From Childhood Struggles to Adult Success - An Interview with Scott Smith

In this episode of the Days With Dyslexia podcast, the host conducts her first interview with Scott Smith, an adult who has dyslexia. Scott shares his early experiences with dyslexia, the challenges he faced in school, and the innovative ways he adapted to manage and eventually find success as an adult. When bedtime reading with his toddlers became difficult, he knew something needed to change. The discussion delves into his methods for overcoming reading difficulties, his mechanical and problem-solving strengths, and his achievements in both his professional and military careers. Additionally, Scott reflects on how working with the host on reading skills significantly improved his confidence and literacy, allowing him to have better career and parenting experiences.

Michelle also references the Sold a Story podcast.

Teaching Kids with Dyslexia The Difference Between Letters and Sounds

In this episode of Days With Dyslexia, host Michelle Morgan shares practical strategies for helping children differentiate between letters and sounds. Michelle explains how to use simple tools to create a visual and interactive learning experience. She emphasizes the importance of understanding this difference to enhance reading and spelling. Michelle also provides tips on using these techniques to teach spelling patterns and inflected endings, highlighting the need to address sounds, letters, and meanings in language instruction. A PDF resource is available for download to support parents in implementing these strategies at home.

Download free PDF for teaching letters vs. sounds HERE.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:35 Understanding Letters and Sounds

02:16 Practical Teaching Strategies

04:44 Using Index Cards for Learning

07:28 Letter and Sound Cards

11:14 Inflected Endings and Meaning

14:01 Clarifying Letters vs. Sounds

16:18 Conclusion and Next Steps

The Importance of Teaching Sounds and Letter Names in Dyslexia

In this episode of 'Today's with Dyslexia,' Michelle Morgan, a speech-language pathologist, explores the essential difference between letter names and sounds in language learning. She explains why understanding this difference is particularly crucial for children with dyslexia. Michelle also discusses the triple word form theory (Phonology, Orthography, Meaning) and why some teachers have, unfortunately, moved away from teaching letter names. Through various research citations, she validates the need to teach both letter names and sounds for effective literacy development. Tune in for insights and strategies to help struggling readers become more confident learners.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:29 Understanding Letter Names vs. Sounds

02:56 The Importance of Differentiating Letters and Sounds

05:55 Current Trends in Teaching Reading and Spelling

12:07 Research Supporting Letter Names

23:36 Conclusion and Next Steps