Doctor Dyslexia Dude Blog

The stack of dictionaries on my desk—Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate, Intermediate, and Elementary editions—represents far more than just books.  They symbolize the power of language to transform lives. Each one, tailored for different stages of learning, has been a companion on my journey of growth and self-empowerment since 1996.  Dictionaries are not just for looking up words; they are tools of liberation.  They unlock access to knowledge, give us the power to articulate our thoughts, and allow us to understand the world.  Historically, literacy has been a form of resistance, a way for marginalized communities to claim their freedom and voice.  Even today, having the right words can be the difference between being silenced and being heard. For me, these books are reminders of the potential that comes with literacy.  Whether teaching pronunciation symbols to students or discovering the nuances of a word myself, I see these dictionaries as gateways to empower...

The Merriam-Webster dictionary is more than just a reference tool—it’s a powerful resource for teaching and learning, especially for students with diverse literacy needs.  Merriam-Webster Whether you follow a structured literacy or balanced literacy approach, incorporating dictionary skills can strengthen foundational reading and writing abilities. Here’s how How the Dictionary Supports Both Approaches Key Literacy Component Structured Literacy Balanced Literacy Phonics and Decoding Provides pronunciation symbols for explicit teaching of sound-letter relationships. Supports decoding of unfamiliar words during guided or independent reading. Syllable Division Reinforces systematic instruction in breaking words into syllables for decoding and spelling.  Helps students identify syllable patterns during shared or independent reading to improve fluency. Morphology Highlights prefixes, roots, and suffixes for explicit word structure instruction. Encourag...

The dictionary remains one of the most effective yet underutilized tools for literacy and language learning.  Image generated by OpenAI's DALL·E tool. Its evidence-based design supports essential skills like decoding, pronunciation, and vocabulary acquisition, aligning with proven literacy practices. Features such as pronunciation symbols, syllable breakdowns, and word origins empower learners to decode words independently and deepen their language understanding. High ROI with Low Impact The dictionary is a low-cost resource with significant benefits. It requires minimal infrastructure, making it an accessible tool for classrooms, libraries, and homes.  Students gain the skills to approach unfamiliar words confidently, reinforcing self-reliance and comprehension without the need for expensive programs or ongoing costs. Scaling Across Schools and Districts Scaling the use of dictionaries in literacy instruction is straightforward and impactful: Professional Development : Train ...

The dictionary may not be the flashiest tool in education, but it’s undeniably one of the most practical. Unlike packaged curriculums that cost thousands of dollars, the dictionary offers a simple and affordable way to teach literacy skills when used correctly. At the 2024 OK Adult Education & Literacy Conference, my session, "Crack the Code: Dictionary Pronunciation," focused on this very idea. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising how this straightforward method could teach students so much.  One attendee noted, “Such an easy idea that I've never heard of to teach a student so many things,” while another declared, “I’ll never look at a dictionary the same again.” What makes this approach so powerful is its simplicity. The dictionary provides everything needed to teach foundational skills like phonemic awareness and phonics, along with deeper concepts like word meaning, parts of speech, and morphology.  By focusing on pronunciation symb...

In education and media, we often focus on isolated themes like curriculum design, representation, and social equity. However, a holistic approach to student identity demands that we explore these elements in combination. The Venn diagram in this post visually represents the interconnectedness of three key factors: Linguistics (Structured Literacy), Media Representation, and Race. At their intersection lies the core of student identity—a sense of belonging that is fundamental for academic success and personal development. The Power of Linguistics: Structured Literacy Linguistics (Structured Literacy) forms the bedrock of how students access, understand, and utilize language in education. This includes not only grammar and pronunciation but also vocabulary choices, sentence structure, and the organization of ideas. For students, especially those with specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, a strong linguistic foundation is crucial for building confidence and competence in the cl...

The Science of Reading (SoR) has become a central focus in education, emphasizing evidence-based practices for teaching literacy skills. However, alongside these instructional methods, the role of policy in shaping literacy outcomes is often overlooked.  Understanding how resources—both public and private—are allocated can shed light on why certain literacy disparities persist, even with advances in the SoR.  This piece explores the balance of resources and inequities through the lens of the equation  LQ = R {Pub + Priv (M)} - I , which highlights how policy decisions impact literacy quality and modern-day illiteracy rates. Figure 1 : A black and white vector illustration depicting the balance of resources for literacy, showing books and coins on a balanced scale, symbolizing the relationship between educational resources and funding. Created by an AI illustration tool. While instructional approaches are critical for improving reading skills, how resources are distributed...