In line with our commitment to equip educators and students with the skills to master the various components of literacy, we provide you with these resources. In a sea of information from books to websites, it’s easy to get lost. We have done the work for you! The following resources have been vetted by your team at W.V.C.Ed and you can trust that they will help you in your professional development.
Look through our lists of useful websites and recommended reading for teachers.
The International Dyslexia Association, the largest and most important organization addressing dyslexia and other, associated learning difficulties, provides services to professionals and parents around the globe. Their national conference gathers thousands of educators and parents to share and learn about dyslexia. Branch conferences around the country and the globe bring that information to states and regions. Additionally, the site provides fact sheets, certification initiatives, and resources. Perspectives, I.D.A.’s well-known publication, provides theme-centered quarterly issues on a variety of topics. This is the premier organization for dyslexia and other learning struggles.
smu-facweb.smu.ca/~s0949176/sammy/
This excellent and innovative website, created by Daniel Currie Hall, allows viewers to change voicing, nasality, lip position, and tongue position using buttons and then view how the face moves to make the sound chosen. Check it out!
In their own words, LDA is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities and has over 200 state and local affiliates in 42 states and Puerto Rico. LDA’s international membership of over 15,000 includes members from 27 countries around the world. The membership, composed of individuals with learning disabilities, family members and concerned professionals, advocates for the almost three million students of school age with learning disabilities and for adults affected with learning disabilities. The state and local affiliates, through their affiliation with the national LDA, work continuously for individuals with learning disabilities, their parents and the professionals who serve them.
LDOnLine, a website that promotes itself as “the leading Web site on learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and other professionals,” provides sections specifically for teachers as well as “Ask Dr. Silver,” “KidZone,” “LD Store,” and information about finding help for a student with a learning disability.
LD Resources is a website devoted specifically to people with learning disabilities. Richard Wanderman, creator of the site, has developed and keeps current an extensive list of schools with L.D. support, technology that assists the student with a learning disability, organizations, conferences, and significant people. A presenter and trainer, Richard describes himself as “a successful adult with a learning disability (dyslexia).”
Janet Jones, an experienced Orton-Gillingham Practitioner, has made a wide variety of excellent, multisensory games to accent your Orton-Gillingham based lesson. Crazy Moose is a favorite, but there are dozens of great games here, all reasonably priced. If you have the old Moose Materials, go see what they have done in the last few years — a welcome and outstanding upgrade.
A terrific word list generator that allows you to enter characteristics of a word and instantly creates a list of known words that fit the attributes you describe. There may be better word list generators, but we have never seen one this good that you don’t have to pay for!
Parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities. You will find articles, cases, newsletters, and resources about dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries.
Dyslexia & The Brain – Research & Background Information:
McCardle, Peggy & Vinita Chhabra. The Voice of Evidence in Reading Research. brookespublishing.com.
Moats, Louisa Cook & Karen E. Dakin. Basic Facts About Dyslexia. dyslexiaida.org.
Shaywitz, Sally. Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level. amazon.com.
Teaching Manuals & General Resources:
Birsh, Judith. Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills, 3rd Edition. brookespublishing.com.
Gillingham, Anna and Bessie W. Stillman. Remedial Training for Children with Specific Disability in Reading, Spelling and Penmanship. epsbooks.com.
Henry, Marcia. Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding & Spelling Instruction. brookespublishing.com.
Joshi, R. Malatesha, Rebecca Treiman, Suzanne Carreker, and Louisa C. Moats. How Words Cast Their Spell: Spelling Is an Integral Part of Learning the Language, Not a Matter of Memorization. American Educator. Winter 2008/09.
Moats, Louisa C. How Spelling Supports Reading: And Why It Is More Regular and Predictable Than You May Think. American Educator. Winter 2005/06.
Moats, Louisa C. Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers.
Moats, Louisa C. and Susan L. Hall. Straight Talk About Reading: How Parents Can Make a Difference During the Early Years.
