The Literacy Keys - Dyslexia resources and structured literacy tips by an Orton Gillingham tutor

Stop second-guessing yourself. Before your child’s next school meeting, make sure you know which dyslexia accommodations actually help, and which myths to ignore. In this episode of The Literacy Keys, host Tracy Young breaks down dyslexia accommodations for students and explains how 504 dyslexia accommodations work in the classrooms.

You'll discover the biggest misconceptions parents hear at school meetings, and why accommodations are about access and are not an unfair advantage. Plus, Tracy shares where to find a dyslexia accommodations checklist you can bring to your next meeting so you can advocate with confidence instead of second-guessing yourself.

If you’re a parent of a child with dyslexia and want to feel prepared, informed, and empowered, this episode is a must-listen. This is the first of a two part series.

Episode Chapters: Navigating Dyslexia Accommodations

(00:00) — The Secret Sauce to School Success Discover how the right dyslexia accommodations can transform your child’s educational experience.

(01:10) — Accommodations vs. Modifications: What’s the Difference? Are you confusing these two critical terms? Learn the official definitions and why understanding the difference is the first step toward effective advocacy.

(03:45) — The Time Management Myth Why is extra time so controversial? Tracy dives into the research on processing speeds and explains why "standard" timing can be a major roadblock for dyslexic learners.

(04:30) — The One-Size-Fits-All Trap Every child is unique—and their dyslexia accommodations should be, too. Explore why customized support is essential and why schools often resist it (and how you can push back).

(05:40) — More Than Just a Band-Aid Accommodations are essential, but they aren't a replacement for intervention. Tracy shares a cautionary tale.

(06:50) — BUSTED: The "Three Accommodation Limit" Don't be fooled by school administrators claiming there's a limit to how much help your child can get. Learn the legal truth about 504 and IEP plans and how to call their bluff.

(10:15) — Your Elementary School Toolkit From "Audiobooks" to "Scribes," Tracy reveals the best dyslexia accommodations for grades K–5 to prevent your young learner from falling behind their peers.

(12:00) — The "Round Robin" Nightmare Find out why reading aloud in class is one of the most stressful experiences for a dyslexic student and how a simple accommodation can preserve your child's confidence and dignity.

This is part 1 of a 2-part series. You'll want to listen to episode #26 for part 2 and head over to our website to check out our Dyslexia Accommodations Checklist You'll be able to download the checklist to take to your meeting.

Need an Orton Gillingham tutor? Contact The Literacy Keys

transcript of this episode

You don’t need to be a professional dyslexia tutor to improve your child’s reading. In this episode of The Literacy Keys, you’ll learn how to bring the Orton Gillingham method right into your home using simple, powerful tips that help your child make real progress.

If you’ve ever sat at the kitchen table watching your child avoid doing their homework, you’re not alone. That frustration is exactly why this episode exists. Tracy, an Orton Gillingham tutor, discusses the “fourth-grade slump;” explains why traditional reading instruction leaves dyslexic learners behind, and shows you ways to confidently use Orton Gillingham at home, even if you have zero teaching experience.

You’ll learn two practical OG strategies you can use immediately to help your child read and spell with less stress. These parent-friendly, multisensory techniques mirror what expert dyslexia tutors use during structured literacy lessons, but without the price tag.

If you homeschool, or if you’ve simply been looking for a way to use the Orton Gillingham method at home, this episode will ensure you do so with clarity and confidence. Listen now and discover how.

Need an Orton Gillingham tutor?

Contact The Literacy Keys

If you found this information helpful please share it with another parent. Together we can make a difference.

Cheers,

Tracy, Dyslexia Specialist

The Literacy Keys

If your middle or high schooler avoids books, argues about homework, or insists they’re just not a reader, this episode is for you. We’re digging into reading motivation for older kids and, most importantly, how to motivate your kids to read without constant battles or guilt trips.

In this episode of The Literacy Keys, Tracy breaks down why so many secondary students are still struggling with foundational reading skills and what makes teens’ reading challenges very different from younger kids’. You’ll hear how low confidence, slow fluency, and intimidating multisyllabic words in subjects like science and social studies slowly drain motivation. Best of all, this episodes shares what you can do to rebuild reading motivation at home.

