What parents of dyslexic children are teaching schools about literacy

PBS NewsHour

30 Apr 201908:36

Summary

TLDRThe script highlights the reading gap among US school children, with less than 40% proficient readers, and the impact of dyslexia on students' learning. Arkansas parents, advocating for children with dyslexia, have led a push for new state laws on reading instruction, emphasizing systematic phonics teaching. The state is investing in retraining educators and implementing dyslexia programs, with the hope of improving literacy rates and transforming students' relationship with reading, despite resistance from the education establishment.

Takeaways

📚 The reading gap among U.S. school children is alarming, with less than 40% of fourth and eighth graders being proficient readers.
🌟 Parents of children with dyslexia are leading a push to change reading instruction methods in schools.
💔 Families with dyslexic children have experienced significant emotional and psychological struggles due to their children's reading difficulties.
💡 Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects one in five individuals, making spelling and reading challenging.
🏫 Arkansas has seen a change in how children learn to read, with a focus on explicit phonics instruction to help the brain process written words.
🔍 Parents and advocates have spent considerable resources on educational testing and tutoring to understand and address dyslexia.
📈 The National Center on Improving Literacy supports the systematic teaching of reading, particularly the use of phonics, for all students.
🎓 Arkansas is investing $6 million annually to revamp dyslexia screening, reading instruction, and teacher training and licensing.
👩‍🏫 Teachers in Arkansas are being retrained in comprehensive phonics instruction, a method they were not originally taught.
📉 Arkansas ranks poorly in reading proficiency, which has lifelong consequences such as higher dropout and poverty rates.
🔑 The new approach to reading instruction is showing promise in improving literacy rates, with anecdotal evidence of life-changing impacts on students.

Q & A

What is the current reading proficiency rate among fourth and eighth graders in the U.S.?
-Fewer than 40 percent of fourth and eighth graders are considered proficient readers.
Who is leading the push to change how students are taught to read?
-The push is being led by parents whose children have dyslexia.
What is the impact of dyslexia on individuals and their families as described in the script?
-Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to spell and read, causing psychological damage and distress, as well as impacting every fiber of the family.
What is the prevalence of dyslexia among the population?
-Dyslexia affects one in five individuals.
What is the main focus of the new reading instruction system being implemented in Arkansas?
-The new system includes explicit instruction in phonics, teaching students how letters and sounds go together to help the brain process the written word.
According to Sarah Sayko from the National Center on Improving Literacy, why is the phonics approach effective for teaching children to read?
-Sarah Sayko states that reading is not a natural process and needs to be taught systematically, which the phonics approach does effectively.
How does the new reading instruction method at Springhill Elementary in Greenbrier, Arkansas, differ from traditional methods?
-The method includes intensive reading instruction and uses senses of touch, feel, and movement to help imprint words into students' brains.
What are the lifelong consequences for students who cannot read well by the end of third grade?
-The lifelong consequences include higher school dropout and poverty rates.
What changes have the Arkansas Dyslexia Support Group fought for in terms of reading instruction?
-They have fought for laws to transform reading instruction, including comprehensive phonics instruction and retraining educators who were never taught this method.
How much is Arkansas investing annually to revamp its reading instruction and teacher training programs?
-Arkansas is investing $6 million a year in these programs.
What is the significance of the changes in reading instruction in Arkansas, according to Stacy Smith from the Arkansas Department of Education?
-Stacy Smith describes it as a watershed moment, noting that when schools started implementing dyslexia programs, their reading literacy results improved, indicating the effectiveness of the new approach.
What is the personal impact of these changes on principal Stephanie Worthey of Springhill Elementary?
-The changes are personal for Stephanie Worthey because her son, Ace Newland, is a student who struggled with reading and has benefited from the new approach.
How do parents of children with dyslexia describe the difference the new teaching methods have made for their children?
-Parents describe the difference as life-changing, as their children are now truly learning to read.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Dyslexia and the Reading Gap in Arkansas

The first paragraph of the video script highlights a concerning reading gap among school children in the United States, where less than 40% of fourth and eighth graders are proficient readers. The narrative focuses on the efforts of parents with dyslexic children to reform reading education. The script introduces various families from Arkansas who have personally experienced the struggles of dyslexia and have been advocating for changes in reading instruction. The parents have spent significant resources on testing and tutoring, leading to the realization that their children have dyslexia, a learning disability affecting spelling and reading abilities. The script also mentions the push for explicit phonics instruction, which is believed to help the brain process written words more effectively. The National Center on Improving Literacy supports this approach, stating that systematic teaching is essential for reading proficiency. The paragraph concludes with a look at how Springhill Elementary in Greenbrier, Arkansas, implements intensive reading instruction for students with dyslexic characteristics, using multisensory techniques to improve their reading skills.

