Beatty,+Joanne,+Reading

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About Me: My name is Joanne Beatty and I am a junior in the Elementary Education Major here at SOU. I am what people call a non-traditional student, meaning I came back to school after a period of time. When I originally went to college in 1989, straight out of high school, I was a drama major and Spanish minor and attended UC Berkeley. I completed two years of school and then my life’s path led me to working in the medical and chiropractic fields for many years. I grew up in a small town called Tracy, in central California. I moved to Oregon in 2000 and absolutely love it here. I have two sisters who are both married and my middle sister has two sons and a daughter. I enjoy spending time with my two cats, friends and white water rafting. I vacationed in August of 2011 in Wyoming and was able to raft on the Snake River, an amazing experience!

Something that I want you to know about me:

My mother, Mary, was Costa Rican and I am bilingual. I have been to Costa Rica only once when I was four years old, so I do not remember a whole lot. It is a dream of mine to return someday to see the many first and second cousins I have that live there and to experience the beauty and splendor of mother's native country. Speaking Spanish has been a big asset throughout my school and working careers and I feel it will be a benefit to me as a teacher.

My education and career goals:

I plan on graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in June of 2013. I hope to then attend the Masters in Teaching program, also here at SOU. I am not certain which grade level I would like to teach. When I first became an education major in 2004, I really wanted to teach third or fifth grade but my recent practicum experience has me considering an earlier grade like perhaps first or second. I also would like to pursue an accreditation in Special Education at some point in my educational career.

Things that bring me joy:

Things that bring me joy include; family, friends, children, smiles, laughter, my cats, frogs, singing, spiritual growth and being of service to others.

My greatest fear about being a teacher is:

My greatest fear about teaching is teaching mathematics. Math has not always been my best subject and I struggle with math and test anxiety.

A time when something was extremely difficult to learn:

I had this experience very recently in Math 211. I was in elementary school from 1976-1982 and during that period of time we were taught by rote memorization and drilling. The current method, which I believe is better, is to use strategies to do math and to check your work. The process of unlearning what is second nature to me and learning multiple strategies to problem solve with proved to be very difficult for me. I felt lost through the entire term. I spent many hours in the math tutoring center in the library and studying for tests with other students. I seemed to be the one who always got concepts last or not at all. This made me feel frustrated and pretty helpless at times. I feel this experience will help me connect to students with learning differences by making me more patient and understanding of students’ varying abilities in subjects I teach, especially math.

What I want to gain from this course:

I would like to become better informed about the different ways students can be exceptional and how to best accommodate their needs in order to give them the best educational experience possible. I also want to gain knowledge of strategies to create the most inclusive classroom I possibly can.

Introduction to Inclusion Strategies in Reading: Reading disorder (often called dyslexia, reading disability or reading difference) is a learning disorder marked by a significant gap in a learner’s general intelligence and his or her reading skills. First recognized in the late nineteenth century the cause of reading disorder is still not known. The most common cause of academic failure and underachievement is reading difficulties. Learners with reading disorder commonly experience: omitting words while reading, poor comprehension when reading (either silently or aloud), slow reading speed, reversing words or letters, limited sight word vocabulary and difficulty decoding syllables or single words and associating them with sounds (phonics). Also children with reading disorder can exhibit; delays in spoken language, mathematics disorder, disorder of written expression, confusion with directions, or right/left handedness and confusion with opposites like up/down, early/late, etc. Reading disorder is mainly treated with skilled teaching. The severity of reading and writing problems can be lessened through effective and informed classroom instruction. Experts agree that customized education is the only remedy but other treatment approaches used can vary from special diets to visual stimulation. Successful programs that address individual reading needs are phonics based, multi-sensory and highly structured. <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">I chose this topic because while I am not diagnosed with dyslexia or a specific reading disorder I have always been an extremely slow reader. I do have very good comprehension and retention of what I read though. I have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and I assume my slow reading can be attributed to my lack of focus and inattention. If I am reading for pleasure I tend to be a faster reader perhaps it is the anxiety of knowing I need to remember what I have read that slows me down when reading for school or work. I wanted to learn about strategies for inclusive instruction of learners with reading disorder because of my own struggles with reading. Since I can empathize with these learners I wanted to learn more about this in order to be the best teacher I can be.

<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Top 5 Things I Learned Doing my Research:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">I learned that acronyms are my new best friends…PASS, SCREAM, FLEXIBLE, etc.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The cause of dyslexia is still unknown.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Approximately 80% of students with learning disabilities have been described as reading disabled.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">ADHD is not a learning disability it is a behavioral disorder and students with it are thought to be more likely to have a learning disability.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Although IEP’s are unique to the student they are written for there are certain general commonalities in the modifications that benefit students with a reading disorder.

<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Top Resource: __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">LDA-Learning Disabilities Association of America __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Provides support to people with learning disabilities, their parents, teachers and professionals to ensure their success in school, at work and in life.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Provides cutting edge information on learning disabilities, practical solutions, and a comprehensive network of resources on the national, state and local levels.

<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Additional Resources: __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">National Center for Learning Disabilities-LD.org __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">LD Online __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The International Dyslexia Association __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Teacher Vision __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Mayer- Johnson (Special Education Super Source) __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Free Library by Farlex __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Bright Hub Education __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Reading Rockets __ <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">This site includes teaching strategies and guidelines for implementing proven, research-based interventions that will help you to reach and teach students at every level.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Especially for Teachers section includes features like Effective Teaching Practices, Monitoring Progress and universal Design for Learning.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">This site also includes an Insights Blog, a resource locator and resources in Spanish.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The site features helpful articles, multimedia, monthly columns by noted experts, a comprehensive resource guide and a Yellow Pages referral directory of professionals, schools, and products.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Provides the parents and teachers with accurate, authoritative information about learning disabilities so children with learning disabilities can obtain the help they need.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Includes top articles, multimedia, Q & A, recommended books and links, and forums.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">A non-profit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to the study and treatment of the learning disability, dyslexia as well as related language-based learning differences.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Its four essential areas include:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Advocacy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Information and Referral Services
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parent Support and Outreach
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Standards and Practices for Service Provider
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">3 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">This site is dedicated to helping teachers save time with 22,000 pages of classroom-ready lesson plans, printables, and resources.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Its Inclusion Resources section includes:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Information and advice, teaching strategies, adapting materials for inclusion and additional resources.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">There is a 7 day free trial but then an annual membership fee of $39.95 which is why I gave this resource a 3 out of 5, great site but too costly.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">A site that sells special education products, software and tools that assist in instruction, life skills and learning.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Including Boardmaker__©__ software, that is a design program that lets you make and adapt curriculum materials for students who need symbols.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">An online free library with 200+ current and relevant articles, reports, essays and book reviews on Inclusion Strategies in Reading.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 out 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">A diverse site with education at its core catering to students, parents and teachers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Helps teachers to gain a better understanding of the types of inclusion, how to assist students with special needs, and the types of disorders or disabilities they may encounter.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Including modified lesson plans and teaching tips.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 out of 5 Stars **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">A website dedicated to bringing the best researched-based strategies to assist teachers, parents and students to help young children become strong and confident readers and helping those who struggle.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Includes classroom strategies, help for struggling readers, the ABC’s of teaching reading, reading topics and has a bilingual site in Spanish: <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|www.ColorinColorado.org] <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">.

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