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Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called a reading disability, dyslexia results from individual differences in areas of the brain that process language.

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What Is Dyslexia?

What Is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning difference that impacts an individual's ability to read, write, and spell despite receiving adequate instruction and having average or above-average intelligence. It is a lifelong journey that primarily impacts language processing skills, particularly in the areas of reading and spelling.

Dyslexia can manifest differently in each person, but it often involves difficulties with reading, spelling, and writing.

Did you know that your ability to read is not an indicator of your intelligence? Many dyslexics have average or above-average IQ and are gifted in visuospatial processing. At Really Great Reading, we believe that all children have the right to learn to read and it is imperative to have the appropriate type of explicit, systematic, engaging, multisensory, and developmentally appropriate instruction in phonology, sound-symbol association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

Reading

Individuals with dyslexia may struggle with decoding words, recognizing common sight words, and reading fluently. They might read slowly and inaccurately and may have difficulty connecting the sounds of letters to their corresponding symbols (phonics).

Spelling

Dyslexia often leads to spelling difficulties, including frequent misspellings, letter reversals (e.g., writing "b" instead of "d"), and difficulty remembering the correct sequence of letters in words.

Writing

Expressive writing can be challenging for individuals with dyslexia due to difficulties with spelling, grammar, and organization of thoughts.

Dyslexia is not related to intelligence or vision problems. Instead, it is believed to result from differences in the way the brain processes language and the phonological structure of words. These differences can make it challenging for individuals with dyslexia to develop strong reading and writing skills using conventional teaching methods.

It's important to note that dyslexia exists on a spectrum, and its severity can vary from mild to severe. Some individuals may receive a diagnosis early in childhood, while others may not be diagnosed until later in life.

Early identification and appropriate interventions, such as structured literacy programs and the use of assistive technology, can significantly improve the reading and writing abilities of individuals with dyslexia. Our complimentary Diagnostic Decoding Surveys are an easy and efficient way to detect when students are having word-level reading difficulties and pinpoint their specific decoding weaknesses.
Really Great Reading for Students with Dyslexia
With proper support, many individuals with dyslexia can develop effective coping strategies and achieve high levels of academic and professional success.

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What Is Dyslexia?What Is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning difference that impacts an individual's ability to read, write, and spell despite receiving adequate instruction and having average or above-average intelligence. It is a lifelong journey that primarily impacts language processing skills, particularly in the areas of reading and

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DYSLEXIA | What Is Dyslexia? | Learning Disability | The Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz

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6 facts about dyslexia everyone should know

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10 Dyslexia Myths | Understanding Dyslexia

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IEP vs. 504 Plan

By Morgan Kimball

Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)

Throughout school, I had an IEP, and I never really knew what that meant. All I knew was that I got pulled out of the classroom for extra help in reading. What does IEP stand for? IEP means Individualized Educational Plan. This is a developed plan for a child who has a learning struggle or disability and receives specialized instruction and related services. Normally, with an IEP, students are pulled out of their regular classroom to receive additional support that will help the student close the gap between the student and their peers.

504 Plan

The 504 Plan is developed to ensure that a child who has a learning struggle or disability receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success. A 504 Plan is designed to provide the student with access to resources that help level the playing field between the student and their peers. With a 504 plan, students will get help within their regular classroom. Now, I probably had a 504 Plan, too, because I remember having all kinds of accommodations and extra help in the classroom.

Differences?

Not all students who have learning disabilities are required to have specialized instruction. For those students who need specialized instruction, an IEP is developed. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is a federal special education law for children with disabilities, controls the procedural requirements for an IEP. An IEP is more involved than a 504 Plan. An IEP is a detailed plan outlining what the school will provide the student (the support needed, who provides the support, how many times per week, how many minutes per session, etc.) and requires documentation of growth. An IEP focuses on educational benefits and often includes direct services such as speech or occupational therapy, etc.

For those students who don't need specialized instruction but need the assurance they will receive equal access to public education and services, a 504 Plan outlines their special accessibility requirements. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law to stop discrimination against people with disabilities . In other words, a 504 Plan is geared towards ensuring a student has equitable access to a learning environment.

