary stuff.

● Walter Dean Myers has several books that use unusual formats

● this one is told as a report, so there isn’t a lot of extra text; just the transcripts and documents to tell the story

● fewer words, but a lot of thinking

Not interested in fiction?

There is plenty of great nonfiction!

Read what interests you.

What do you want to know more about?

Maybe you want a book that will tell you how to do something--either right now or in the future.

And remember . . .

you don’t have to apologize for your taste in books! The important things is to just read as widely as you can.

Until next time, keep on reading!

End of Session 3

Dr. Ramona Lowe is the creator and instructor for this online course. She is a reading specialist and a National Board Certified Teacher who has taught at middle school, high school, and university levels. She currently works in LISD as the Secondary Literacy Design Coach to promote innovative approaches to student literacy. She rejects the scorn heaped on Comic Sans and chose it for this session because it is an easier font for readers with dyslexia. You can contact her at lower@lisd.net.