There is a debate in the Structured Literacy world about whether Print-to-speech or Speech-to-print is the more effective approach. Both approaches rely on phonics - matching sounds to their corresponding letter/letter patterns. They differ in that Print-to-speech starts with a letter/letter...

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is known as the "Gold Standard" for teaching dyslexics how to read and write. Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Samuel Orton and gifted educator and psychologist, Anna Gillingham, developed a multi-sensory approach to improve reading and writing skills in children with...

The dyslexic brain and non-dyslexic brain are not the same. The dyslexic brain not only processes language differently, it's also structurally different. For instance, when it comes to reading and writing, dyslexic brains utilize both sides of their brain unlike non-dyslexic readers who only use...

Once you receive your child’s dyslexia diagnosis, you might feel lost about how to share the news with them. In my experience, one of the most supportive things that you can do is have a discussion about it and give an overview of what it means for them. You have an opportunity to reduce...

Dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a lot of overlap. It can be difficult to tell if your child is struggling because of dyslexia or ADHD. In this episode, I highlight the signs and symptoms of ADHD and look at the common threads and differences between the two...

Traditionally, the majority of the annual IEP meetings take place between mid-January through mid-March. In this episode, I share 12 questions that you want to make sure you cover during these meetings and give examples of what good answers should include. 

I explain what a...

One of the most common questions I hear from parents after they hire a specialist is, how long will it take to get my child up to grade level? Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to give a clear, guaranteed timeline of your child’s progress.

In this episode, I explore the...

Many students with dyslexia can benefit from having extra support outside of their individualized learning plan. If you’re unhappy with the quality or quantity of services your child is receiving at school, it might be time to look into a private dyslexia instructor. 

In this...

In this episode, we explore how your child's evaluation informs the structure of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the educational decisions you make for them. I explain the two requirements that must be met for your child to qualify for an IEP, share examples of learning goals...

One of the most common misconceptions about dyslexia is that everyone who is diagnosed with it experiences the same challenges. Because dyslexia is a spectrum disorder, no two dyslexics are exactly the same. On today’s episode, I break down the three main types of dyslexia, what...

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and I’m celebrating by highlighting the successful dyslexics in my life and those around us. One of the biggest inspirations behind my career and this podcast has been my dad, Arne Sjursen. He was diagnosed with dyslexia almost two decades ago at...

Dyslexia diagnostic evaluations are individually administered and look specifically for your child's strengths and weaknesses, and how greatly their skills differ from their peers. On today’s episode, I break down exactly what a good evaluation should include, the difference between a...