Hope & Inspiration: A Struggling Reader’s Journey & Accommodations to Support Classroom Learning

Carrie Hultgreen B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.

Tri-Association 2022

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Overview

Think about the struggling readers you have taught over the years and the hours you have dedicated to planning for differentiated instruction. What it is like for those students on a daily basis? How can we maximize planning time and accommodate to best meet their needs? In this workshop attendees will participate in a simulation that replicates what it is like to be a learner with reading difficulties. The facilitator will share her personal story about her son’s reading difficulties, milestones and triumphs. As well, participants will come away from the session with easy to implement accommodations to support students with reading difficulties.

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About the Presenter

I began my career in education in 1998. I have taught early childhood, elementary, middle years, high school and adult education courses in Canada, Japan, and Mexico.

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I moved to Monterrey, Mexico in July 2003. I worked at Prepa Tec until Spring 2012 when I joined the San Roberto family. My first position was as a grade 9 English language arts teacher and then I became the Middle School Literacy Instructional Coach. In August 2018 I began a position in RTI.

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This simulates the experience of a struggling reader!

With a bit of Web code, one man is making it easier for others to understand how reading with difficulty might feel.

The idea came to Victor Widell after his dyslexic friend told him letters seemed to swap in out of place when she looked at words.

Walk in the Shoes of a Struggling Reader

For many of us, reading is as automatic as breathing. But for the millions of students, reading is a difficult task that poses constant academic and emotional challenges. To simulate the

experience of a struggling reader, try using this key to decipher the coded statement on the next slide.

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Yvrmt z hgifttormt ivzwvi rh vcszfhgrmt.

a=/z/ b=/y/ c=/x/ d=/w/ e=/v/ f=/u/ g=/t/ h=/s/ i=/r/ j=/q/ k=/p/ l=/o/ m=/n/ n=/m/ o=/l/ p=/k/ q=/j/ r=/i/ s=/h/ t=/g/ u=/f/ v=/e/ w=/d/ x=/c/ y=/b/ z=/a/

SHARE OUT!

How did the exercise make you feel as a reader?

Classroom Accommodations for Struggling Readers

Pamphlet of Accommodations for Struggling Readers

KEY CONSIDERATIONS:

• Systematic and explicit instruction.
• Provide opportunities for both guided practice and independent practice.
• Not enough time in your reading block? Embed reading instruction into other subject areas.
• There is no downside to early intervention!

Thank you for joining the session!

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carrie.hultgreen@sanroberto.edu.mx