3 Helpful Books: Overviews + Essentials
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Here is a lot of information on dyslexia out there—an overwhelming amount. Here are a few resources that are a great place to get started or gain some more knowledge if you’ve been riding the special-education rodeo for a while now.
1. Overcoming Dyslexia: Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated by Sally Shaywitz
My review:
There’s a reason why you say the name “Sally” in the dyslexia world, people immediately know whom you are talking about. Sally Shaywitz, MD. Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. She is a globally-renowned scientist and a dedicated, compassionate physician, and you can see both in her thorough writing. Overcoming Dyslexia was one of the first books, if not the first, that I picked up and I’m thankful I did. (Full disclosure: I read the first edition, not the more recent update linked here). Her book helped me better understand the condition clinically, the signs, the science of remediation, and more. Key takeaways: Dyslexia is not due to a lack of intelligence. Students with dyslexia can learn to read. Lastly, I have listened to Dr. Shaywitz give a keynote and she is fantastic at explaining things. You do not have to be an educator or have a Ph.D. to understand what she has to share.
Photo by Alex Lvrs on Unsplash
2. Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide by Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright
My review:
The special education journey is long. Loooooong long. Packed with emotion to boot. It also relies heavily on the process that is anything but intuitive in nature to the majority of parents and caregivers out there. However, there are very specific ways to communicate when advocating within a system that isn’t exactly known for its accountability. “Survival Guide” is so appropriate to this situation, whether your child has dyslexia or a different learning difference. Some of the sections in here are admittedly dry, but keep in mind it’s written by lawyers, not novelists. Also, the point of the book is for caregivers to step away from using emotion and start leveraging effective advocacy strategies that will serve their efforts, and their children better. Key takeaways: Write as if there were writing a “letter to a stranger.” Document every request and response. Create a master file system leveraging chronological order. Lastly, Writeslaw has a website chock-full of additional resources.
2. Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties (Essentials of Psychological Assessment) by David A. Kilpatrick (Author)
My review:
This book is highly regarded by Nancy Duggan, founder of Decoding Dyslexia MA. Truthfully, when I discovered this book’s existence, I was far into my journey. I have not read it cover to cover as I have with other books, but I have used my copy to look up key terms and situations. On the cover it even states “conveniently formatted for rapid reference,” and I can speak to the truth of it being a definitive reference within the world of teaching struggling readers. This book will help you learn the difference between a diphthong and a digraph and more. It’s definitely worth having on your shelf.
Overcoming Dyslexia is available on Audible as well as eye reading. For the other two, I’d recommend getting yourself a hard copy even if you ear read to start. Or check out from the library.
I find that reference books work harder when you can write and put tangible bookmarks in them. But whatever works for you is the way to roll.
More book recommends coming soon!