I also created the bookshelf graphic in an online format so that you when you click on a resource, it will take you to it To return to the Flying Cat Academy website, just click on the picture of me..
I am always looking for ways to move further down the path towards becoming the most effective literacy teacher that I can be. If you feel the same way, then let me share my bookshelf with you. These are the print, web-based, and audio dyslexia resources that have influenced me in my learning and thinking about how to teach using structured literacy.
The resource that has influenced me the most on my journey is Overcoming Dyslexia, by Sally Shaywitz. I read this book when I first discovered that my son is dyslexic. My son was suffering from reading failure at that time. Overcoming Dyslexia gave me the information that I needed so that I could map out a path to literacy for my son. In my reading remediation teacher training at the Dyslexia Training Institute, a whole unit was devoted to the study of this book. My copy of Overcoming Dyslexia is tattered because I reach for it so frequently.
Teaching the Brain to Read, by Duncan Milne, gave me a solid framework for understanding dyslexia and how the different parts of the brain that are utilized when we read. Teaching How the Written Word Works, by Peter Bowers, taught me how to use structured word inquiry to turn my students into word detectives. I give these two books my highest recommendation.
Recently, I read Shifting the Balance. This book provides lots of practical advice to help teachers to move away from ineffective balanced literacy teaching methods. I felt that the book was too soft on the balanced literacy approach considering the amount of harm that can come to young readers who are taught using the 3 cueing system. The soft approach is probably designed to “shift” the thinking of teachers who have been proponents of balanced literacy and feel stuck in that position. If you have already made the shift to structured literacy then I would not recommend the book. I bought the book because I sometimes find myself engaged in discussions with educators who passionately advocate for balanced literacy. Shifting the Balance gave me some insight into how to frame my discussions with these teachers, so that they are more likely to open their minds to change.
Reading Rockets is my “go to” website when I am researching effective literacy teaching practices. When I teach using morphology, “etymonline.com” is a useful resource. For anything related to Structured Word Inquiry (S.W.I.), Pete Bowers from the WordWorks Literacy Centre has great online resources to offer. If you would like to become trained in how to teach an effective reading remediation program then I recommend the Dyslexia Training Institute.
I also like to learn from webinars and podcasts. The International Dyslexia Association of Ontario has some terrific webinars. The podcast that most influenced my learning this year is Emily Hanford’s “Sold a Story.”
I hope that some of the resources that have helped me down the road to becoming an effective literacy teacher will help you too. If you are interested in checking out any of the resources on my bookshelf then you can go to a clickable graphic by using this link. What's on your bookshelf?