230. Supporting Students with Dyslexia: Expert Tips for Teachers and Parents with Heather O'Donnell

Dyslexia is a complex challenge—but with the right support, students can thrive. In this episode, Sara is joined by dyslexia specialist Heather O’Donnell to explore how teachers can build strong, collaborative relationships with parents to support students with dyslexia. Together, they break down the essential steps teachers can take to identify potential signs of dyslexia and how to communicate effectively with families to ensure students get the interventions they need to succeed.

Heather unpacks the common signs of dyslexia that teachers may observe, including challenges with reading, writing, spelling, and executive function tasks. She highlights the importance of early identification and structured literacy interventions, while also addressing misconceptions about dyslexia, like the myth that it’s simply “reversing letters.” With her practical advice, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to approach this learning difference with empathy and expertise.

Whether you’ve worked with students with dyslexia before or are supporting a student for the first time, this episode offers valuable insights to help you build a team approach. Discover how to empower both students and parents with the tools they need to overcome obstacles and celebrate progress along the way. Don’t miss Heather’s expert tips for fostering confidence and collaboration in every step of the journey!

Join us in the Stellar Literacy Collective Membership: stellarteacher.com/join!

Sign up for my FREE private podcast, the Confident Writer Systems Series, here!

Sign up for my FREE Revision Made Easy email series here!

Follow me on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany.

Fill out the Dear Stellar Teacher form for a chance to be featured on a future episode.

To check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode230.