Dyslexia - Books for parents

The Gift of Dyslexia
by Ronald D. Davis, Eldon M. Braun

This book can change a life
Reviewer: L. mattox "tumble3" (Decatur, Ga United States)

My son is dyslexic. For years, reading was a source of frustration and inevitable tears. He struggled, I struggled, his teachers struggled. Little improvement was made for years.

Then, for 4th grade, I homeschooled him. My father bought me this book. I devoured it. I learned from it and I put it to use. THe changes were dramatic and faster than I could have ever expected.

The book explains so much about the nature of dyslexia, and it gives realistic excercises to do. And they are fun to do, so even my reluctant 9 year old was enjoying himself!

Now he is in 5th grade back at his old school. And he loves to read! Loves it! He's read Tolkien. He's on book 14 of the Redwall series. He reads everyday, and every night, in the car, in bed, everywhere. I am so grateful, so very grateful for this book.

As well as helping us bring the love of reading into my son's life, it also explains some of the benefits of dyslexia. Yes, benefits! Now, my son doesn't feel stigmatized. He is learning to put the strengths he has to use, and this book will help you do the same!

A life-changing book, I recommend it for anyone with even a touch of dyslexia. You will find it empowering!

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How To Reach and Teach Children and Teens with Dyslexia : A Parent and Teacher Guide to Helping Students of All Ages Academically, Socially, and Emotionally
by Cynthia M. Stowe

Practical strategies for dyslexia
Reviewer: "Lindina" "lrmtjc" (Louisiana)

  Ms. Stowe has managed to be both concise and thorough. This book is aimed primarily at teachers of students who have dyslexia, but parents will find it extremely helpful in understanding their child's (their own!) struggles with a confusing and frustrating condition. The interviews with adolescent and adult persons diagnosed with dyslexia bring the more academic aspects of the work to life, and help the reader to identify with the information in the other sections. Unlike those in some other books on the subject, the activities presented actually seem to be as they are described on the cover, "Practical." I especially liked the suggestions for teaching writing and making writing accessible to students on differing levels (word, sentence, paragraph) who might be working within the same group. I wish I'd had this book when my son was younger! I would recommend this book to principals and teachers, to parents of kids in school and parents who homeschool, and to youth and adults who grew up with any of the difficulties described.

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The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child (Hardcover)
by Robert Frank, Kathryn Livingston

A straightforward book that looks at the whole person
Reviewer: M. Lane (Ormond Beach, FL USA)

   There is a lot of writing about dyslexia and much of it is bad. It is a topic that lends itself to edu-speak, psycho-babble and not a little outright crankery. That is why something as clearly written as this book is so very welcome.
Unlike the vast majority of writers who take on this topic, Robert Frank does not focus narrowly on reading, comprehension and testing; he looks at the whole person. A dyslexic himself, Frank describes how dyslexics find alternative ways to navigate basic day-to-day tasks and the ways the disability might affect a child's outlook, self-image and character. This goes well beyond merely reading and grades.

   Make no mistake, this is a modest book that makes a few basic points, but as someone who is dyslexic, I found that this is one of the very few books on the subject that really spoke to me. I would particularly recommend it to parents who must figure what their children are going through.

   I hope this will fall into the hands of the many teachers who think these kids are just not trying. (And I really hope it gets looked at some of the many advocates of one-size-fits-all high-stakes testing in Florida and other states, but that probably is hoping for too much.)

A valuable book with many concrete, day-to-day examples and practical suggestions.

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How to Teach Your Dyslexic Child to Read: A Proven Method for Parents and Teachers
by Bernice H. Baumer

The First Book on Dyslexia to be read by Parents
Reviewer: A reader

As a parent of a dyslexic child, I've read most of the recommended books on the subject. Of all of them, this is the first one I would recommend to parents who have realized that their child is dyslexic.
The author presents most of the classical techniques in dealing with the dyslexic learning style in an exceptionally clear, concise, and very human style. She uses as a vehicle to do this her own experience in teaching dyslexic children and young adults. After using these techniques with my own daughter, I can say that many are quite helpful.

In the course of describing the learning-to-read process with dyslexic kids, the author also brings some practical thinking to the "phonics vs. whole-word" reading debate. She explains the necessity of phonics for word-attack skills in non-intuitive readers as well as the ultimate necessity of whole-word reading in order to establish fluency and comprehension.

At the end of the book she provides most-used word-lists, phonics charts, writing charts, and pictures. She tells you how to use these materials in applying the techniques previously described.

This book is not revolutionary nor does it promise a panacea for all the issues surrounding the dyslexic learning style. But, I recommend that you make it your first of several on this complex subject.

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