Drawing on a powerful Education Week article about secondary reading struggles and the book Know Better, Do Better by Meredith & David Liben, Tracy explains why it’s never too late to become a better reader, and why age-appropriate materials, targeted fluency work, and mindset shifts matter so much for teens. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away.

Whether your child is barely reading, reading very slowly, or simply refusing to try, this episode on reading motivation shares how to motivate kids to read. If you’ve been feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure where to start, this conversation will give you a concrete plan to help your older child see themselves as a reader.

⁠transcript of this episode⁠

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Education Week article: “Secondary Students Are Struggling With Reading, Too. A Look at the Landscape.”
  
• Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by Meredith & David Liben
  
• 
  Learn more about dyslexia tutors, resources, and support for struggling readers at The Literacy Keys

Co-hosts Tracy and Alex discuss their personal experiences with parental guilt, anxiety and dyslexia, and the importance of seeking therapy when anxiety in teens becomes too much.

They explore the emotional journey of receiving a dyslexia diagnosis, the differing reactions between parent and child, and the complexities of parental guilt. They share their thoughts on helping teens with anxiety, and how to find the right child psychologist (or therapist).

• Parents need to be aware of red flags indicating their child may need professional help.
• Therapy can be a valuable outlet for emotions, and finding the right therapist is crucial.

Addressing foundational reading issues is also important when your child is struggling to read. If you are interested in improving your child's reading through a structured Orton Gillingham approach contact: The Literacy Keys.

Chapters

(00:00) Navigating Dyslexia: A Personal Journey

(14:51) Understanding Parental Guilt

(29:39) Anxiety In Teens & The Importance Of Finding The Right Therapist

Transcript of episode #22

Dive into the essential skills of reading fluency — what it is, why it matters, and how parents can strengthen it at home using multi-sensory techniques.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What reading fluency actually means

• Why fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehension

• How dyslexic learners uniquely benefit from structured fluency practice

• The most effective multi-sensory reading fluency strategies parents can use at home

• Echo reading

• Phrase scooping

• Repeated readings

• Pressure-free timed readings
  

You'll also hear about a FREE opportunity to participate in a Spelling Program that Tracy has created for Struggling Spellers. Head over to: https://theliteracykeys.com/beta-tester-unlock-the-spelling-code/

Tracy Young is an Orton-Gillingham trained, ALTA Certified Practitioner and the founder of The Literacy Keys, where she tutors dyslexic students and teaches parents how to support literacy at home with confidence and clarity.

This Episode Is For:

• Parents of dyslexic children
• Parents of struggling readers
• Homeschooling families
• Educators looking for multisensory fluency ideas
• Anyone wanting to understand structured literacy more deeply

If your child avoids reading, mixes up words, melts down over homework, or keeps saying, “I’m just not smart,” you may be wondering whether there’s something deeper happening beneath the surface. What if these challenges aren’t a phase, but signs of dyslexia symptoms that have been overlooked?

In this episode, Tracy Young, Orton-Gillingham practitioner and host of The Literacy Keys Podcast, walks you through the most common dyslexia symptoms across four age groups: toddlers, elementary students, teenagers, and adults.

You’ll hear parent-friendly explanations about the subtle signs that most families and teachers miss. Whether you're noticing reading struggles in your preschooler, inconsistent spelling in your middle schooler, or lingering confusion in a young adult, this episode will help you connect the dots.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Sold a Story by Emily Hanford
• I'm Dyslexic - Not Stupid

If your child stares at the blank page when trying to write and you're trying to figure out how to improve writing skills this episode is for you. (Hint: online mind maps are a game changer. After listening to this episode, you’ll have a plan your child can actually follow.