In summary, the main difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan is the level of support and the focus on specialized instruction. IEPs are more comprehensive and are designed for students who require specialized educational services, while 504 Plans primarily focus on providing accommodations to ensure equal access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities. The choice between the two depends on the individual needs of the student and is determined through a formal evaluation and eligibility process.

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IEP vs. 504 Plan - Dyslexia Reading Connection

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By Morgan Kimball Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Throughout school, I had an IEP, and I never really knew what that meant. All I knew was that I got pulled out of the classroom for extra help in reading. What does IEP stand for? IEP means Individualized Educational Plan.

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Dyslexia Conference Recording | Navigating IEPs for Students with Dyslexia

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IDA Dyslexia Webinar | Bring Online Structured Literacy to Life

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Structured Literacy.pdf | Powered by Box

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Brady, S. (2011). Efficacy of phonics teaching for reading outcomes: Implications from Post-NRP research. In S. Brady, D. Braze, & C. Fowler (Eds.), Explaining individual differences in reading (pp. 69-96), London: Psychology Press.

Denton, C. A., Fletcher, J. M., Taylor, W. P., Barth, A. E., & Vaughn, S. (2014). An experimental evaluation of Guided Reading and explicit interventions for primary-grade students at-risk for reading difficulties. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 7(3), 268-293.

Ehri, L., Nunes, R. S., Stahl, S., & Willows, D. (2001). Systematic phonics instruction helps students learn to read: Evidence from the National Reading Panel's meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 71, 393-447.

Foorman, B., Beyler, N., Borradaile, K., Coyne, M., Denton, C. A., Dimino, J., Furgeson, J., Hayes, L., Henke, J., Justice, L., Keating, B., Lewis, W., Sattar, S., Streke, A., Wagner, R., & Wissel, S. (2016). Foundational skills to support reading for understanding in kindergarten through 3rd grade (NCEE 2016-4008). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from the NCEE website: http://whatworks.ed.gov

Kilpatrick, D. (2015). Essentials of assessing, preventing, and overcoming reading difficulties. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

McCardle, P., & Chhabra, V. (Eds.). (2004). The voice of evidence in reading research. Baltimore, MD, Paul H. Brookes.

National Early Literacy Panel (NELP). (2008). Developing early literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy.

National Reading Panel. (2000). Report of the National Reading Panel. Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Child and Human Development.

Seidenberg, M. (2017). Language at the speed of sight: How we read, why so many can't, and what can be done about it. New York: Basic Books.

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Structured Literacy Instruction: The Basics

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Structured Literacy prepares students to decode words in an explicit and systematic manner. This approach not only helps students with dyslexia, but there is substantial evidence that it is effective for all readers. Get the basics on the six elements of Structured Literacy and how each element is taught.

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Structured LiteracyPress Ready5.pdf | Powered by Box

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She's an international pop star, an acclaimed actress, a fashion icon and an author. She's won dozens of awards in her career of 50-plus years. And she is instantly recognized around the world by her first name: Cher.

This multitalented superstar has lived in the public eye since she was a teenager. Her fans have seen her succeed in many ways for many years. But they might not know about the challenges she faced growing up.

Cher has both dyslexia and dyscalculia. In school, she struggled with reading and with making sense of numbers. Her learning differences didn't keep her from pursuing her passions, however. And they've led her to one of her latest roles: as an outspoken advocate for kids with learning and thinking differences.

A discouraged young student

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in Southern California. As a child, she couldn't keep up with school lessons. "I couldn't read quickly enough to get all my homework done and for me, math was like trying to understand Sanskrit," she wrote in her autobiography, The First Time.

"Almost everything I learned, I had to learn by listening. My report cards always said that I was not living up to my potential," she has said. Discouraged after failing several classes, she dropped out of high school her junior year. She fled to Hollywood to pursue something she felt confident about: entertaining.

A brilliant career - and a hidden diagnosis

Cher has reinvented herself many times over the years, finding great success at every turn. She began her musical career in the 1960s with husband Sonny Bono. In the 1970s she pursued a solo career and starred in two TV variety shows.

