Can Dyslexia Be an Advantage? What Actually Helps Kids Learn to Read with Russell Van Brocklen

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb Connect with Russel at https://dyslexiaclasses.com/ Why is my child struggling to read—and what actually helps? Is dyslexia a lifelong limitation, or can it become a strength? And how do you keep hope when learning feels impossible? In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Russell Van Brocklen, who shares his personal journey with dyslexia, the setbacks he faced in higher education, and the breakthroughs he now attributes to God’s grace. Russell explains: What’s happening in the brain with dyslexia—including differences in reading activation and word processing Why many traditional approaches fall short And how dyslexia can become an advantage when taught the right way He also demonstrates a practical, structured method that helps students build: Reading, spelling, and grammar through typing-based sentence work Confidence by using topics tied to a child’s interests (“specialty”) Accuracy through reading aloud and self-correction Mastery through intentional repetition and rewriting Russell shares real-world outcomes from: A low-cost education program with measurable improvement A homeschool case where a student’s reading and writing scores increased dramatically in under a year The conversation also explores: How to move into more advanced writing using themes, quotes, and structured reasoning (“warrants”) Why persistence, encouragement, and the right tools matter more than labels And how faith shapes resilience when learning feels discouraging This episode is for anyone asking: “What actually works for dyslexia?” “Can my child catch up in reading and writing?” “How do I help a struggling learner without frustration or shame?” “Is there hope when school isn’t working?” Russell’s message is both practical and hopeful: with the right approach, what once felt impossible can become a pathway to strength—and grace meets us in the process. Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb