Supporting the Struggling Reader: Dyslexia in the Prepared Environment

In this 4-part series, Gina Polly Applegate (C-SLDS, FIT/OGA) will guide teachers, administrators, and specialists through an overview of dyslexia, including how to screen for it, identify students who may be at risk, and support them in the classroom. The series will take a closer look at key areas of literacy, including phonological awareness, phonics, morphology, oral reading fluency, spelling, writing, and editing. You will leave with strategies that are essential for students with dyslexia and beneficial for all learners.

Session 1: The Earlier, the Better: Recognizing Risk and Screening for Dyslexia

As many as 1 in 5 children have dyslexia or a specific learning disability in basic reading. This session provides an overview of dyslexia, including its definition, and covers other specific learning disabilities that affect reading development. It will also cover early signs teachers can look for and introduce common screening tools and practices that support early identification. It will also introduce the Orton-Gillingham approach as a well-respected treatment for dyslexia and offer guidance on how to help parents find intensive support if needed. 

Gina Polly Applegate is a 6-12 AMI-trained guide with over 20 years of experience working in AMI schools as both a lower el guide and upper el guide as well as an administrator. She is a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS) through the Center for Effective Reading, an affiliate of the International Dyslexia Association as well as a Fellow-in-Training with The Orton-Gillingham Academy (FIT/OGA). She currently works at Austin Montessori School as the Director of Inclusion and Support and is an elementary consultant for AMI/USA. She became passionate about supporting children with dyslexia in Montessori after her youngest son was diagnosed with dyslexia.