Summer Learning

Strategies for Summer Reading for Children with Dyslexia

Bring out your child’s natural love of learning and encourage reading for pure pleasure. Here are some summer strategies to help your child with dyslexia remember what they learned in school this past year and see that reading can be useful and enjoyable.

Crickets, Books, and Bach: How to Create a Summer Listening Program

Listening to books is an entirely different experience than reading. Because audio books can be understood at a higher level than a child’s reading level, new types of books and authors become accessible. Find helpful tips on designing a summer audio book plan for your listener!

Summer Reading for Kids Who Need Encouragement

Reading is hard for many children, so summer reading can seem like a chore. Encourage reluctant and struggling readers by introducing them to these different formats, such as magazines, graphic novels, and audio books.

You might also suggest chapter book series that reintroduce familiar and beloved characters in new stories, in a writing style that feels familiar. Try the Judy Moody and Stink series by Megan McDonald, the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, or the Hank Zipzer series. For more book suggestions, see Favorite Books for Kids with Learning and Attention Issues, based on our survey of parents and educators.

Learn about online instruction from Lindamood Bell >

Building Background Knowledge

As we transition into summer, we’re thinking about how to use unstructured time to help children fill their “knowledge bank” about the world – through books, podcasts, hands-on activities, and kid-friendly websites. Follow your children's interests – some will dive deeply into science while others may be more interested in the creative arts or history or cultures of the world. Here are some resources to explore!

Start with a Book

At Start with a Book, kids choose topics they want to explore (from bugs to music to weather …), find great kids’ books for each topic, and then try some of the hands-on activities, writing ideas, educational apps, and websites for inquisitive kids. You’ll also find two DIY summer science camps, River Rangers and Space Rangers here.

Listen Up! Podcasts for Kids (and Their Parents)

Podcasts are a wonderful shared listening experience for kids and parents, where you can learn about how the world works, find out about music, or just hear a great adventure story, together. Here’s a fresh list of fun, fascinating (and family-friendly) podcasts.

Better Speech and Hearing Month

Each May, Better Hearing and Speech Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of speech-language pathologists in providing treatment.

Here are some helpful resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Auditory processing is a term used to describe what happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you. Children with auditory processing disorder (APD) often do not recognized the subtle differences between sounds in words because a dysfunction makes it difficult for the brain to interpret the information. Get the basics on symptoms, diagnosis, and current research of APD.

Related resources from Understood:

Find more of our resources on Speech and Language here >

Cece Bell and Her Superpowers!

Meet Cece Bell, the award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books including the Rabbit and Robot stories, the Sock Monkey series, and El Deafo, which won a Newbery Honor and the Geisel Award in 2015. In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful — and very awkward — hearing aid.

Parent and Educator Support During School Closures

Events and News

IDA will be hosting free bi-weekly webinars through their Facebook and YouTube pages. Accompanying the webinars, IDA will also be offering free resources and giveaways with registrations. Next up:

Innovative Ways to Teach Online, Part 2 (IDA)
May 11, 2020 | 2:00pm ET

Join The Siena School’s Jilly Darefsky (Head of School) and Simon Kanter (Director of Technology) for a tools and technology focused seminar on delivering instruction to students with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. Practical strategies for employing multisensory education in an online format will be discussed. Walk away with techniques that are immediately applicable to instruction. Register now >

Virtual Conference: Spotlight on Dyslexia (Learning Ally)
June 5, 2020 | 9:00am – 4:00pm ET

K12 principals and educators: join the Spotlight on Dyslexia virtual conference for a full day of professional learning. Keynote speakers: education expert Dr. Anita Archer and American Public Media journalist Emily Hanford. Earn up to 16 CE certificates. Register now >

ASHA Schools Connect (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
July 8-20, 2020

13 days of on-demand recorded sessions, live chats with invited speakers, open discussion boards, as well as a virtual exhibit hall. Take away practical, apply-today strategies targeted for your workplace and your interactions with students, teachers, parents, paraeducators, administrators, and others — and earn plenty of CE credits too! Connect online with SLPs who experience your same challenges and share your passion for working with children. Register now >

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