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Hello,
Welcome to the September issue of the Early Literacy/ Dyslexia newsletter. You will find several opportunities for professional learning included as well as some informational items. Are you interested in what the difference is between a clinical diagnosis and an educational identification of dyslexia...read on!
Also, the Kansas Dyslexia Handbook has just been revised/ updated and is in this issue for you to use and widely share. Please makes sure that your colleagues have it in their inbox!
Please share/ forward this newsletter widely and let me know if I can help you in any way,
Yours in education,
Laurie
Dr. Laurie Curtis, KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia Program Manager
HOT OFF THE PRESS! The Dyslexia Handbook is to be followed by all accredited schools in Kansas and is referred to in the recent Every Child Can Read Act. Please make sure all educators in your building/ district have this document and understand the contents and their implications for teaching all students in Kansas. It will be housed on the KSDE Dyslexia Page for all to reference.
The Every Child Can Read Act requires schools in Kansas to collect and report specific data to KSDE and share specific information with parents at 3rd grade conference time. This is in response to legislation and began on July 1, 2023. Please see the following document for guidance in meeting the requirements of this legislation.
LITERACY LIFELINE HAS STARTED!
We are going to try something new, and we are calling it "KSDE Literacy Lifeline"- this will be somewhat of a virtual office hours format...a place you can go to brainstorm with other educators. We will be available online via Zoom on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 pm (to accommodate both time zones) starting Thursday, September 7th. Come for a minute...come for 10 minutes...let's figure out how to support you in doing the next right thing!
If you have topics you know of you would like to discuss...feel free to give us a "heads up" by using this link! Literacy Lifeline Questions/ Topics.
There are only two rules to follow:
No student names or identifying information shared
Respectful and encouraging language required by all who join
Zoom link: KSDE Early Literacy/ Dyslexia Virtual Office Hours
What is the difference between diagnosing and identifying dyslexia?
This question was addressed at our summer Overcoming Dyslexia study, but still comes up periodically in conversations that I have with educators, administrators and parents. The link provides a good comparative look at the difference between a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia and educational identification necessary for schools to provide appropriate core instruction, tiered support and/ or special education services to meet the needs of students. Students who exhibit characteristics of dyslexia do not need an outside clinical diagnosis of dyslexia to be provided extra help in a classroom. However, schools do have a process in place to determine if a child is best served by special education services. Additional information can be found in this very important document provided.
Diagnosing or Identifying Dyslexia...what is the difference?
What are additional KSDE Documents that bring clarity to this issue?
There are specific requirements and guidelines in determining what students require special education services. Dyslexia is not an uncommon problem, with research stating that between 7-20% of students may exhibit characteristics of dyslexia. Because it presents on a continuum, many students are best served in the general education classroom with a knowledgeable teacher using a program aligned with the science of reading and the provision of tiered levels of support. Other students may be identified as having a specific learning disability (identified as dyslexia) and need a specialized educational plan. Below are two documents that provide additional information to bring clarity regarding to the decisions made to provide Below you will find the current KSDE Eligibility Indicators and a helpful document provided by KSDE Special Education Services that addresses frequently asked questions about dyslexia.
KSDE Eligibility Indicators (July 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions about Dyslexia
Registration closes September 12th!
Back by Popular Demand! Fresh Look at Phonics: Revisited
This text-based professional learning opportunity was done this past academic year and was enjoyed by multiple teachers across the state. We are offering it again for those who weren't able to participate last year. It would be a great study to do together with teachers in your building or just by yourself with your new professional colleagues on Zoom! It is based on the Wiley Blevins Book A Fresh Look at Phonics: Common Causes of Failure and 7 Ingredients for Success.
This will be offered via Zoom on Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:00 CST.
This will start on September 20th and last for 6 weeks on Wednesdays...with the final date of October 25th.
Registration can be found HERE: Registration for Fresh Look at Phonics Fall 2023
Registration closes September 15, 2023
Text-Based Professional Learning Certificate for PD Attendance Provided
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunity
Structured Literacy Interventions: Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties, Grade K-6
This book consists of ten chapters authored by leading literacy researchers and is edited by Louise Spear-Swerling. Topics for the chapters include poor-reader profiles, interventions for phonemic awareness, basic word recognition skills, reading multi-syllabic words, spelling interventions, fluency and vocabulary interventions, comprehension and written expression intervention and multicomponent structured literacy interventions for mixed reading difficulty. To participate in this study, you will need to acquire your own book. We are hoping to infuse some of the study with speakers.
This will be a 10 week study bimonthly on Mondays for one hour, 4:00 - 5:00 pm CST
Dates are: September 18, October 2, 16, 30, November 13, 27, December 11, January 8, 22, February 5, 19, 2024
Registration can be found HERE: Structured Literacy Interventions 2023-2024
The Kansas Book Festival is going to be held in Topeka on the Washburn University campus, hosted by the Mabee Library on Saturday, September 16, 2023. There will be a lineup of 59 authors, many with a Kansas connection! There will be actiivites for all ages and interests and all events are free. Come join in the fun!
If you are not near Topeka...and are "out west", on the next day, Sunday, September 17th at 1:00 pm, in Hays, KS there will be the Kansas Book Fest West held at Fort Hays State University. This free family fun event will be from 1:00 -4:00 pm and include something for all ages including games, read alouds and prizes!
See more information by selecting the links embedded in the titles of the events!
Please join us for the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference!
Empowered Together!
October 25-27, 2023
Hyatt Regency, Wichita, KS
Additional Information is found at the following link:
KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference
Strands being planned for this conference include:
Lots of breakouts, including one on a structured literacy tool for administrators presented by Amy Bybee, Assistant Superintendent for USD 290 and KSDE Teacher Leader Consultant
Register HERE
The TIME AND OPPORTUNITY IS RUNNING OUT!
There are only two more cohorts (1 year) left to enroll in LETRS training.
NEW LETRS for Administrators!
This is a 2-year program and includes 60 hours of online learning, reading and live training days via Zoom.
Registration for the Fall 2023 cohort closes on September 15, 2023.
LETRS for Educators/ Instructional Leaders K-12
This is two years of professional learning provided to support the transition to structured literacy to improve reading outcomes. Over 5,000 educators are already trained- or in the process of being trained at this time in Kansas!
Early Childhood LETRS
This takes 1 year and about 1.5 hours per week to complete.
Much more information and registration links can be found on the TASN Website:
Coming Attraction!
Jeri Powers and Melissa Brunner, KSDE Teacher Leader Consultants have finalized the recording of Dyslexia: Tier 1 Supports for Middle/ Secondary Students professional learning sessions that were created and provided throughout the state last spring. These recordings are being finalized to go on the KSDE Dyslexia Page and will be accompanied by a Padlet of helpful resources. Be looking for this three-part series that can provide important professional learning for any and all content teachers who work with our middle/secondary students! They should be available before the next newsletter!
“Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardour and diligence.”– Abigail Adams
If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please ask them to contact me at ELitDyslexia@ksde.org to request being added to the Early Literacy/ Dyslexia listserv, or visit the KSDE Dyslexia page and select the purple HERE button and select Newsletter to see the current and past issues.
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