Literacy Untangled Podcast Jennie Sjursen

Dyslexia and ADHD run in my family. In this episode, I speak with my sister, Sara Smith, about her personal experiences and insights on dyslexia, the challenges and opportunities present in everyday life, and the effort required to maintain her coping skills. 

Sara not only has dyslexia but is also the mother of a dyslexic son and the daughter of a dyslexic father. She speaks about the challenges she faces as a person with dyslexia and in caring for her son, Cooper. Learning not to compare herself to others when it comes to learning a new skill, for example, and giving herself grace, has been hugely important. For her, physical handwriting and reading physical books have always been a challenge, immensely helped out by computers and audio. 

We discuss Cooper’s journey in school to receive a dyslexic diagnosis. One of the biggest misconceptions about dyslexia is that it’s a joke or not serious. For Sara, dyslexia has given her the superpowers of organization and determination and a lack of perfectionism when it comes to learning something new, problem-solving skills, and the ability to be very social. 

Sara shares her advice for other parents with dyslexic children and for being a child of a dyslexic parent. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing these unique challenges, developing coping skills to manage emotions, and advocating for individual needs in the educational system.

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:


Being a dyslexic mom, daughter, and individual
Parenting a dyslexic son
Misconceptions around dyslexia 
Dyslexia superpowers
Advice for parents of dyslexics 
The emotional side of a diagnosis

Resources Mentioned:


{Guest Spotlight} 80 Years of Living with Dyslexia: the ups and down with Arne Sjursen 

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In celebration of the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) 75th anniversary, the IDA is dedicating the recent issue of its journal, Perspectives, to structured literacy. In this episode, I speak with Jessica Hamman, the CEO of Glean Education, who authored two articles for the issue and co-edited it alongside Barbara Wilson. 

 Jessica shares her path to dyslexia advocacy. Her parents were always involved in advocacy, and her father was even on the committee that created the definition of dyslexia that is now used in 45 states! As she went through the process of her own son being diagnosed with dyslexia, she recognized the great knowledge gaps that still existed among teachers due to a lack of training access. 

 During our conversation, Jessica discusses her article in Perspectives about structured literacy and offers practical advice for parents told to focus only on their dyslexic child’s reading skills. We then discuss the differences between dyslexia and dysgraphia and how those differences impact learning. Jessica and I also share our experiences as teachers moving from theoretical understandings to implementing our knowledge in the classroom. We wrap by setting straight a few common misunderstandings around structured literacy for teachers.

 Be sure to read the anniversary issue of Perspectives for free linked below!

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:


Jessica’s path to dyslexia advocacy
Jessica’s piece in Perspectives about structured literacy
Advice for parents when school recommends a reading-only focus
The importance of the IEP assessment 
Morphology instruction for teachers 
Coaching benefits teachers moving from theory to practice 
Debunking structured literacy misunderstandings 
Implementing structured learning in New Zealand
The IDA offers a wealth of resources and knowledge

Resources Mentioned:


International Dyslexia Association
Wilson Language
Perspectives Magazine

Jessica Hamman:


Glean Education

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When people talk about dyslexia and how it affects people, the focus is almost always on improving a child’s learning environment. They rarely talk about how the effects show up in everyday life. In this episode, I look at five unexpected areas in which dyslexia impacts people. 


Travel: difficulties include maps, signs, timetables, announcements, managing travel documents, booking, and planning
Driving: difficulties include passing the written exam, reading road signs, multitasking, and spatial awareness
Boating: difficulties include interpreting charts, navigating coordinates, and reading markers
Cooking: difficulties include following a recipe, time management, seasoning, and improvisation
Watching shows and movies: difficulties include subtitles and foreign languages

I bet there are some things in here that surprised you! Can you think of any others?

When you're ready to work with me, here are 3 ways I can help you:

Join the waitlist to find out when my long-awaited course, Untangling Dyslexia: From Identification to IEP, opens up again!

Subscribe to my Podcast, Literacy Untangled Podcast, for bimonthly episodes on navigating the dyslexia journey with your kid.

