The following is a guest post by MommyMaestra contributor, Stacie Servantes Farias, a Mexican-American mom of 6 who does not blog because she is too busy reading other blogs to write one of her own.
Deep sigh. October...my favorite month of the year where temperatures begin to drop, the mosquitos begin to disappear, and the changing of the leaves never fails to impress with its beautiful, fiery hues. October is a month to celebrate these seasonal changes, and the best part, it gets topped off by a holiday where we get to wear costumes and collect bags of candy!
Surely Anne Shirley was right when she said,
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!” - L.M. Montgomery from Anne of Green Gables
For my homeschooling family, and for many families everywhere, October has an additional special meaning as Dyslexia Awareness Month. I have written for Mommy Maestra before about how dyslexia has impacted my family and have shared a couple of reviews and resources (here and here) that we’ve enjoyed. However, in honor of this lovely month and because most homeschooling families beginning their dyslexia journey do not know where to start, I’d like to share a few links and resources which I hope will be as illuminating for you, as they have been for me.
This post contains affiliate links.
My favorite dyslexia-related websites for homeschoolers:
https://homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com/
Seriously, start your research with this website. It is fantastic! Curriculum reviews, comparison, tools, eBooks, workshops, everything you need to learn about dyslexia is here.
Wonderful website for homeschoolers AND school systems families. I have said this before and I will say it again, Susan Barton, the founder of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia and Barton Reading and Spelling, is a Q-U-E-E-N! Watch the videos and this website and be in awe of her compassion and expertise.
This is the website for the International Dyslexia Association and info on dyslexia is available in English AND Spanish on this website. Be sure to check it out!
https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/
Brock and Fernette Eide recently developed a dyslexia screening app for the iPad!
https://www.facebook.com/decodingdyslexiamilitary/
Decoding Dyslexia is a parent-led nonprofit that is available in every state. The link above is for the DD-Military Chapter but rest assured your state has its own network that you can google.
My favorite dyslexia-related websites with printable activities:
https://www.theliteracynest.com/
Check out this shop on her site and Teachers Pay Teachers. It’s excellent!
Fun Fun FUN phonics-based activities found here!
My favorite books about dyslexia:
Dyslexia 101: Truth, Myths, and What Really Works by Marianne Sunderland
Quick read and good starting point.
Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz and Johnathan Shaywitz
Make sure you read the new and updated 2020 edition.
The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock and Fernette Eide
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan by Ben Foss
Favorite Podcasts and podcast episodes about dyslexia:
The Dyslexia Quest Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dyslexia-quest-podcast/id901156826
Read Aloud Revival Podcast Episodes 175 & 176
https://readaloudrevival.com/podcasts/
Institute For Excellence in Writing Podcast. There are many episodes dedicated to dyslexia but here is one in particular that I enjoyed.
https://iew.com/help-support/podcast/episode-159-iew-and-dyslexia-conversation-susan-barton
There are so many more books, websites, blogs, podcasts, etc. available that it would be impossible to include them all, which means that our children and homeschools are blessed to have an abundance of dyslexia resources. Whether you are the 1 in 5 people with dyslexia, or your child is, take comfort in knowing there are solutions, advantages, accommodations, and anything you need to make learning accessible. I leave you with a quick 5-minute video that explains dyslexia way more concisely than I ever could.
Happy October to you all!