Several other Catholic schools around the state have implemented programs to help children with dyslexia. Patty James, a resource teacher and curriculum coordinator at St. Edward School in Little Rock, has worked with students since 2000 that have varying degrees of learning disabilities.
“They say one in five children has dyslexia. That means 20 percent of kids in our schools have dyslexia,” James said. “They think children aren’t trying hard enough, they think these children aren’t smart. These kids have average to above average intelligence. It’s frustrating for the parents and child.”
James said recent studies have focused on determining the cause.
“Researchers had kids trying to read while doing an MRI. With a child that doesn’t have dyslexia, the left side of your brain does the reading. When a child with dyslexia is trying to read, that part of their brain is not lighting up, the other side of the brain is trying to read.”
James said the program is currently using the Orton-Gillingham method for students with dyslexia.
“It’s very sequential, very structured. You teach the skill and practice it the same 11 ways and they have to master it that way to go on. You do a lot of things with sound before you put the letters with it,” James said. “It’s very multi-sensory. A child listens and then they vocalize it back. They’re writing things, moving letter blocks around.”
In addition to CHS and St. Edward, five other Catholic schools reported they are providing specific support to dyslexic students.
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