October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is “Raising the Volume”—amplifying awareness, understanding, and support for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Dyslexia is one of the most common specific learning disabilities. It is a neurobiological condition characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, poor spelling, and decoding challenges.
To help others understand how students with dyslexia may experience reading, here’s how the same information might appear through their eyes:
Dyselexia is one of teh msot comon spcific learing disabliteis. It is a neurbilogical cndition characteizred by diffculties wtih accrutae and/or fluetn wrod rcognition, pooor spleling, and decodnig chalelnges.
Secondary consequences may include struggles with reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, and background knowledge. For students, this can mean reduced confidence and reluctance to engage in reading activities.
Seocndary consquences may inclde strugles wtih redaing comprehnsion, vocabluray grwoth, and bakcground knowldge. For stduents, tihs can maen reducd confdience adn relucantce to enggae in rdeaign activtieis.
Support from teachers, specialists, and families plays a critical role in helping students with dyslexia build confidence and succeed.
At Penn Elementary School, Casie Gast, reading specialist, shares how she supports her students.
“Raising the volume in my classroom means raising the volume on my own knowledge. Once I built a toolbox of research-based strategies, I was able to design instruction based on where students were and where I wanted them to go. Because I now know better, I can do better by them.”
PWCS reading specialists are trained in effective, multisensory literacy instruction and work side by side with teachers to provide coaching and strategies that directly benefit students.
Brittany Pesanka, a special education teacher at Glenkirk Elementary School, emphasized that creating safe, supportive classrooms is key.
“It’s important to create a classroom where students feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. Allowing students to show their learning in different ways—through projects, videos, podcasts, or presentations—ensures they can succeed even if traditional reading or writing is a challenge.”
PWCS continues to expand professional development for teachers, strengthen partnerships with organizations like Decoding Dyslexia, and build family engagement through school-based literacy nights.
“Reading specialists serve as the first line of defense, ensuring teachers have the skills necessary to teach all students how to read. Through professional development, coaching, and expanded resources—especially as the Virginia Literacy Act extends through middle school—we are amplifying effective practices and making a lasting impact on instruction and student learning,” explained, Diane Fernandez, coordinator of elementary English language arts and literacy.
This October, PWCS is raising the volume on dyslexia awareness by celebrating students’ strengths, supporting teachers, and empowering families. Together, PWCS staff and families can ensure every child can thrive as a confident reader.