In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron welcomes dyslexia researcher and advocate Russell Van Brocklen to share his journey from struggling with a first-grade reading level to transforming the way students with dyslexia learn. Russell explains how focusing on a child’s unique interests and shifting from articulation-first to word-analysis-first teaching can unlock dramatic growth in reading and writing. He also discusses practical strategies for parents, the importance of specific-to-general teaching, and how inclusion means ensuring dyslexic students thrive in typical classrooms. This conversation offers fresh hope and actionable tools for families, educators, and advocates.
Key Takeaways:
Strength-based focus – Building on a child’s passions drives motivation and learning.
Teaching sequence – Word analysis before articulation accelerates reading and writing progress.
Specific to general – Teaching from concrete details to broader concepts helps dyslexic learners thrive.
Parent empowerment – Parents can effectively support interventions at home with the right tools.
Redefining inclusion – True inclusion means moving students beyond “special ed” labels to exceeding grade level.
Russell’s definition of inclusion:
Inclusion is to stop taking dyslectic students like when I was a child and throwing us off into special education because we can't function in the normal classroom.
Russell Van Brocklen’s Bio:
Dyslexia touches as many as 15–20 % of all learners, yet most families still hear “wait and see.” I flip that script. As the Dyslexia Professor, I translate structured-literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use tonight. Your audience leaves knowing exactly why multisensory routines beat generic worksheets and how to start seeing progress before the next report card.
Connect with Russell Van Brocklen:
Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87/
Download a Free Guide: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook
SPAM© Count:
Host:
Yes
Current Guest:
No
Cumulative Guest Stats:
Yes - 57
No - 83
☕ Buy me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theinclusivedad
Subscribe to Podcast Newsletter: https://www.theinclusivedad.com/podcastupdates
Want to create videos like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6041699795730432
Want to be a guest on Inclusion and Advocacy from a Parent's Perspective: The Inclusive Dad? Send Aaron DeVries a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/theinclusivedad