To help local students who have difficulty learning to read, the Meridian Scottish Rites Bodies will hold its annual pancake fundraiser Friday to benefit the Lauderdale County School Dyslexia program.

 This is the fourth year proceeds from the breakfast have gone to the dyslexia program, said Henry Wilson, general secretary for the Meridian Scottish Rites Bodies.

“This is one of our projects that we give to that is used to endorse dyslexia training,” Wilson said. 

 Christy Sellers, dyslexia therapist for the Lauderdale County School District, said the money donated is used to buy materials for approximately 250 students with dyslexia at Clarkdale, Southeast, Northeast and West Lauderdale schools.

 “This is our fourth year to have our dyslexia program in Lauderdale county,” Sellers said. “We started with one therapist that traveled to all the schools. Now we have four therapists, one in each school zone. We travel between the elementary and middle schools.”

Sellers said dyslexia is a disorder that involves difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols the traditional way, but it does not affect general intelligence. Students need to have their instruction presented in a different way.

 “It is multi-sensory and we work at the pace they need and don’t go on until we know they have mastered the material,” Sellers said. “The child has difficulty recalling information – that’s where the instructor comes in – to make sure they can access it and use it by over learning.”

Children with dyslexia show several characteristics, Sellers said.

 “They may have difficulty learning the letters and sounds, difficulty with rhyming words, and may sometimes change the order of words – instead of butterfly they may say flutterby,” Sellers said. “Everything we do is phonics based – teaching them the sounds and rules that go with reading and spelling, so they can apply it to that.”

 

Dyslexia can make school more difficult, and can range from mild to severe, Sellers said.

 “The amount it impacts them depends on the child, the support they have and how determined the parents are to work with them at home, so it could severely impact them” Sellers said. “But, we have some students that learn coping mechanisms on their own and do well.”

The fundraiser will be held Friday at the Meridian Masonic Center at 2300 11th Street from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will include pancakes, sausage, and a drink. Delivery is available for 10 or more inside the city. For more information (601) 693-1465.

 

At A Glance

 

What: Meridian Scottish Rite Bodies Pancake Fundraiser

When: Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Where: Meridian Masonic Center, 2300 11th Street

Tickets: $5 – Delivery on 10 or more inside city

Proceeds go to benefit the Lauderdale County School Dyslexia program.