Recommendations for Identifying Students Prone to Reading Challenges & Dyslexia
Early identification leads to more effective and efficient remediation.
Screen Early
Children can be screened for their risk of dyslexia prior to the start of kindergarten to determine their risk of developing later reading challenges.
Targeted Effective Intervention
Reading remediation is most effective when administered between kindergarten and third grade.
Smart Investment
Investing in early screening and intervention will reduce long term costs associated with special education.
It is possible to maintain critical word reading skills of most children at risk for reading failure at roughly average levels if specialized instruction is provided beginning sometime during kindergarten or first grade. (Vellutino, Scanton, Sipay, Small, Pratt, Chen & Denckla, 1996)
What does SCREENED mean?
Short, maximum 30 minutes
Comprehensive, test for key domains, family history and pre-literacy and literacy skills
Resourceful, use tools that you already have
Early, screen as early as possible
ESL and dialect inclusion, make sure to include minority and english language learners
Neurobiology or genetics, children who have parents with reading difficulties have a 50 % of inheriting them
Evidence-based response, need to assess the child in their current environment
Developmentally appropriate, assessments need to be appropriate for the child's age
(Gaab, 2017)
