A recent Knoxville School Board meeting primarily focused on elementary reading programs that help children with dyslexia and other reading troubles. A Powerpoint presentation was given by Jennifer Lambirth, a teacher at Northstar and West Elementary. Lambirth explained to meeting attendees that while reading, those without dyslexia use three areas of the brain; those with dyslexia only use one area. Lambirth urged early detection in order to help those with dyslexia achieve reading parity because “A child can have a high IQ, but their reading never catches up”. She illustrated to the attendees what it was like for a child to feel frustration and stress by their inability to read or write well in class by having an open writing exercise where they were expected to write using their non-dominant hand.
School board meetings are becoming the place for advocates to speak up for those that cannot.
Some school districts believe summer learning is critical for dyslexic students.
There was much discussion on strategies to cope with dyslexia. Other attendees praised the Barton program, tutoring and affordable summer programs for dyslexic students. Superintendent Cassie Pearson added that reading and learning difficulties can arise from more than just dyslexia. She continued that the board would need to engineer some long term solutions. The board then approved the Cedar Rapids CDS Special Education program and Twin Cedars golf agreement.
Lambirth said the non impaired use three parts of their brain when reading. A person with dyslexia only uses one part. She also said one in five people have some form of dyslexia ranging from mild to profound. Profound is the most severe diagnosis, where the child can barely read.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- Early detection was discussed and examined.
- The school board was told to write left handed to give them perspective.
- Schools with dyslexia programs tend to graduate students and phase them out of special education.
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