Pincus, Arlene R. H., Editor. Tips From The Experts: A Compendium of Advice on Literacy Instruction from Educators and Researchers. dyslexiaida.org.
Van Cleave, William. Everything You Want To Know & Exactly Where To Find It: A Reference Guide for Teachers of Orton-Gillingham & Other Multisensory Approaches. wvced.com.
Whitehead, Dorothy Blosser. Unlocking the Power of Print. wvced.com.
Reading Readiness and Phonemic & Phonological Awareness:
Catts, Hugh & Tina Olsen. Sounds Abound: Listening, Rhyming, and Reading. linguisystems.com.
Donah, Sandra. Improving Phonemic Awareness Skills for Struggling Readers of All Ages. wvced.com.
Torgesen, Joseph K. & Bryan R. Bryant. Phonological Awareness Training for Reading. proedinc.com.
The Motor Component (Manuscript & Cursive Writing):
King, Diana H. Chapter 9. Writing Skills – Teacher’s Manual. epsbooks.com.
Sheffield, Betty. Handwriting: A Neglected Cornerstone of Literacy. Annals of Dyslexia. Vol. 46, ‘96.
Advanced Word Structure & History of the English Language:
Carreker, Suzanne. Word Detective: Discovering The History of The English Language. neuhaus.org.
Donah, Sandra. Improving Morphemic Awareness Using Latin Roots & Greek Combining Forms. wvced.com.
Follis, Margaret et al. Prefixes, Roots, Suffixes. wvced.com.
Gold, Diane Hickey, Elaine Russo, Linda Wallace, Judy Shapiro. PS: Prefixes, Suffixes, Roots (A Resource of Lists, Phrases, Sentences, Poems, and Stories). wvced.com.
Kemmer, Suzanne. Words In English (website). ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words04
King, Diana Hanbury. English Isn’t Crazy! The Elements Of Our Language And How To Teach Them. proedinc.com.
Morgan, Kenneth B. Dynamic Roots – Language Training Program – Teacher Manual. wvced.com.
Van Cleave, William. Everything You Want To Know & Exactly Where To Find It: A Reference Guide for Teachers of Orton-Gillingham & Other Multisensory Approaches. wvced.com.
Written Expression (Grammar & Composition):
King, Diana H. Writing Skills – Teacher’s Manual. epsbooks.com.
Van Cleave, William. Writing Matters: Developing Sentence Skills in Students of All Ages. wvced.com.
Word List Resources:
Anderson, C. Wilson. VAK, Books 1-3. wvced.com.
Anderson, C. Wilson. VAK-Tasks For Vocabulary And Spelling. wvced.com.
Bowen, Carolyn C. Angling For Words-Study Book. academictherapy.com.
Fry, Edward B. & Jacqueline E. Kress The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists, 6th Edition. amazon.com.
Hoare, Robert. morewords.com (word list generating website).
Slingerland, Beth H. Phonetic Word Lists for Children’s Use. epsbooks.com.
Slingerland, Beth H. & Carol Murray. Teacher’s Word Lists for Reference. epsbooks.com.
Van Cleave, William. Everything You Want To Know & Exactly Where To Find It: A Reference Guide for Teachers of Orton-Gillingham & Other Multisensory Approaches. wvced.com.
www.rickwalton.com/curricul/compound.htm (2,276 compound words)
Controlled Text:
Shapiro, Judy & Robert Shapiro. Maxx Poems. wvced.com.
Shapiro, Judy & Robert Shapiro. Maxx Stories. wvced.com.
Workbooks:
Bowen, Carolyn C. Angling For Words-Workbook. academictherapy.com.
Fifer, Norma & Nancy Flowers. Vocabulary From Classical Roots, Books A-D. epsbooks.com.
Hall, Nancy & Rena Price. Explode The Code, Books 1-8. epsbooks.com.
Hall, Nancy. Get Ready For The Code, Books A-C. epsbooks.com.
Hall, Nancy. Spellwell, Books A-DD. epsbooks.com.
