Supporting Dyslexia in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Teachers
Teachers play a vital role in helping students with dyslexia thrive academically. With the right strategies, educators can create an inclusive environment that meets the unique needs of dyslexic students while also benefiting the entire class. Here’s how teachers can offer effective support in the classroom:
Learning about Dyslexia
If you’re not familiar with dyslexia, taking the time to learn about it is one of the most important steps you can take to provide meaningful support. Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects how individuals read, write, and process language. It’s not a reflection of intelligence, but rather how the brain interprets written and spoken information. By understanding the unique challenges and strengths that come with dyslexia, you’ll be better equipped to identify the right tools, accommodations, and teaching methods.
Connect with the Student and the Family
To effectively support a student with dyslexia, it’s crucial to communicate openly with both the student and their family. Every child has unique strengths and weaknesses, so take the time to understand what those are. Ask the family and student what strategies have worked well in the past, what areas present the greatest challenges, and what kind of help is needed in the classroom. By building this connection, you can create a more personalized approach to support, ensuring that the student's needs are met in a way that boosts their confidence and fosters their strengths.
Teaching Techniques
The way lessons are delivered often matters as much as the content itself. Students with dyslexia benefit when instruction is explicit, structured, and multisensory.
Teach step by step. Break new information into small, sequenced parts. Always model, practice together, then allow for independent practice.
Repeat and reinforce directions. Have students restate instructions in their own words or provide written steps alongside verbal directions.
Use visual supports. Combine oral explanations with visual tools like charts, diagrams, or slides. Write important vocabulary and key points on the board.
Incorporate graphic organizers. Webs, charts, and outlines help students make sense of complex material and see relationships between ideas.
Provide Lesson Notes or Fill-in-the-Blank Outlines: Students with dyslexia often struggle to take notes during class, which can pull their attention away from understanding the lesson. Offer a copy of your notes or outlines so they can focus on learning. Alternatively, use a fill-in-the-blank format for the entire class, where students only need to complete key words or phrases. This approach supports students with dyslexia while benefiting all learners by emphasizing essential information.
Make learning multisensory. Use movement, manipulatives, or tactile tools to reinforce abstract concepts. For example, tracing words in sand can support spelling practice.
Teaching Materials
Many traditional resources are designed for “typical” learners and don’t always account for differences in processing, memory, or attention. Simple adjustments can make materials far more accessible:
Simplify directions: Rewrite long or complex instructions into shorter, clearer steps. Highlight or underline the most important words so they don’t get lost in text. Read these directions to the class before starting the assignment.
Break tasks into smaller pieces: For some people with Dyslexia, a large assignment can be overwhelming and difficult to begin. Present work in smaller chunks, such as one page at a time.
Highlight key information: Use color, bold print, or symbols to help students identify what matters most in a text or worksheet.
Choose dyslexia-friendly fonts. Use clear, easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, or OpenDyslexic. Avoid script or decorative fonts, which can make letters harder to distinguish and increase reading fatigue.
Incorporate visual supports. Use charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, color coding, and images to help students understand and organize information. Visual cues can reinforce instructions, highlight key concepts, and provide reference points that make learning more concrete for students with dyslexia.
Provide outlines or templates. Scaffolds can help students organize their thoughts before writing.
Allow Extra Time for Assignments: Give students with dyslexia additional time to complete tests, assignments, and long-term projects. Break larger projects into smaller deadlines with regular check-ins, helping reduce stress and giving students the chance to fully demonstrate their understanding.
Use audio supports: Record instructions or lessons and allow students to listen as they follow along with printed text.
Integrate assistive technology. Text-to-speech programs, word processors, and audiobooks can help level the playing field.
Show examples. Model high-quality work with samples so students know what’s expected.
How Students Show Understanding
Dyslexia can impact writing, spelling, and fluency, but that doesn’t mean students lack understanding. Adjustments to performance expectations allow them to show what they know.
Flexible Response Options: Let students demonstrate knowledge in ways that suit their strengths. This could include answering questions verbally, underlining or circling key answers, completing multiple-choice tasks, or using other alternative formats instead of relying solely on written essays.
Use of Technology: Encourage tools like speech-to-text, audio recordings, or digital presentations to communicate knowledge.
Flexible Testing Options: Offer multiple-choice, matching, or fill-in-the-blank questions rather than relying solely on long written responses.
Partial Credit for Effort: Recognize and grade understanding of concepts even if spelling, grammar, or written mechanics are imperfect.
Create a Supportive Classroom Environment
Building a supportive, inclusive environment is key to the success of students with dyslexia. This involves:
Encourage open communication: Create a space where students feel safe discussing their challenges and needs, while respecting their privacy. Some students may prefer not to share struggles with peers.
Teach self-advocacy skills: Help students learn how to ask for accommodations and support when needed, empowering them to manage their learning effectively.
Offer positive reinforcement: Celebrate achievements, no matter how small—reading a challenging sentence or spelling a tricky word correctly—to boost confidence and motivation.
Provide discreet support options: Some students may feel uncomfortable using certain tools, like text-to-speech or other assistive technology, in front of classmates. Offer alternatives such as private use of supports, extra space in the classroom, or the option to complete assignments at home if needed.
Implement universal supports: Whenever possible, integrate accommodations that benefit the whole class—like visual aids, graphic organizers, or fill-in-the-blank notes—so students with dyslexia can receive support without feeling singled out.
Never Ask a Student with Dyslexia to Read Aloud Unless They Volunteer
Reading aloud can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing activity for students with dyslexia. They may struggle to decode words, leading to embarrassment or frustration. Instead of requiring students to read aloud:
Allow students to volunteer if they feel comfortable.
Offer alternative ways for them to participate, such as discussing content or responding to questions based on what they've heard or seen.
This approach fosters a more inclusive classroom environment, helping students build confidence without the pressure of public reading.
Follow the IEP
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is designed specifically to address the unique learning needs of a student with dyslexia. It includes goals, accommodations, and strategies to help the student succeed. As an educator, it’s important to follow the IEP closely, ensuring that the accommodations—such as extra time on tests, the use of assistive technology, or small group instruction—are consistently implemented. Regularly review the IEP to track progress and make any necessary adjustments, always collaborating with the family and support team to ensure the student is receiving the most effective interventions.
Inclusive Strategies for All Students
Supporting students with dyslexia in the classroom doesn’t just benefit them—it creates a more inclusive learning environment for all students. By incorporating multisensory techniques, using assistive technology, breaking lessons into smaller parts, and offering patience and encouragement, teachers can help dyslexic students succeed. Most importantly, fostering a supportive and understanding classroom empowers all learners to thrive, no matter their individual challenges.
