Melanie Brethour, the founder of the Quebec chapter of Decoding Dyslexia and a teacher in the Riverside School Board on the south shore of Montreal, is entering her 20th year of teaching. However, her understanding of dyslexia was limited until her son entered kindergarten and began experiencing difficulties. It wasn't until he was nine years old that he received a diagnosis, which motivated her to join the fight against dyslexia.
"It was almost an obsessive mission to learn as much as I could about dyslexia because I wanted to be able to help him," Brethour reflected.
She did her best to assist him at home, but after conducting some research, she realized that her teaching methods were not effective and that there were better approaches. "I realized I was not effectively teaching based on the research that we call the science of reading."
"I still feel a lot of teacher guilt because I work with students who are struggling, and I really wasn't effectively teaching them. Also, with my son, I was not reinforcing the best practices when it comes to learning how to read," Brethour added. "The way I sleep at night is - when you know better - you do better."
Brethour has witnessed significant progress.
"If I could film myself 5 years ago or ten years ago and film myself now - as an interventionist - it is night and day - it has completely transformed my teaching and I am still always learning," she emphasized.
She is eager to assist teachers, with a special focus on parents, to find a starting point. Witnessing a child struggle in school is a challenging journey, but it's important for parents to know they're not alone. This drove her initiative to start a Decoding Dyslexia chapter in Quebec. She consistently advises teachers to experiment with a few strategies initially, ensuring they're properly implemented before adding more over time.
"I'm explicit, systematic, I'm teaching the rules that I never was taught," she explained.
She explains that it’s incredible to witness the joy on the faces of these children who have struggled for so long when they are finally able to decode and spell words—they're beaming. The inability to read and the daily struggle undoubtedly takes a toll on one's mental health, regardless of age.
She is convinced educators need to learn a new way of teaching:
"There's no blame, no shame—it's just that unfortunately we were all taught maybe not the most effective ways. Moving forward, we can make some changes. Not overnight, but slowly."
"Everybody has the right to read. It's a human right to be able to read, and unfortunately a lot of our students are not being taught effectively," she emphasized.
Melanie Brethour shares information about dyslexia and evidence-based reading instruction on social media, where she has garnered over 31,000 followers. She firmly believes that every new follower, whether on social media platforms or through organizations like Decoding Dyslexia, signifies someone eager to learn about dyslexia awareness or the science behind reading acquisition.
"I want to spread the message that everybody has the right to read, and we can provide that for them because they say that 95 percent of students can learn to read," she shared.
Interviews:
How Melanie Brethour is demystifying dyslexia | Let's Go with Sabrina Marandola | Live Radio | CBC Listen (Apr 29, 2024)
Montreal teacher awarded for work in Dyslexia awareness and research | Global News (May 1, 2024)
To learn more, listen to Melanie Brethour’s interview on the Dyslexia Canada podcast. It is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you typically access your podcasts.
In this series, we profile the recipients of the 2024 Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards. This prestigious award recognizes individuals across the nation who have made exceptional contributions to ensure that all Canadian children have access to essential literacy support.