Johnson, Kristen & Polly Bayrd. Megawords, Books 1-8. epsbooks.com.
King, Diana H. Cursive Writing Skills – Right Handed Edition. epsbooks.com.
King, Diana H. Cursive Writing Skills – Left Handed Edition. epsbooks.com.
King, Diana H. Keyboarding Skills. epsbooks.com.
King, Diana H. Writing Skills – Books A, 1, 2, 3. epsbooks.com.
Makar, Barbara W. Primary Phonics, Books 1-6. epsbooks.com.
Montgomery, Dorothy B. & Linda M. Gipson. Basic Angling-Practice Book. academictherapy.com.
Rak, Elsie T. Spell of Words. epsbooks.com.
Rak, Elsie T. Spellbound. epsbooks.com.
Rudginsky, Laura Toby & Elizabeth C. Haskell. How To Spell, Books 1-4. epsbooks.com.
Steere, Amey, Caroline Z. Peck, Linda Kahn. Solving Language Difficulties. epsbooks.com.
Multisensory Manipulatives & Games:
Elterbarry Press: Fun Tools for Effective Learning. elterbarry.com.
Moose Materials. Janet Jones. moosematerials.com.
W.V.C.ED Materials. William Van Cleave. wvced.com.
About Dyslexia, Priscilla L. Vail. (amazon.com)
Although we lost Vail in 2003, this groundbreaking book is still as insightful and rewarding as it was when it was first published. Here’s a blurb from the book: “At last a clear, concise book that demystifies dyslexia–a must for all teachers and parents!”
All About IEPs, Peter W.D. Wright, Esq., Pamela Darr Wright, MA, MSW, Sandra Webb O-Connor, M.Ed. (wvced.com)
In this comprehensive, easy-to-read book, you will find clear, concise answers to frequently asked questions about IEPs. Learn what the law says about…
- IEP Teams and IEP Meetings
- Parental Rights & Consent
- Steps in Developing the IEP
- Strategies to Resolve Disagreements
- Placement, Transition, Assistive Technology
Whether you are the parent of a child with special education needs, a seasoned educator, or a professional advocate, you have questions about IEPs.
All About Tests & Assessments, 2nd Edition, Melissa Lee Farrall, PhD, SAIF, Pamela Darr Wright, MA, MSW, Peter W.D. Wright, Esq. (wvced.com)
Clear, inviting, and engaging, Wrightslaw All About Tests and Assessments, Second Edition describes types of tests used to evaluate problems and what skills each test measures. In this easy-to-read book, you will also find clear, concise answers to frequently asked questions about assessments, evaluations, and tests. You will learn what to expect, how to prepare, and how to find a good evaluator. You will learn how to request an evaluation and how to provide parental consent. You will learn about common difficulties children have and what tests are used to diagnose these disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception, Thom Hartmann. (amazon.com)
A new edition of an influential study of Attention Disorder, which argues that the condition is rooted in human evolution, includes new supporting evidence and reflects new advances in non-drug treatments. (He’s also got a book on Adult ADHD and other materials.)
Can’t Read, Can’t Write, Can’t Talk Too Good Either, Louise Clarke. (amazon.com)
Another classic text in our field – with a compelling story. This is the story of Louise Clarke’s son and of his long struggle with dyslexia. In her dramatic account of Mike’s puzzling childhood, Mrs. Clark recalls her own mistakes and successes as well as her own belief in her son’s eventual adjustment. She shows how his symptoms could have been recognized at an early stage, gives parents and teachers many valuable clues, and summarizes the various therapies that have proved successful.
Complete Guide to ADHD: Help for Your Family At Home, School, and Work, Thom Hartmann. (amazon.com)
In this volume, the acknowledged pioneer in attention deficit disorder research combines the best of his previous books with important new information. In the new chapters (about 25 percent of the book), Hartmann looks at how and why America’s school system fails to assist children diagnosed with ADHD and urges parents to find alternative means of educating their children when this happens.
