Focus and Read-Brennan Innovators

𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲𝗿 - 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝘆𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/196Zf71GGE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Dyslexia Connect Online Tutoring for this inspiring post & quote from Henry Winkler!

Henry Winkler has dyslexia, and here is his advice to his 10-year-old self. Winkler is an outspoken advocate for dyslexia awareness.

𝗗𝘆𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 & 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/mr3uaatk

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀…
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HwWBxHig7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Soar With Dyslexia for sharing another great post!

Look around your classroom.

In a class of 25 students, estimates suggest that several students may be experiencing a learning difference.

Some may have dyslexia.
Some may have DLD.
Some may have ADHD.
Some may have dyscalculia or dysgraphia.

And many students have more than one.

These numbers are not meant to label students. They are meant to remind us that learning differences are not rare.

The question is not whether these students are in our classrooms.

The question is whether we are identifying them early and giving them the instruction, support, and accommodations they need to thrive.

Sources: International Dyslexia Association, Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, CDC ADHD data, Norbury et al. (2016), Center for Learning Disabilities.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/2ufr7fpy

𝗗𝘆𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝗼 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fq9Cf3MQ5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy for this insightful post!

Dysgraphia is one of the most misunderstood learning differences.

A child with dysgraphia may have brilliant ideas, strong verbal skills, and a deep understanding of a topic, yet struggle to get those thoughts onto paper. Handwriting may be messy, writing may be slow and exhausting, and written work often fails to reflect what the child truly knows.

Too often, these children are labelled as careless, lazy, or not trying hard enough, when in reality they are working incredibly hard to complete tasks that require significant effort and concentration.

Understanding dysgraphia helps us look beyond the handwriting and see the child behind it. With the right support, accommodations, and encouragement, children with dysgraphia can thrive both academically and emotionally.

I’ve created a Bitesize Guide to Dysgraphia packed with information, signs to look for, practical support strategies for home and school, and insights into how dysgraphia feels from the child’s perspective.

LIKE the post and comment DYSGRAPHIA below for the download link.



𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/2ufr7fpy

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝘀. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18z6red982/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to We Skoolhouse for this insightful infographic!

Entertainment captures attention. Engagement develops the brain.

Of course, there is a place for entertainment. Entertainment is enjoyable, restorative, social, and even educational at times.

But the distinction matters because entertainment and engagement are not the same thing.

This is especially important when it comes to screens. Many apps, videos, and games are designed to capture attention. They may keep a child focused on a screen, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are building focus.

This helps explain why some children can attend to a screen for two hours, yet struggle to attend to a book for two minutes.

Fast-paced, highly stimulating, constantly novel experiences provide frequent rewards and can shape what the brain expects from an activity. Over time, slower-paced activities may feel less interesting, less rewarding, and more difficult to sustain. In other words, the brain begins to expect a higher level of stimulation, making activities that require effort, patience, and persistence harder to engage with.

What develops the brain is play, movement, exploration, curiosity, conversation, creativity, imagination, problem-solving, experimentation, risk-taking, responsibility, persistence, boredom, struggle, and meaningful human connection. These experiences require children to actively participate in the world around them rather than simply consume it.

So when it comes to screens, think screen time smart. Choose intentional over constant. Choose a shared screen over an individual device whenever possible. Choose movies and shows with sequence, storyline, and depth over short-form, fast-paced videos designed to rapidly capture attention.

And perhaps most importantly, let children be bored.

Boredom is not a problem to solve. It is often the starting point for curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, play, and true engagement. If we constantly entertain children, we may unintentionally rob them of the very experiences that help their brains grow.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/2st3wzkr

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18fooFtyEv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to BrainPower Neurodevelopmental Center for sharing this insightful infographic from Coaching With Brooke!

Sounds can affect many with ADHD but often in strange & different ways. This visual helps to easily show how some sounds can have positive effects while others may be quite negative for individuals challenged with ADHD.

𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/2st3wzkr

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗜𝘀…
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LGdJd1qBP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Georgia Ryan - Dyslexic Warrior for this poignant post!

Speech therapy, tutors, literacy specialists, assistive tech, homework club!

How many of us could have avoided the enormous financial and time expense of these and other interventions, if reading in every school was taught using evidence-based, structured literacy programs aligned with the science of reading?

We must change the status quo in our schools.



Quote: the forever awesome

𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/3abuem3k

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18pVhsNqGR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Scholastic Teachers for this great “reminder” post!

Create a foundation for lasting literacy success by addressing students’ unique needs & interests. Differentiate your instruction in multi-sensory, hands-on ways as much as possible. Your students will then read & learn so much more effectively!

𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/473mhnut

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨
by Ellis Creed
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H36L2BX2

Stop Overthinking, Beat Social Anxiety, Speak with Confidence, and Feel Comfortable Being Yourself in Real Life

Check out this FREE practical confidence guide for teens who overthink, feel socially awkward, or struggle with self-esteem.

Learn how to stop negative thought loops, speak up with confidence, handle social anxiety, make friends naturally, and feel more comfortable being yourself through real-life strategies, conversation tools, and simple daily practice.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/2st3wzkr

𝟳𝟱 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟵-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗢𝗹𝗱𝘀 (+ 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁!)
https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-9-year-olds/

Can your 9 year-old finish this list for summer reading? Great for independent reading & some read-aloud time together, too! Check out this list today! Happy Summer Reading, everyone!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/yyxsertz

𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗲?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1c5n8EihK8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thanks to Walid Berchid for this very helpful infographic!

Helping students or someone else understand the difference between teasing, conflict, mean moments, and bullying can make social situations much easier to discuss.

This visual gives clear examples students can use to identify what is happening and choose the right response with adult support.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://tiny uro.com/2ufr7fpy