Customer Reviews

The Dyslexia Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers (J-B Ed: Checklist)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a special educator. I have other books on this subject area (dyslexia, reading problems and language-related disorders.) This one is very useful for a couple of reasons. Although it is not exhaustive and it is nowhere near comprehensive, it is well organized and can be used quickly. The bullet-point outline format makes it easy to find things. I also really like the bibliographies and reference sections.

I really see this more as a reference for teachers than parents. The authors use a lot of jargon in the book. They do take time to define a lot of the terms, but to a reader who is using this as a reference rather than reading it cover-to-cover, that could be a hindrance.

This is a very handy reference for special educators. It can help when you're looking at differentiating instruction, thinking about accommodations and modifications for individual education plans, and even when you're planning lessons. This could also be a useful reference for content-area teachers who have special education students main-streamed into their classrooms. I also think content-area teachers of co-taught classes might find this useful. Parents who are already familiar with dyslexia and related conditions could benefit from this book.

I would NOT recommend this as a first book on the subject area. Although it covers a lot of material, it does not cover it in great depth. I would NOT recommend this as your only book on the subject area. There are places where the authors do not provide complete information. They provide extensive reference lists and bibliographies section-by-section. This is a very useful approach to references, and I have already used many of them.

I showed this to some friends of mine who were special educators. Most of them really liked it. I showed it to some parents. Some of them found the book difficult to use. They noted the jargon and the fact that the book was incomplete in some areas. I gave it four out of five.

The Dyslexia Checklist is not going to be your go-to book on Dyslexia. It's not an introductory volume, nor is it a comprehensive look into Dyslexia. It shouldn't be, nor is it intended to be, your only book on the subject. Rather, it's a handy, diverse, understandable reference for all things Dyslexia, geared towards being helpful for teachers and parents alike.

And it succeeds in being exactly what it intends to be.

No, you're not going to become an overnight expert with this book, but what the book WILL do is useful, easy to grasp information that will help adults better understand and identify Dyslexia, how it impacts a child, what parents and teachers can do to cope with it, and an array of resources for more information. It's all organized in list format; the presentation is very much "at-a-glance" in nature -- and that's perfect.

The Dyslexia Checklist is, as it states in the subtitle, a reference book. And in that respect, it succeeds wildly. Recommended -- but not as your only book on the subject.

This is a great book! I wish this had been around when I was in elementary school. I've had dyslexia all my life and overcome the challenges all on my own. This helpful book of checklists might have been useful in figuring out what was going on at the time. This is certainly not a deep, authoritative book on dyslexia and does not claim to be. It is simply a tool for use by educators and parents that can help determining if your child may have these problems and recommending some things that can be done to help. This is a great resource guide. I will be sure to pass this along.

I am an Elementary Special Education (SPED) teacher who is trying to continue my understanding of dyslexia. I feel this book is a solid source of information for SPED teachers, and GenEd teachers who have dyslexic students in their classrooms. The Federal laws governing education are all the same, but each state and each district have differences in how they approach dyslexia. That is why I say it is a solid resource and not the only resource to use. Obviously each district will instruct its teachers in how they implement their approach to dyslexia.

What is interesting is the useful information that is in the book that parents can also use. It is full of useful concepts that may apply to parents of dyslexic children and links to other sources. It is not trying to be a one stop place to solve dyslexia, but rather a location for good information so that parents can continue their understanding and ask good questions of their school districts and doctors.

I'm still not an expert, but I rate this book very highly because it places a lot of good, current information at my fingertips. It is written mostly in bullit format, and I like that style. It really can be a reference book for me.

The Dyslexia Checklist by Sandra Rief and Judith Stern is extremely helpful to me as a private tutor, and I know it would be equally helpful to the parents and teachers of the children I teach. First, the lay out is great. I can easily find the topics I want to read about, and the bullet points really help organize the information. I also like the large font! Contentwise, this book is a winner. It gives so many thoughtful suggestions on how to teach children with dyslexia, along with many definitions of the terminology used by teachers and psychologists. I particularly like the wide range of resources listed throughout the book. Anyone who works with children who have dyslexia will feel like they can see the light at the end of the tunnel after reading this book because it is filled with practical, hands-on activities that really work! And, because the lists of resources are so comprehensive, if there are any particular areas you would want to learn about more in depth, this book guides you as to how to find the information. I know I will refer to The Dyslexia Checklist often in my tutoring practice.
Elizabeth Crames Grossman, M.A., M.Ed. North Bethesda, MD

While the title refers to a single checklist, this book is, in reality, a large collection of checklists covering everything from basic information about dyslexia, strategies for coping and lists of specific suggestions for both teachers and parents. These lists provide a wealth of information about what dyslexia is as well as approaches that can help students with this learning disability adapt and overcome the difficulties it presents. However, the checklist format, while making this a good reference book, makes the book a bit of a challenge to read, especially for someone that is new to the subject matter. There is also a heavy emphasis on the classroom environment, which probably makes this more appropriate for teachers than for parents (though parents will still benefit from the insights into the suggested teaching strategies). I'm still struggling to absorb all of the information from this book, but I hope it will prove to be useful over the next few years as we help our dyslexic daughter cope with the challenges she will face in school.

