In Part 1 of A Parent’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Dyslexia, we discussed the parts of the brain responsible for language development and reading processes, how neurotypical children learn to read, and the neurological impact of dyslexia on language and reading skills. We discussed the fact that for most dyslexic learners, it’s as if their brains take the longer, more scenic mountain roads instead of the faster, more direct interstates when reading and spelling.

If you are a parent of a child who has dyslexia, you probably know how overwhelming and confusing it can be to learn about dyslexia. To complicate matters, even though dyslexia has been identified and studied for nearly 150 years,¹ there are still so many misconceptions about it that persist today, making it difficult to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

Robin E. Williams

The term “dyslexia” was first used over 140 years ago, with the symptoms having been well documented even before that. It’s not new, and with the estimate being 5-10% of the population have dyslexia, you almost assuredly know people who are living with this challenge.

When we think of dyslexia, reading and spelling difficulties often come to mind first. However, dyslexia’s impact extends far beyond these academic challenges. Dyslexic children also often face challenges following instructions, managing their time effectively, and organizing their thoughts–life issues they may likely have to contend with throughout their lives. Let’s dive into how dyslexia influences life skills, social development, and everyday experiences and explore practical strategies to support your child.

If you’re new to homeschooling and have a fast learner, or if you’ve been teaching a gifted student and wonder if there’s more you could or should be doing, you’re in the right place. Gifted learners, often characterized by their rapid learning pace and advanced cognitive abilities, require tailored instructional strategies to meet their needs.

What is reading fluency? Why is it critical? What is the best way to teach your student to read fluently?

Fluency, one of the five pillars of the Science of Reading framework on which our program is based, is a learned skill that is essential to achieving the ultimate goal of reading—comprehension.

The CK Spelling Rule is an easy way to determine when to use the letters ck or the letter k in a word that has the /k/ sound.

Mastering this useful rule makes words that have a /k/ sound easier to spell, eliminates guessing, and reduces dependence on whole-word memorization.

Bumble’s video does a great job of explaining this rule in a fun and entertaining way.

The Rules and Logic of Language

Teaching the rules of reading and spelling, along with the patterns and concepts that shape them, is the key to mastery. Once students understand the logic of the English language, they can master it.

Everyone loves looking at a beautiful flower garden. Even cute little critters love flower gardens, but for a different reason. Beautiful flowers make a yummy snack!

Save the flowers!

In this charming free activity, your student can prevent the flowers from being nibbled on by deer, chipmunks, birds, and other cute critters. With each correctly spelled word, your child can save a flower bouquet by slipping the pot inside the garden gate, or keeping an animal outside the gate where the flowers can be viewed but not chewed.

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We’re often asked, “How can I use your programs with my older student?” Usually, the concern is that a middle or high school student might feel embarrassed by the full-color, hands-on activities included in All About Reading and All About Spelling.

However, with a few modifications, many people have found that our programs work well for teens and even adults!

Whether you’re a teacher, a homeschooling parent, or a tutor of a child with dyslexia, this page of free resources for teaching dyslexic students is for you.

In-depth, informative articles will help you understand what dyslexia is, while teaching articles offer strategies and techniques that have proven to be effective with dyslexic students and other struggling readers.

When you’re first beginning your homeschooling journey, it can feel overwhelming. It’s a big task with a weighty responsibility and one we all endeavor to do well. Many of us doubt ourselves, wonder if we’re doing the right thing, and question if we’ve chosen the right curriculum or the right educational philosophy. Many of us are also first-generation homeschoolers, so we’re blazing a new trail in our families, which can be really exciting, but also really daunting.