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Understanding Students with Dyslexia, Non-Public Massachusetts Schools MS/HS Track – 6 Weeks – Summer Online 2023

This course is exclusively for Non-Public Massachusetts School educators. If you have been given this link by an administrator in your district, please stay on this webpage to complete the registration process to ensure you are placed in the correct section. Please do not visit the Outreach Courses section of our website to register.

**Previously titled Understanding Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia**

Course Credit: 1 graduate credit (see below) from Colorado State University – Pueblo.

This professional development course provides educators with an overview of dyslexia, which falls under the diagnostic umbrella of a specific learning disability (SLD). The first half of the course will define the learning disability, debunk associated myths, and explore the benefits of early identification and intervention. The neurological origins and common manifestations of dyslexia, as well as the comorbidity of dyslexia and other learning challenges (such as dyscalculia and dysgraphia), will also be explored. The second half of the course will introduce best instructional practices for supporting students with dyslexia, cover special education laws related to the SLD, and offer alternative perspectives for consideration. The content and strategies presented in this course are rooted in the science of reading (SOR).

This course will help you:

• Define the term dyslexia and debunk myths associated with the learning disability 
• Understand the neurological origins of learning challenges for individuals with dyslexia 
• Gain awareness of common co-occurring learning challenges among students with dyslexia, such as dyscalculia and dysgraphia 
• Explore general best-practice instructional strategies to support students
• Build an understanding of the state and federal statutes that are in place to support students with dyslexia 
• Consider alternative perspectives of learning disabilities

The course is divided into six, self-paced modules:

• Module 1: Definition of dyslexia and other related learning disabilities
• Module 2: Neurological origins and manifestations
• Module 3: Comorbidity of dyslexia and other challenges
• Module 4: Overview of general best classroom practices
• Module 5: Special education laws 
• Module 6: Alternative social perspectives

Each module will follow the same basic outline:

• Reading of course content followed by a group discussion
• A reading of additional course content followed by a brief quiz 
• A viewing of additional resources followed by a related application assignment
• An opportunity to submit concluding thoughts/reflection responses about the relevance of the course content

Specific Assignments:

• Pre and Post-Assessments: These ungraded questionnaires will be completed at the beginning and end of the course in order for participants to self-assess knowledge and application of course content.
• Quizzes: The quizzes will assess comprehension of the content from the required reading.  The quizzes will be automatically graded within the course platform. Although participants must earn 80% or higher to move on to the next section of the course, there are unlimited attempts allowed.  
• Discussion Posts: The discussions will require participants to post an initial response and reply to at least one other post.  These tasks will be assessed using specific rubrics.  
• Application Assignments: The assignments in each module will require participants to apply their understanding of course content to follow the assignment directions and use examples provided as a guideline for format length, and quality of writing. These tasks will be assessed using specific rubrics.
• Concluding Thoughts/Reflection Responses: These tasks require participants to briefly synthesize takeaways and/or make connections between course content and will be assessed using specific rubrics.

MATERIALS

The following is required:
Redford, J. (Director). (2012). The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia [Documentary]. KPJR Films.

We will send you an Amazon gift card so that you can purchase and watch the required video.

GRADUATE CREDIT

We offer 1 graduate credit for this course through Colorado State University – Pueblo.

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