Go Phonics utilizes these combined strategies (as part of its underlying framework), to make it highly effective for struggling/dyslexic beginning readers:

1. Use simultaneous, multisensory instruction for teaching the name, formation, and sound of letters: vison, hearing, and touch simultaneously to promote higher retention. 

2. Teach phonics skills one at a time in building block fashion.

3. Use a sequence that minimizes confusion (systematic).

4. Teach decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling) skills using the 42 basic sounds of the English language---helping those who cannot memorize words by sight, and helping all students to read larger words independently.

5. Review DAILY the vowel, phonogram, and digraph sounds until mastered. 

6. Provide integrated materials that give substantial decoding and encoding practice to achieve mastery.

7. Make the practice FUN--transforming it into a magical experience by using games, songs, and activities that support the instruction.

8. Give students preparation before reading a story by playing a game and doing worksheets related to the new sound, and reading and language arts skills that will be in the story.

9. Provide decodable stories with controlled vocabulary that builds on the skills taught to date---eliminating the tendency to guess.

10. Teach comprehension and language arts skills within the context of the stories (to give the skills meaning and purpose).

Why do some children have trouble 
learning to read and spell?
1. A premature baby may mature and learn slower than babies born to term. 
2. Missed school (due to illness or moving) may be a cause. 
3. The student may have a low I.Q.. 
4. ADD (attention deficit disorder) makes it impossible for some children to sit still and listen to instruction. 
5. The student may have dyslexia -- a learning disability that is a language based disorder. 

What does the word "dyslexia" mean?
The word "dyslexia" broken apart: 
"dys" means not able or having difficulty with
"lexia" comes from the Greek word for "language"

What are the common signs of dyslexia?
1. Difficulty remembering the names of the letters of the alphabet 
2. Difficulty remembering the sounds of the letters 
3. Reversing letters when writing (b-d), or flipping them (b-p) 
4. Writing right to left -- mirror writing 
5. Reading words backwards (tap - pat) 
6. Scrambling letters in reading or writing (gril - girl) 
7. Substituting words for the written word (rat - mouse, truck - van, house - home) 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research
Results Released in 1994:
1. Dyslexia affects at least 1 out of 5 children in the United States.
2. Dyslexia represents the most common and prevalent of learning disabilities.
3. Some forms of dyslexia are highly heritable.
4. Dyslexia is the leading cause of reading failure and school dropouts in our nation.
5. Children do NOT outgrow reading failure or dyslexia.
6. Reading evidence does not support the use of "whole language" reading approaches to teach dyslexic children.
7. Reading failure caused by dyslexia is highly preventable through direct, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness.
8. Dyslexia is identifiable, with 92% accuracy, at ages 5-1/2 to 6-1/2.
9. Dyslexia and ADD/HD are two separate and identifiable entities.
10. Dyslexia and AD/HD so frequently co-exist within the same child that it is always best to test for both.
11. Early intervention is essential for this population.
12. Reading failure is the most commonly shared characteristic of juvenile offenders.

"...once a child falls behind, he must make up thousands of unread words to catch up to his peers who are continuing to move ahead."
From "Overcoming Dyslexia"
by Sally Shaywitz

 "If help is given in 4th grade, rather than late in kindergarten, it takes four times as long to improve the same skills by the same amount."
From "Straight Talk About Reading"
by Susan Hall and Louisa Moats

Articles from the International Dyslexia Association:
1. What is Multisensory Teaching?

2.Testing for Dyslexia

3. Individualized Education 
Program (IEP)

The Orton Gillingham Approach for Teaching Reading, web page: Multisensory Teaching
 

Revised definition from the International Dyslexia Association: Dyslexia is a neurological disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. Varying degrees of severity, it is manifested by difficulties in receptive and expressive language, including phonological processing, in reading, in writing, spelling, handwriting, and sometimes arithmetic.

Research definition used by the National Institutes of Health: Dyslexia is one of several distinct learning disabilities. It is a specific language based disorder of constitutional origin characterized by difficulties in single word decoding, usually reflecting insufficient phonological processing abilities. These difficulties are often unexpected in relation to age and other cognitive academic abilities. They are not the result of generalized developmental disability or sensory impairment.

Dyslexia is manifested by variable difficulty with different forms of language, often including, in addition to problems in reading, a conspicuous problem acquiring proficiency in writing and spelling.
 

Persistent Myths About Dyslexia:
In 1994, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released the results of their 14 year longitudinal study and specific research projects. These projects have been independently replicated, have yielded the same results. You will encounter the following myths frequently.

1. Dyslexia does not exist.
2. Dyslexia is a "catch all" term
3. Dyslexia is rare.
4. Intelligence and ability to read are related. Therefore, if someone doesn't read, they can't be very smart. Gifted children can't be dyslexic or have learning disabilities.
5. There is no way to truly diagnose dyslexia.
6. Dyslexia cannot be diagnosed until a child is 8 or 11 years old.
7. Children who experience reading and writing problems in kindergarten through 3rd grade will outgrow them. They're just slow.
8. Children outgrow dyslexia.
9. Dyslexia is a vision problem. Therefore, vision therapy and eye exercises will solve the problem.
10. Dyslexia only affects children who speak English.
11. The way to help a child to read is to force him/her to read at least 20 minutes a day.
12. Dyslexia is an auditory problem.
13. Dyslexia can be "cured" by a speech and language pathologist.