Writing can be exhausting for kids with dyslexia (and especially dysgraphia) because their brain is working overtime just to get words onto the page. There's very little energy for organizing ideas, sequencing details, and staying on track. Mind maps let your child plan visually, in any order. Short words replace full sentences and struggling writers see progress. And yes free online mind maps make it even easier to try this today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to help your child generate ideas quickly

• A 5-step mind map routine that makes essays doable (not dreadful)

• A realistic “I do / we do / you do” approach around how to become a better writer

3 Resources for Free Online Mind Maps:

https://www.zoom.com/

https://www.canva.com/templates

https://www.mindmup.com/

If you found this advice helpful, follow our podcast and share this episode with another parent . Need a tutor for writing skills? Contact The Literacy Keys.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) How to become a better writer

(04:25) What is a Mind Map?

(08:55) The 5-Step Process

(16:00) Essay Planning Example

(25:30) I do, we do, you do

This conversation explores the connection between dyslexia and success, highlighting how many innovative thinkers and leaders have thrived despite their challenges. The discussion emphasizes recognizing and leveraging strengths, navigating educational paths, and the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in career choices.

The episode also shares one person's symptoms of dyslexia and what a "bad dyslexic day" really feels like.

Takeaways

• Many successful individuals, like Whoopi Goldberg and Anderson Cooper, have dyslexia.
• Dyslexics often develop resilience and resourcefulness.
• Recognizing personal strengths is crucial for dyslexics.
• Career paths can vary greatly; higher education isn't for everyone.
• Exams can be challenging for dyslexics; alternative assessment methods are beneficial.

• Continuous learning and adaptability are key to career success.

• Leverage strengths rather than focusing solely on weaknesses.

Episode Keywords:

dyslexia, success, innovative thinkers, career paths, education, strengths, entrepreneurship, continuous learning, adaptability, dyslexic advantage, symptoms of dyslexia,

Could the combination of Dyslexia and ADHD be the reason your child seems brilliant one moment, and completely overwhelmed the next? Yes!

In this episode, Tracy Young helps you uncover what may be happening and gives you a clearer path forward for better learning support. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident understanding what you’re seeing and what to do next to help your child learn with less frustration.

If your child struggles to focus, avoids reading, or melts down during schoolwork, it can be hard to tell what’s really going on. Many parents are told it’s “just attention,” while others are told it’s “just reading.” Regardless of what you're told, Dyslexia and ADHD often overlap. In this warm, practical episode, Tracy Young, a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor explains how these patterns show up in plain English.

You’ll discover why a child can be smart, capable, and still have a very hard time with reading, writing, spelling, and attention. After listening, you’ll:

• Recognize common signs that may point to Dyslexia and ADHD showing up together

• Understand, in simple terms, how attention challenges can mask reading difficulties—and how reading difficulties can look like attention problems.

• Feel more prepared to describe your child’s struggles clearly to teachers

If this episode helped you please share it with another parent who needs it, and follow the podcast so you don’t miss another practical step forward. You can contact Tracy Young at ⁠The Literacy Keys⁠

CHAPTERS

(0:00) - Introduction Dyslexia and ADHD

(1:53) - The Critical Question: ADHD, Dyslexia, or Both?

(4:47) - Five Tips to Support Your Child

Does your child struggle with math?  There might be something going on in the brain that’s causing the struggle. In this episode we talk about a condition which is sometimes referred to as “math dyslexia.”

Learn about the neurological aspect, how it's diagnosed, along with practical strategies that can be used to help reduce the frustration. Best of all, we’ll share how to pronounce dyscalculia!

0:00 The Struggle and the Truth About "Math Dyslexia"

0:15 What the Episode Covers (Diagnosis, Strategies, Pronunciation)

0:40 Pronunciation of Dyscalculia and Word Morphology (Difficulty Counting)

1:30 What is Dyscalculia (Math Dyslexia) and separating it from Dyslexia

2:15 Analogy for Dyscalculia

3:00 Examples of Struggle

3:45 Common Symptoms of Dyscalculia

5:00 Impact on Daily Life

5:45 How is Dyscalculia Tested?

7:00 Comorbidity: The Connection to Dyslexia and Dysgraphia (The "3 Ds")

7:45 Strategies for Parents