Response to article " Signs of Dyslexia Emerge Before 1st Grade."

Dyslexia affects approximately one out of five "school-age students." The Journal of Pediatrics published a research paper written by Sally and Bennett Shaywitz, the co-directors of the Center for Dyslexia and at Yale. Their study involved 414 students and it has been ongoing for a period of 33 years. Their study was aimed at the effects of reading on students with disabilities. The research showed that a student in 1st grade that tested 1.5 below average in reading and comprehension remained the same percent behind all the way through 12th grade.

In their research, the Shaywitzes identified signs of dyslexia in children that had not yet started school: "mispronouncing words, having difficulty learning the names of letters in the alphabet, or being unable to find an object that starts with a particular sound...." If a child was told "buh" the child would point to a ball. They also pointed out that if a child has trouble learning nursery rhymes, it is a sign of dyslexia; they have pulling apart the word's "component sounds."

The conclusion that the Shaywitzes have come to is that it would be beneficial for schools to have screening for children before they enter school. I agree with their findings; I help in my grandson's Kindergarten class and I can see the children who are dyslexic and they are all being taught the same. They are falling through the cracks.

 

Sparks, Sarah D. "Signs of Dyslexia Emerge Before 1st Grade, Study Says; 'Achievement Gap in Reading Is Present Early as 1st Grade and Persists in Adolescence'." Education Week 2016: Opposing Viewpoints in Context. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=be4bafcf-dc07-42ea-8a31-13ef15eecba0%40sessionmgr120&hid=114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=edsgcl.440446891&db=edsgov<Web. 1 Mar. 2016.