05:01

🌟 Transforming Reading Instruction in Arkansas

The second paragraph delves into the transformative efforts in Arkansas to improve reading literacy, particularly for students with dyslexia. It begins with Stacy Smith reflecting on the positive impact of dyslexia programs on overall reading literacy, suggesting that the benefits extend beyond students with dyslexia. The paragraph discusses the historical debate over phonics versus literature-based reading instruction and the scientific evidence supporting comprehensive phonics instruction. Arkansas is now retraining educators to teach reading using this method, as mandated by new state laws. The script features teacher Miranda Mahan, who acknowledges the inadequacy of her initial teaching methods and expresses confidence in the new approach's effectiveness. The paragraph also touches on the nationwide movement, with over 40 states having laws or programs related to reading and dyslexia. The principal of Springhill Elementary, Stephanie Worthey, shares a personal connection to the issue, as her son is a student benefiting from the new methods. While the new approach has not yet impacted state test scores, there is a strong belief among its proponents that it will lead to significant improvements in reading proficiency.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Reading Gap

The 'reading gap' refers to the disparity in reading proficiency among school children. The script highlights that fewer than 40 percent of fourth and eighth graders are proficient readers, which is a significant educational concern. This gap is a central theme of the video, as it sets the stage for discussing the need for changes in reading instruction.

💡Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects an individual's ability to read, spell, and write. In the script, it is mentioned as a condition that makes it difficult for students to process written language. The video focuses on the struggles of children with dyslexia and the efforts of their parents to improve reading instruction for all students.

💡Phonics

Phonics is a method of teaching reading that involves the relationship between letters and sounds to help students decode words. The script emphasizes explicit instruction in phonics as a key component of the new reading instruction system in Arkansas, illustrating its effectiveness for students with dyslexia and all learners.

💡Proficient Readers

The term 'proficient readers' denotes individuals who have achieved a certain level of reading ability. The script reveals that a concerningly low percentage of fourth and eighth graders are considered proficient, which underscores the urgency of the reading gap issue.

💡Learning Disability

A 'learning disability' is a neurological condition that affects a person's ability to process or understand information. Dyslexia, as mentioned in the script, is a common learning disability that impacts reading skills. The video discusses the impact of learning disabilities on students' reading experiences.

💡Educational Testing

Educational testing refers to the assessment of students' learning and understanding through various tests and evaluations. Parents in the script have spent thousands of dollars on such testing to identify their children's dyslexia, highlighting the challenges in diagnosing and addressing learning disabilities.

💡Reading Instruction

Reading instruction encompasses the methods and strategies used to teach individuals how to read. The script discusses a push for a change in reading instruction, particularly in Arkansas, where a new system including phonics is being implemented to address the reading gap.

💡National Reading Panel

The National Reading Panel is a federally appointed group that conducted research on reading instruction methods. The script mentions that this panel concluded nearly two decades ago that phonics-based instruction is most beneficial for early readers, a finding that has influenced the changes in Arkansas.

💡Systematic Teaching

Systematic teaching involves a structured and organized approach to instruction. Sarah Sayko from the National Center on Improving Literacy in the script emphasizes that reading needs to be taught systematically, underlining the importance of a structured approach in the new reading instruction.

💡Intensive Reading Instruction

Intensive reading instruction refers to a focused and concentrated effort to improve a student's reading skills. The script describes how students with characteristics of dyslexia at Springhill Elementary in Arkansas receive this type of instruction, which includes multisensory techniques to help them learn.

💡Educational Establishment

The 'educational establishment' generally refers to the traditional institutions and authorities within the education system. In the script, it is mentioned that this group has been resistant to change in reading instruction, indicating a struggle between innovative approaches and established practices.

💡Retraining Educators

Retraining educators involves updating the teaching skills and knowledge of educators to align with new educational methods or standards. The script discusses how Arkansas is retraining thousands of its educators in the new phonics-based reading instruction method, reflecting a significant shift in teaching practices.

Highlights

Reading gap among U.S. school children is alarming, with less than 40% of fourth and eighth graders proficient in reading.

A movement led by parents of dyslexic children is pushing for a change in reading instruction methods.

Families share personal struggles with children who have dyslexia, highlighting the psychological impact of reading difficulties.

Dyslexia affects one in five individuals, causing difficulties in spelling and reading.

Parents have spent thousands on educational testing and tutoring to support their dyslexic children.

Audi Alumbaugh led the push for new state laws on reading instruction, inspired by her niece's dyslexia.

Explicit phonics instruction is being implemented to teach students the relationship between letters and sounds.

Sarah Sayko from the National Center on Improving Literacy advocates for systematic reading instruction.

Springhill Elementary in Arkansas provides intensive reading instruction for students with dyslexic characteristics.

Students are taught to use senses of touch, feel, and movement to imprint words into their brains.

Reading difficulties can lead to lifelong consequences such as higher school dropout and poverty rates.

Arkansas is investing $6 million annually to revamp dyslexia screening and reading instruction.

The state has embraced a new approach to reading instruction, despite initial resistance from the education establishment.

Comprehensive phonics instruction is identified as the first step in teaching children to read effectively.

Arkansas is retraining thousands of educators in this new method of teaching reading.

Parent-led initiatives are driving change in over 40 states concerning reading and dyslexia laws and programs.

By 2021, Arkansas requires all elementary and special ed teachers to demonstrate knowledge in science-based reading instruction.

Principal Stephanie Worthey's personal experience with her dyslexic son influenced her support for the new reading approach.

While the new approach is yet to impact state test scores, there is confidence in its long-term effectiveness.

Parents report life-changing differences in their children's ability to read following the new teaching methods.