International Dyslexia Association - Pennsylvania

10/31/2026

Before children can understand language on a page, they are developing an understanding of language through listening and speaking.

Oral language is a critical foundation for reading and writing.

When we talk about language, we're talking about much more than vocabulary. Children are developing knowledge of:

🔹 Phonology: the sounds within spoken language
🔹 Morphology: meaningful parts of words, such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes
🔹 Semantics: word meanings and vocabulary
🔹 Syntax: how words and sentences are organized
🔹 Pragmatics and discourse: how language is used to communicate ideas and connect meaning across sentences and conversations

All of these systems contribute to literacy.

Consider what happens when a student reads a sentence successfully. They must recognize the written words, but they also need to know what those words mean, understand how the sentence is structured, connect it to what came before, and draw on their knowledge of the topic.

Decoding gets us to the words. Language helps us understand them.

For students with dyslexia, difficulties with phonological and other aspects of language can contribute to challenges with word reading and spelling. Some students may also experience broader oral-language difficulties that affect vocabulary, grammar, or reading comprehension.

That's one reason effective literacy instruction needs to connect spoken and written language rather than treating reading as simply recognizing words on a page.

In the classroom, supporting language development can include:
• Explicitly teaching new vocabulary
• Discussing word meanings and word parts
• Giving students opportunities to explain and expand their ideas
• Reading rich texts aloud and discussing them
• Teaching sentence structure and grammar
• Building background knowledge
• Developing phonological and phonemic awareness
• Explicitly connecting speech sounds to written letters and patterns

Strong literacy instruction develops both the foundational skills needed to read words and the language and knowledge needed to understand, communicate, and write about what we read.

Want to explore the language-literacy connection further?

IDA-PA: Oral Language Impairments and Dyslexia
Learn how oral language development relates to dyslexia, reading comprehension, early identification, and intervention.
https://conta.cc/4zlbKSk

Reading Rockets: Oral Language
An accessible overview of how speaking and listening support reading development, with resources for educators and families.
https://conta.cc/3Wb5bTG

ASHA: Language in Brief
Explore how spoken and written language are connected, including phonology, grammar, semantics, reading, and writing.
https://conta.cc/4znXOH8

International Dyslexia Association: Structured Literacy
Learn how effective reading and writing instruction integrates oral language with explicit teaching of written language.
https://conta.cc/4yPDuNG

10/28/2026

Reading and writing skills don't develop in isolation. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing all work together as children build language and literacy.

Families can support that development through simple, everyday activities: reading and talking about books together, playing with sounds and rhymes, retelling stories, discussing new vocabulary, writing notes or stories, and encouraging children to explain their ideas.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers free guides for families of elementary-age students with practical ideas for strengthening these skills at home.

🔹 Kindergarten–Grade 2
https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/build-your-childs-skills-kindergarten-to-second-grade.pdf

🔹 Grades 3–5
https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/build-your-childs-skills-third-to-fifth-grade.pdf

Looking for even more ideas?

📖 ASHA: Suggestions for Parents
Grade-by-grade suggestions for supporting children's communication, reading, and writing development:
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/suggestions/

📖 Reading Rockets: Family Literacy Activities
Free activities and downloadable parent tip sheets covering vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and more:
https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/literacy-tips-activities/growing-readers/family-literacy-activities

📖 National Center on Improving Literacy: Supporting Literacy at Home
Simple ways families can incorporate reading, language, storytelling, rhyming, and writing into everyday life:
https://improvingliteracy.org/resource/supporting-your-child-s-literacy-at-home/

For children with dyslexia or other reading difficulties, home activities aren't a replacement for evidence-based reading instruction, but they can provide valuable opportunities to strengthen language, vocabulary, knowledge, and a positive relationship with reading and writing.

Find more information and resources from IDA-Pennsylvania:
https://pbida.org/

💾 Save these resources for later or share them with a family who could use a few new ideas!

10/26/2026

10/23/2026

What does effective reading instruction look like for a student with dyslexia?

Students with dyslexia can learn to read successfully, but how they are taught matters.

Effective instruction should be explicit, systematic, cumulative, and grounded in the structure of language. This includes direct teaching and plenty of practice with skills such as:

🔹 Phonemic awareness
🔹 Sound-symbol relationships and phonics
🔹 Decoding and spelling
🔹 Syllable patterns and word structure
🔹 Fluency
🔹 Vocabulary and language comprehension

You may also hear the term Structured Literacy used to describe this approach. Rather than asking students to guess words from pictures or context, instruction teaches them how written language works in a clear, intentional sequence.

