The Dyslexia Researcher Asking If Writing Could Unlock Reading

5 key takeaways

• Russell describes how accommodations during a state government internship—and later experiences in law school—shaped his path into dyslexia research.
• He argues that identifying reading difficulties early can help families and schools respond sooner.
• His “write first, read next” approach starts with a student’s interests and builds from words to sentences.
• He demonstrates how reading a sentence aloud and revising it can help students notice grammar and spelling.
• For older students, he outlines a structured writing process using specific questions, evidence, and a “warrant” to connect ideas.

Timestamps

• 01:17 — The internship experience that turned dyslexia into a mission
• 11:11 — The advice Russell says can make struggling readers wait too long for support
• 19:53 — A live demonstration of the “write first” approach
• 29:00 — Why student interests and motivation matter
• 32:00 — Building ideas from specific questions toward bigger themes
• 37:31 — A framework for writing stronger body paragraphs
• 48:33 — Where to learn more about Russell’s work

Guest links

Website:
https://dyslexiaclasses.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses (page with 2,091+ followers)

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