The Literacy Lab is an intimate K-5 classroom-based environment for all students – including those with language-related difficulties, such as dyslexia. As a certified teacher and dyslexia specialist (C-SLDS), Melissa understands that explicit, multisensory, individualized instruction is what struggling students need to be successful.
In this literacy classroom*, students will experience a community in which they are understood, supported, and taught in a way that meets their unique needs. Multisensory techniques are combined with explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Handwriting, spelling, and writing composition are developed using the Slingerland Multisensory Approach®. Students learn in whole group, small groups, and individual groupings as they move through the learning spiral (practice, apply, automate, and transfer) with the skills needed for reading and writing.
The Wired for Reading® curriculum introduces students to the sounds and letters of the English alphabet using kid-friendly linguistics concepts. Phonics patterns are learned with stories and costumes. As students master sounds and map them to print, they begin to build the “House of English” which includes all of the layers of the English language, culminating in Greek and Latin roots.
As participants of the Literacy Lab, students are screened for risk indicators of dyslexia in the fall, winter, and spring. Their progress toward benchmark goals is tracked closely and communicated to parents monthly using progress-monitoring graphs.
In addition, field trips provide a rich experience for the development and use of background knowledge, vocabulary, and oral language. As children learn to read the words on the pages of books, they will also understand what the words mean because the words are part of their speaking vocabulary. Conversely, a growing understanding of the world also encourages more reading as the cycle of growth and discovery continues!
Opportunities will be given for caregiver education, classroom volunteering, and classroom learning extensions.
*Other subjects such as math, science, social studies, etc. are not included.