Want to learn more? These free resources are a great place to start:

Child Mind Institute: How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to Read
An accessible overview for families and educators explaining systematic phonics instruction and what to look for in a reading program.
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-teach-kids-with-dyslexia-to-read/

International Dyslexia Association: Structured Literacy
Learn what Structured Literacy is, what it teaches, and why explicit and systematic instruction is especially important for students with dyslexia.
https://dyslexiaida.org/structured-literacy-effective-instruction-for-students-with-dyslexia-and-related-reading-difficulties/

Reading Rockets: Effective Reading Instruction for Students with Dyslexia
A practical introduction to Structured Literacy and the components of effective instruction.
https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/curriculum-and-instruction/articles/effective-reading-instruction-students-dyslexia

National Center on Improving Literacy
Explore free resources about dyslexia, phonics, phonemic awareness, intervention, assessment, and the science of reading for both families and educators.
https://improvingliteracy.org/resource/

And find more dyslexia information, resources, and support through IDA-Pennsylvania:
https://pa.dyslexiaida.org

💾 Save these resources for later or share them with a parent, educator, or colleague who may find them helpful.

10/21/2026

Today, advocates, educators, families, and literacy leaders gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol for the Dyslexia Awareness Rally, raising their voices for evidence-based reading instruction, early screening, and timely intervention for Pennsylvania students.

But awareness is only part of the work. Implementation matters, too.

As Pennsylvania moves forward with Act 47, school and district leaders are preparing for important changes to literacy instruction, professional development, universal screening, intervention, and family communication.

The Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition has created an Act 47 Implementation Checklist (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1reOZHkZiJ-iIqO_HfSmkiho2Ll9SeazE/view) to help district leaders understand the timeline, identify next steps, and begin preparing for the requirements ahead.

Today’s rally was about making sure every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to become a successful reader. This resource helps carry that work from the Capitol into our schools and classrooms.

Because when kids read, Pennsylvania succeeds.

10/19/2026

📚 Looking for reliable resources to better understand and support students with dyslexia?

The University of Florida Literacy Institute, or UFLI, offers a free Dyslexia Resource Hub designed for teachers, families, and advocates.

The hub brings together resources to help you:

• Learn more about dyslexia, including common myths and facts
• Explore evidence-based approaches to reading instruction and intervention
• Find professional learning opportunities
• Better understand dyslexia-related education policy and student rights
• Connect with additional trusted resources and organizations

Whether you're supporting a student at school, helping a child at home, or building your own understanding of dyslexia, UFLI is a valuable resource to keep bookmarked.

Explore the Dyslexia Resource Hub:
https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/dyslexia/

Find additional dyslexia information and resources from IDA-Pennsylvania:
https://pbida.org/

10/17/2026

THE FINISH LINE IS HERE!

Today is the final day of the 2026 Dyslexia Dash.

To everyone who ran, walked, donated, shared, cheered someone on, or helped spread dyslexia awareness this year: thank you.

There's still time to cross your own finish line! Complete your 3.1 miles and submit your time before the Dash closes today.

Together, every step adds up to something much bigger.

Thank you for Dashing with IDA-Pennsylvania!

pbida.org/2026Dash

10/16/2026

ONE DAY LEFT!

The 2026 Dyslexia Dash wraps up tomorrow, October 17.

If you've been meaning to complete your virtual 5K, now's the time. Walk it. Run it. Grab a friend. Take the family. Hit the treadmill. Choose your favorite route.

Already completed your 3.1 miles? Don't forget to submit your time!

However you've chosen to participate, thank you for helping us raise awareness and support individuals with dyslexia.

Let's finish strong, IDA-PA!

pbida.org/2026Dash

10/13/2026

Dysgraphia is more than just messy handwriting.

Dysgraphia is a learning difficulty that can affect handwriting, spelling, writing fluency, and a student's ability to get their thoughts onto paper efficiently.

Students with dysgraphia may struggle with things like:
• Forming letters consistently
• Spacing letters and words
• Writing quickly or fluently
• Spelling
• Copying information accurately
• Organizing and expressing ideas in writing

For some students, writing can require so much effort that it becomes difficult to focus on what they actually want to say.

The good news? The right combination of explicit instruction, accommodations, and assistive tools can make a meaningful difference.

Understanding what dysgraphia looks like is an important first step toward making sure students receive support that addresses their actual needs.

Learn more about dysgraphia, including signs, accommodations, and instructional strategies:
https://keepreadingandlearning.com/dysgraphia/

Find additional information and resources from IDA-Pennsylvania:
https://pbida.org/

10/11/2026

It's more than 3.1 miles.

Every mile walked and every mile run during the Dyslexia Dash represents something bigger: a community committed to raising awareness, supporting literacy, and creating a better future for individuals with dyslexia.

That's why we Dash.

Whether you're an educator, a parent, a family member, an advocate, or someone whose own story includes dyslexia, there's a place for you on the IDA-PA team.

There's still time to be part of it. The 2026 Dyslexia Dash continues through October 17.

Join us: pbida.org/2026Dash