More Teaching, Less Crutches

I recently attended a dyslexia conference and a conversation with a teacher stayed with me. She talked about how dyslexia is "not a death sentence" and how there are so many aids on line. So many audio books, etc.  Students can everything read to them. I agree that technology has greatly increased students' access to more material and can be a great help to students with a lot of reading to get through. I think the priority, however,  should be to teach students to read, not simply give them a crutch.

If you had a damaged leg, wouldn't you rather have the leg repaired than just use crutches?  As a Reading Specialist I take children at all grade levels. I use a structured literacy program to teach them, beginning with their zone of proximal development (ZPD). The zone of proximal development is the zone in which the child is slightly uncomfortable, the material is just a little difficult so that learning is taking place. If a third grader is reading at a first grade level, then I have to start there, teach them the phonics skills they need and progress (as quickly as possible, but remaining in the ZPD of the student). Eventually the child will learn to read independently for life. 

In the meantime, will the student need grade level material read to them? Yes, definitely, but the priority is always to make the student and independent reader so they can do more without crutches.