The Dyslexia Advantage, Brock L. Eide, MA, MD and Fernette F. Eide, MD.
A must read for parents, educators, and people with dyslexia.
Gordon F. Sherman, Ph.D., Past-President International Dyslexia Association
Did you know that many successful architects, lawyers, engineers—even bestselling novelists—had difficulties learning to read and write as children? In this groundbreaking book, Brock and Fernette Eide explain how 20% of people—individuals with dyslexia—share a unique learning style that can create advantages in a classroom, at a job, or at home. Blending personal stories with hard science, The Dyslexic Advantage provides invaluable advice on how parents, educators, and individuals with dyslexia can recognize and use the strengths of the dyslexic learning style.
https://dyslexic-advantage.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/dyslexic-advantage-signed-hardcover
Basic Facts About Assessment of Dyslexia: Testing for Teaching, Susan C. Lowell, Rebecca H. Felton, Pamela E. Hook.
An indispensable resource for parents and teachers of students struggling to read, this book provides practical advice from three leaders in dyslexia assessment and instruction. An essential companion to Basic Facts About Dyslexia and Other Reading Problems, this second book in the Basic Facts Series clearly presents the fundamental topics that parents and practitioners need to know to help their children and students succeed.
https://dyslexiaida.org/product/basic-facts-about-assessment-of-dyslexia/
Basic Facts About Dyslexia and Other Reading Problems, Louisa Cook Moats & Karen E. Dakin.
A must-have guide for any parent or teacher of a child struggling to learn to read, this essential resource begins by answering the question “What is Dyslexia?” The authors have masterfully selected and distilled the most significant research in the field to provide clear and detailed explanations of the widely accepted research-based definition of dyslexia; identification and treatment of dyslexia at various stages of development; emotional consequences of reading difficulties; current research on the role of genetics and the brain; essential elements of effective reading instruction; and treatment options for the most severe cases of dyslexia and other reading problems.
https://dyslexiaida.org/product/basic-facts-about-dyslexia-and-other-reading-problems/
Dyslexia Advocate, Kelli Sandman-Hurley. (amazon.com)
This straightforward guide provides the essential information for parents and advocates to understand U.S. law and get the right educational entitlements for a child with dyslexia. Using case studies and examples, this book demonstrates clearly how to apply the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to the unique requirements of a dyslexic child. It offers simple, intelligible help for parents on how to coordinate successfully with their child’s school and achieve the right services and support for their dyslexic child, up to and beyond getting an effective Individual Education Plan (IEP).
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan, Ben Foss. (amazon.com)
Finally, a groundbreaking book that reveals what your dyslexic child is experiencing—and what you can do so that he or she will thrive.
While other books tell you what dyslexia is, this book tells you what to do. Dyslexics’ innate skills, which may include verbal, social, spatial, kinesthetic, visual, mathematical, or musical abilities, are their unique key to acquiring knowledge. Figuring out where their individual strengths lie, and then harnessing these skills, offers an entrée into learning and excelling. And by keeping the focus on learning, not on standard reading the same way everyone else does, a child with dyslexia can and will develop the self-confidence to flourish in the classroom and beyond. After years of battling with a school system that did not understand his dyslexia and the shame that accompanied it, renowned activist and entrepreneur Ben Foss is not only open about his dyslexia, he is proud of it.
From Emotion to Advocacy, Second Edition, Pam Wright and Pete Wright. (wvced.com)
- Section I: Getting Started – Basic advocacy, supplies, developing a master plan
- Section II: Advocacy 101 – Rules of the game, obstacles, resolutions
- Section III: The Parent as Expert – necessity, file organization, understanding your child through evaluations and test scores, writing smart IEP objectives
- Section IV: Special Education Law – IDEA 2004, private placements, discrepancy formulas, RTI, evaluations, mediation, 504, No Child Left Behind, and more
- Section V: Tactics and Strategies – Using logs and calendars, writing effective letters, using IEP worksheets, parent agendas, and graphs of progress
A Guide to Helping Your Child at Home: Developing Foundational Skills in Reading & Writing, Diana H. King. (wvced.com)
Diana King’s first ever book specifically for parents provides strategies and an initial teaching plan for a variety of foundational reading and writing skills. She then provides recommended purchasable resources for extending study in each area.