Want 1:1 help from an Orton-Gillingham expert? Book a call to see how I help kids who are struggling to learn how to read.

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:


Dyslexics are dyslexic all the time, not just in school
Travel difficulties
Driving difficulties 
Boating difficulties 
Cooking difficulties 
Entertainment difficulties 

Resources Mentioned:


Episode #24 Traveling with a Dyslexic Child 
True Spirit 

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Foreign language requirements can be incredibly frustrating for dyslexic students, especially after already spending so long to manage reading and writing in their own language. In this episode, I discuss possibilities for optimally navigating this requirement for dyslexic students. 

Dyslexics can absolutely learn a foreign language, but they will encounter the same issues they have in their own language. To help simplify the learning process for your child, ensure they receive the appropriate accommodations in class and are being delivered in all settings. Depending on what languages your school offers, I love to recommend American sign language.  In cases of severe dyslexia, you may have the option of waiving the foreign language requirement. Most importantly, don’t give up hope!

While being creative to work around the requirement can definitely pay off, don’t discount that some students may really wish to learn a foreign language and with perseverance, will succeed!

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you. 

When you're ready to work with me, here are 3 ways I can help you:

Join the waitlist to find out when my long-awaited course, Untangling Dyslexia: From Identification to IEP, opens up again!

Subscribe to my Podcast, Literacy Untangled Podcast, for bimonthly episodes on navigating the dyslexia journey with your kid.

Want 1:1 help from an Orton-Gillingham expert? Book a call to see how I help kids who are struggling to learn how to read.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:


Foreign language requirements can be frustrating but are manageable 
Ensuring accommodations are in place for optimal learning 
My top languages for dyslexics to learn 
Option to waive foreign language requirement 

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Some things aren’t as good online as they are “in real life,” but multisensory learning isn’t one of them! In this episode, I share how multisensory learning instruction can be carried out effectively online, specific tools to use, and examples of this in practice. 

When I first began my training, I thought multisensory instruction could only be done in person. Fast forward to now, I fully provide this service online! Multisensory instruction simultaneously ties in visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile instruction, also known as VAKT, so that a student uses all the pathways of the brain at the same time. 

Some ways this can be achieved include the use of digital letter tiles, interactive online games, skywriting, digital drawing tools, and typing. I offer two examples of this in practice, one an auditory drill and the other a grapheme learning exercise. Multisensory learning online will often look different online than in person, requiring some extra creativity, preparation, and materials, but it is an entirely impactful way to offer multisensory learning online. 

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:


What is multisensory instruction?
Ways to be multisensory online 
Auditory drill example
Grapheme learning example

Resources Mentioned:


Episode 16, Multisensory instruction: What is it?

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The difference between “Let’s eat, Grandma” and “Let’s eat Grandma” is substantial! Grammar and punctuation provide clarity and understanding that, without them, make language hard to understand. Today, I’m discussing the importance of teaching dyslexic children grammar and punctuation and three tips for helping your child learn these nuances.

 

All aspects of language, reading, writing, and speaking, are connected with each other in a symbiotic and circular relationship. If we leave out educating our children about grammar, they miss out on a very important part of communication. I go into the million-dollar mistake Lockheed Martin made by omitting a few commas. 

 

Here are three ways to introduce this aspect of language. First, teach them parts of speech and parts of a sentence. I share a tactile, color-based method using Legos to illustrate how sentences are put together. Second, find real-life examples of bad grammar to discuss how sentences can have different meanings with and without the correct punctuation. Finally, talk about grammar and punctuation often! Dyslexic verbal comprehension is often miles ahead of their reading comprehension. Talking through a problem while showing them is key. 

 

Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send us an email or a DM on Instagram.

 

I want to support parents with dyslexic children and get this content in the hands of those who need it most. Click the share button and send away! Thank you. 

 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

 

Topics Covered:


The importance of punctuation and grammar
Lockheed Martin’s pricey missing comma 
Tips for teaching the parts of a sentence
Real-life examples of bad grammar 
Why you should talk about grammar often with your dyslexic child 

 

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