Ep 79: Dyslexia Explained: Reading, Executive Function, and the Right Kind of Help (ft. Ben Powers and Jeff Ruggiero)

Jan 14, 2026

01:00:14

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Hi everyone! I have something to tell you and I don’t really know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it like it is. I’ve decided to end my time as part of the marketing team at Beyond BookSmart and sadly, that means that I’ll no longer be hosting Focus Forward. Today’s episode is not our last, we’ll be dropping one more at the beginning of February, so I hope you come back to listen to that. I don’t know what the future is for the show, but I’m sure if Beyond BookSmart decides to keep it going, they’ll continue to provide great content for our listeners. I won’t say too much about our last episode, but it’ll be special and I do hope you come back to listen. And, the archive of the old episodes will still be available, so you can always go back for a listen there. This podcast has been an important part of my life for the past four years, and I’m really grateful for that. This was not an easy decision to make but I’m excited to see what the future holds. If you want to keep up with me, Please look me up on LinkedIn or Instagram. I’d love to hear from you. I’ll also still be doing some coaching for Beyond BookSmart, so you can email me there at hchoi@beyondbooksmart.com.

But, let’s talk about today’s episode: it’s all about dyslexia, and I’m really excited to share this conversation with you.

I’m joined by Ben Powers and Jeff Ruggiero from the Southport School, and we had the opportunity to record this interview in person at the Fairfield Public Library. Huge thank you to Philip Bahr for once again letting us use the space and equipment and for helping get everything set up. Recording in person is always such a treat and brings a different kind of energy to the conversation.

Since this is the first focus forward episode on dyslexia, we really focused on the basics. Ben and Jeff help break down what dyslexia actually is, what it is not, and why it’s so much more complex than just reversing letters or struggling to read. We talk about early signs of dyslexia, the importance of early identification and screening, and what happens in the brain when a child is learning to read.

We also spend time talking about the overlap between dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function skills, and why so many students who struggle with reading also struggle with things like organization, working memory, task initiation, and confidence. Ben and Jeff do a great job of explaining why instruction matters so much, including the role of structured literacy and the science of reading, and why certain approaches work better for dyslexic learners, actually, they work better for all learners.

Show Notes:

Learn More About Ben, Jeff, and Southport School

Southport School

https://www.southportschool.org/

https://www.southportschool.org/about/leadership

Southport CoLAB

https://www.southportcolab.org/

https://www.southportcolab.org/aboutus/our-team

CoLAB Calendar of Events and Offerings

https://www.southportcolab.org/calendar-and-events

The Executive Function Blueprint: A Practical Framework for the Classroom

https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Function-Blueprint-Practical-Framework/dp/B0DV4J41DQ