The Road to Decode for Dyslexia Awareness Month

Teach My Kid to Read (TMKTR) is a verified nonprofit organization committed to providing parents, educators, and anyone interested in literacy education with the tools to help all children, including those with dyslexia, learn to read. Through advocacy and programming, TMKTR helps build awareness in the community about best instructional practices, dyslexia, and the science of reading. 

For Dyslexia Awareness Month in October 2019, TMKTR is partnering with libraries to promote evidence-based strategies that help all children learn to read. The October program, The Road to Decode, highlights essential books called decodable readers.


Why Promote Strategies for Dyslexia? 
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, affecting an estimated 20 percent of the U.S. population. Many parents, and even some educators, don’t understand how we learn to read or how dyslexia affects that process. So, many children with dyslexia fall into the cracks and never learn to read fluently. With early identification, appropriate interventions, and instruction, a child with dyslexia can successfully learn to read. If we can increase awareness of this common reading issue and spread the word about effective reading strategies and essential resources, such as decodable books, more children in New York State will learn to read, creating a pathway to future academic and professional success. 

What Are Decodable Books? 
 Decodable books use words that are easier for new readers to sound out and recognize. Decodable books enable a child to use correct print-to-sound or phonics pathways, resulting in greatly improved reading skills. The intent of decodable books is that children will read independently, using their knowledge of phonics to decode unfamiliar words. Why guess when you can read! Decodable books enable readers to develop effective reading strategies and to become more fluent readers. They help all children learn to read, but are especially valuable in helping children with dyslexia. About The Road to Decode For the month of October, Teach My Kid to Read will provide library partners with information about decodable readers, a suggested book list highlighting decodable books from several publishers, a poster, videos, access to an online course, and other educational materials. Additionally, they will provide workshops or additional programming upon request. 

How Can You Help? 
Design, printing and shipping costs are expensive! Due to demand for the program throughout New York and other states, TMKTR is asking for your help so they can support more libraries throughout New York, and the other states that want to raise awareness of dyslexia and help more kids learn to read! To purchase your own Road to Decode t-shirt visit https://www.bonfire.com/teach-my-kid-to-read/. Learn more about us at www.teachmykidtoread.org

Follow Teach My Kid to Read and their Road to Decode program on Facebook and Twitter.