Book Review by Cindy Atlas

Posted by cloetz on Jan 29, 2008

"Overcoming Dyslexia” by Dr. Sally Shaywitz

If you ever wanted to really understand the mysteries of reading disorders, this is the book to read.  Dr. Sally Shaewitz does an excellent job of unraveling how the brain of a dyslexic reader works.  In addition, she gives many ideas on of how to reach and teach a dyslexic student.

One of the key facts revealed in book is the extremely low incidence of true dyslexia.  Dr. Shaywitz points out that the term “dyslexia” is often used to categorize “struggling readers”. Dr. Shaewitz goes into great detail explaining those differences and how to determine a dyslexic reader through proper evaluation.  Also, there are many tips on how to teach reading to those “struggling readers” who have been passed on from grade to grade, not diagnosed properly and/or not given the right type of instruction based on the specific area of reading the student is struggling with.

Not only does Dr. Shaywitz discuss diagnosing reading disorders, she gives a detailed review of how to teach reading to all students using research-based reading strategies.

This book would be helpful for any teacher who teaches reading in the early elementary grades.  The book would also help teachers who have struggling readers in the upper elementary and secondary grades and want to know how to teach those students to read.

I believe that if all teachers had the foundations of teaching reading that are outlined in Overcoming Dyslexia, there would not be so many struggling readers ending up in high school without being able to read properly and many times graduating with no or very limited reading skills .  In addition, if struggling readers were caught early on in elementary school or better yet, taught how to read properly in the primary grades, there would be fewer students misdiagnosed as needing special education services.  I have witnessed many students who ended up in special education due to a reading disorder and not a true reading disability based on an actual learning disability affecting their ability to read.  All that many of those misdiagnosed students needed was the proper teaching of reading based on their individual learning needs, not specialized special education services.

I highly recommend the book, “Overcoming Dyslexia.”