The authors of the Dyslexia checklist follow their own advice and don't assume prior knowledge on the part of the reader. There's no need to worry about forgetting or missing a useful bit of information because more than likely it'll be repeated several more times in the book. Those who are not remedial reading teachers will find a wealth of ideas and suggestions here. Reading teachers will find activities they've probably already tried with dyslexic and nondyslexic students.

For parents the most useful content is that which details the rights of their dyslexic children to services from the local school systems. The long lists of activities and suggestions might overwhelm many parents.

More random thoughts from this veteran teacher:

I was disappointed by the lack of depth of the scientific explanation of dyslexia. Though I've done some teaching of special education students in co-taught classes, I've never taken a class or workshop focusing on this neurological syndrome.

The authors are dead on when discussing homework and the need for teachers to be flexible regarding homework assignments for the learning disabled. We experienced the agony of unreasonable and excessive homework assignments with our own daughter. Homework should be reinforcement and practice of what has already been taught and should not require more than a cursory involvement of the parent.

It's a shame that this checklist isn't accompanied by a dyslexia workbook or workbooks.
Most of the activities and suggestions are geared towards elementary and middle school students. It is hoped that students with dyslexia have been diagnosed before reaching high school.

Reading teachers may find this book useful though at times note its redundancy and supefluity.

This writer is disappointed that there's not more emphasis in this book on the problem of distractibility for dyslexics and their need for quiet to concentrate. Some studies have noted that dyslexics are unable to filter out background noise like nondyslexics.

Overall I did find this an easy to read and informative text. Listings of webpages for teaching materials and further information are quite helpful.

"The Dyslexia Checklist" is NOT a detailed book on dyslexia, it's causes, and treatment. What it IS is a simple to use book that catalogs everything you should need to know about this learning difficulty and directs you toward help and more information. There are hundreds of sites to explore, books that are recommended, and helpful tips.
As a homeschooling parent whose child struggles with this, I would highly recommend buying this book. It is a vast resource of helps and information.

This book is exactly what it says on the cover - a practical reference for parents and teachers of children with Dyslexia (and to some extent of others with learning disabilities).

It's broken neatly into sections covering: 1) Basic information (definition, symptoms, etc), 2) Strategies for helping dyslexics better learn reading, writing and language skills 3) Tips and checklists for parents 4) Checklists for teachers, and 5) Tips and checklists for everyone else that might be effected.

The largest and most detailed section is the one about helping dyslexics learn reading, writing and language skills. But, parents who struggle with dyslexic issues around homework or home life and want a plan to deal with it - may find the "parents section" most immediately helpful. Still, all of the sections provide a well-organized approach and a slew of strategies and practical advice. More importantly, since the book is so wide-reaching each section lists websites and other resources to go to if you need further information on a particular topic.

As with any "reference book", it's not as "reader-friendly" as some other books. It also occassionally leans towards using technical jargon, that though defined, makes it a more difficult read.

Bottom Line: All in all, this is a book that delivers on it's promise on the cover. Regardless if they've read other books on the topic, I'd recommend it to anyone who have or think they may have a dyslexic child as a go-to reference book filled with solid approaches to problems and practical advice.

The latest book from renowned special education speaker and consultant Sandra Reif, 'The Dyslexia Checklist' is a very accessible and informative compendium of knowledge about the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of dyslexia. Reif is the real deal in this field, and this book delivers the goods.

The Dyslexia Checklist is organized as a series of easy-to-read checklists that quickly and accurately explain some very difficult topics such as: a) neurological research on dyslexia, and b) the scientific underpinnings of educational interventions designed to remediate the learning difficulties associated with dyslexia.

All of this information is extremely easy to follow and absorb, presented without jargon and in small units/chapters. Further, the final section of the book is a must -read for any parent trying to navigate through the complicated web of special education services available for children with dyslexia. Reif clearly explains the entire I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) process from the initial referral all the way through the provision of services. Don't take the intervention plunge without it.

Moreover, Reif provides an outstanding additional chapter on methods parents can use to help their dyslexic children complete their homework and aid them in their studying. This chapter could arguably be the Holy Grail for a parent struggling - and losing - in nightly battles about homework.

As someone familiar with this topic and treatment criteria/application, I would simultaneously recommend this book for special education teachers to serve as a resource on research-based interventions. This includes every phase of the reading process, from initial phonological awareness through comprehension and finally written composition.

Finally, regular education teachers at all levels are likely to find this book equally informative, plus a solid, accessible resource when teaching students with dyslexia and/or to have available for parents (as a reference).

Note: From a treatment perspective, The Dyslexia Checklist is a solid, potential compliment toWord Matters: Teaching Phonics and Spelling in the Reading/Writing Classroom (more reading interventions), likewise the outstanding Starfall.com, free reading resources.