- If you want to know how to help your child develop good reading and writing skills, this book is for you.
- If you are the parent of a child who struggles in school, this book is for you.
- If you want the best teaching strategies for helping your child at home — from a master teacher with over half a century of experience – this book is for you.
Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner, Kathy Kuhl. (wvced.com)
Whether you already homeschool, are considering it, or just want to help your child after school, Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner helps you teach your child at home.
Kathy Kuhl homeschooled her struggling learner for 4th-12th grades. After he graduated, she interviewed 64 homeschoolers with children with different learning problems, including autism, learning disabilities, AD/HD, and other conditions. She distills their wisdom while conveying her own experience and insights.
Josh: A Boy with Dyslexia, Caroline Janover. (amazon.com)
Another classic filled with insight: Josh struggles to live down the stigma of his learning disability, dyslexia, and receive both respect and friendship from his peers. This book includes information on the characteristics of dyslexia and a list of organizations that deal with learning disabilities.
My Name is Brain Brian, Jeanne Betancourt. (amazon.com)
Another classic filled with insight: Although he is helped by his new sixth grade teacher after being diagnosed as dyslexic, Brian still has some problems with school and with people he thought were his friends. This is a novel researched at The Kildonan School, a school for students with dyslexia in New York State. amazon.com.
Overcoming Dyslexia, Sally Shaywitz, M.D. (amazon.com)
From one of the world’s leading experts on reading and dyslexia, the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and practical book yet to help us understand, identify, and overcome the reading problems that plague American children today. For the one in every five children who has dyslexia and the millions of others who struggle to read at their own grade levels — and for their parents, teachers, and tutors — this book can make a difference…
Reading in the Brain, Stanislas Dehaene. (amazon.com)
This is a book for everyone. It is eye-opening and will fascinate not only readers interested in science and culture, but educators concerned with the contested issues of how we learn to read, and of pathologies like dyslexia. Like Steven Pinker, Dehaene argues that the mind is not a blank slate: writing systems across all cultures rely on the same brain circuitry, and reading is only possible insofar as it fits within the limits of a primate brain. Setting cutting-edge science in the context of cultural debate, Reading in the Brain is an unparalleled guide to a uniquely human capability.
Reversals, Eileen Simpson. (amazon.com)
Eileen Simpson was one of 18 million Americans of normal or high intelligence suffering from dyslexia. This is the story of her battle to become literate, of her early years facing her disability, of her own self-doubt, and of her ultimate successes. It is the story of courage, will, and of love.
Smart Kids with School Problems: Things to Know and Ways to Help, Priscilla L. Vail. (amazon.com)
Although we lost Vail in 2003, this groundbreaking book is still as insightful and rewarding as it was when it was first published. It offers specific ways to find the roots of an academic problem, suggests practical programs for circumventing or surmounting it, and offers case studies, informally presented, of students who have been helped to succeed.
Special Education Law, Peter W. D. Wright, Esq. and Pamela Darr Wright. (wvced.com)
- Full text of the various laws affecting special education
- Decisions in special education cases from the U. S. Supreme Court
- Analysis and Commentary as well as Resources and References
You will refer to this book again and again. Learn what the law says about…
- Childs Right to Public Education (FAPE); I.E.P.’s; Independent Evaluations
- Eligibility & Placement Decisions; Mainstreaming & Inclusion
- Research Based Instruction, Discrepancy Formulas & Response to Intervention
Susan’s Story, Susan Hampshire. (amazon.com)
Susan Hampshire is known to American audiences through her roles in several successful BBC series and has won Emmy awards for three. She is also dyslexic. Her mother, the founder of the famous Hampshire School in London, was a woman of rare perception who nursed her daughter with patience and understanding through the early years when the sight of words on a page produced nothing but complete confusion for her. This book tells of the results of her endeavor to learn. It will be an inspiration not only to her fellow dyslexics, but to all puzzled by this much-misunderstood handicap.
Your Child’s Growing Mind, Jane M. Healy, Ph.D. (amazon.com)
This text is a reliable, clearly written guide to learning skills for children. Dr. Healy begins by translating scientific theories on nervous system development into practical information for parents. She then explains in detail how children develop language and memory and addresses academic learning — reading, writing, spelling, mathematics. In due course she furnishes an indictment of early pressures to teach children to read and provides the first scientifically documented refutation of the “superbaby” myth.
- Differentiating, Scaffolding, & Modifying – Explained
- Elkonin Boxes
- From Words to Works: Developing Writing Skills in Students of All Ages
- Grammar Dice Activities
- Grammar Builder Charts
- Making the Most of Your Sound Decks
- Morphology Matters
- Phonics Dice Activities
- Sorter Tips
- Sound Deck Checklist
- Spelling Dictation Sample Sheet
- Syntax Webinar with Kendore Learning
- Handwriting in a Modern World: Why it Matters & What to do about it
We have gathered on this page all the videos we have been able to find of William speaking about his area of expertise. If you know of any videos that are not listed here, please contact us at wvancleave@wvced.com we would love to add to this resource.
We know he did not love to be on camera and may not have allowed for students to record a zoom class. However, if you did screengrab it anyway, please send us the video so we can post it and others may benefit from his lessons.
We also desperately need videos instructing how to use William’s dice games and card games. Many teachers and homeschoolers do not have the budget to buy somethingthey are not sure suits their needs. It would be very helpful to have videos on the items pages in the shop that show exactly how to use the games. Maybe you even have alternate ways of using them that could be of interest to everyone? Customer Care sometimes gets emails asking for more information about the games and we are not able to be much help as none of us are educators or have ever used the materials. Please contact us if you would be able to make and share such a video.
Below is a list of hyperlinks to videos already online:
Dyslexia Coffee Talk: William Van Cleave by Ashley Roberts
The Structure of the English Language: A Conversation with William
Van Cleave – Pam Kastner PaTTAN
Literacy Academy 2020: Handwriting in the 21st Century – William Van Cleave
Syntax Matters! A Kendore Learning Webinar
Syntax Matters: The Link Between Sentence Writing & Sentence Comprehending – PaTTAN
Speech to Print Chapter 6 with William Van Cleave – Syntax: How Sentences Work – PaTTAN
ODE: World Smarts Using Morphology Bases & Affixes to Develop Vocabulary Skills
Morphology Matters: Using Bases and Affixes to Develop Vocabulary
Morphology Matters: Using Bases & Affixes to Develop Vocabulary in Students of All Ages – PaTTAN
ODE: Stop Arguing with Me! Developing Argument Writing in Adolescent Learners
Literacy Academy 2021 – Writing Development – Transcription Skills
Writing SOS: How can I get my child interested in writing?
Writing SOS: How can I help my child organize their ideas to help them write?
Writing SOS: How can I get my third grader to use better words in his speaking and writing?
Writing SOS: My kindergartner still says “mouses.” Should I correct her?
Writing SOS: Is there value to having my child learn prefixes and suffixes?
Writing SOS: Should grammar still be taught in school?
Writing SOS: How can learning to spell help my child?
Writing SOS: With today’s technology is handwriting instruction important?
Podclassed S5:E5 | Digging Deeper Into Elements of Structured Literacy with William Van Cleave
Interview with William Van Cleave 2017
The Arkansas Department of Education worked with William on Part 9-10-11 of a Science of Reading Seminar. They have generously shared these videos with us.
Part 9: Building Comprehension and Writing Through Vocabulary
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Part 10: Morphology
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
Part 11: Syntax Matters
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
Video 7
Video 8
Tribute Videos:
In Loving Memory of William Van Cleave – PaTTAN
Contact us for questions about our training materials.