In the 1980s she added acting to her list of accomplishments. She appeared on Broadway and in a string of movies. (She won the Oscar for best actress in 1987's Moonstruck.) Throughout it all she kept building on her success as a musician.

Cher was a mother of two by the time she found out about her learning differences. When her son Chaz Bono was 10, he struggled with reading. Cher took him to a testing center, where she learned Chaz had dyslexia. The doctors asked about Cher's own experience with reading and writing, since dyslexia often runs in families.

"I told them how my mind raced ahead of my hand, how I'd skip letters in the middle of a word. I told them how I kept transposing numbers, and that I'd get so cranky trying to dial long-distance calls that someone would finally have to take the phone and dial the number for me," she said in The First Time.

The experts who diagnosed Chaz told Cher that she, too, had learning differences. "It was like a big, Ohhh...Now I understood everything, why I had so much trouble with school. It all fit together."

Raising awareness for kids like her

These days, Cher focuses much of her time on philanthropic endeavors. She supports medical research, veterans, LGBT rights, and assistance for children. (In fact, she's a member of the Understood Board of Advocates.)

Cher still wrestles with her dyslexia and dyscalculia. "I am a terrible reader, I don't write letters. Numbers and I have absolutely no relationship," she has said.

And yet, more than 3 million people hang on her every tweet. Cher maintains an active, colorful Twitter presence and is honest about her learning differences.

When a fan asked, "If you could turn back time and change one thing, would it be to not have dyslexia?" Cher replied: "No! It caused pain, but it's me!"

Are you concerned your child might have dyslexia? Or dyscalculia? In both cases, there are simple steps you can take to find out. Also learn about what to do next if your child was recently diagnosed with dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Any opinions or views of individuals featured on Understood.org are the sole responsibility of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views, values, opinions, or beliefs of, and are not endorsed by, Understood.

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Celebrity spotlight: Superstar Cher triumphs with dyslexia and dyscalculia

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Cher has dyslexia, dyscalculia and many awards to her famous name. Learn how reading and math issues affect this superstar.

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Image by Ira Rosenberg (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

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Robin Williams was an American actor & comedian, known for his roles in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, One Hour Photo, and Night at The Museum . Williams was renowned as one of the greatest comedians of all time, being the recipient of multiple awards, and building a legacy that would shape comedy as we know it. Despite being such an influential comedian, Williams made it no secret that he struggled with many issues in his personal life, one of which was severe dyslexia.

Williams was born on July 21, 1951. He lived with his parents and two older half-brothers. Williams attended elementary school at Gorton Elementary School and middle school at Deer Path Junior High School. He described himself as having been a quiet child, and while he did well in school, he initially struggled with reading and writing. "I suffer from severe dyslexia. I was the only child on my block on Halloween to go 'trick or trout' ... Here comes that young Williams boy. Better get some fish," Williams told Johnny Carson in an interview on The Tonight Show.

At the time of his graduation in 1969, Williams was voted "Most Likely Not to Succeed" and "Funniest" by his classmates. Despite this, the former ended up being entirely wrong, thanks in no small part to the latter. Gerald Freedman, one of his teachers at the Juilliard School, even described him as a genius. Although he had so much potential to succeed, Williams still had lingering self-doubts and a need to prove himself, which he expressed in several interviews. This could likely have contributed to his depression, a struggle which plagued him even more than his dyslexia. However, his success as a comedian and actor proved that he somewhat overcame his initial self-doubt.

Succeeding with dyslexia is, contrary to popular belief, not a matter of luck. As so many others have said, success often comes down to perseverance, and Robin Williams' situation was no different. The fact that he was able to make light of his early struggles with dyslexia and succeed in the face of adversity is proof that he did persevere, and that he did overcome those self-doubts.

Robin Williams was an American actor & comedian, known for his roles in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, One Hour Photo, and Night at The Museum . Williams was renowned as one of the greatest comedians of all time, being the recipient of multiple awards, and building a legacy that would shape comedy as we know it. Despite being such an influential comedian, Williams made it no secret that he struggled with many issues in his personal life, one of which was severe dyslexia.

Williams was born on July 21, 1951. He lived with his parents and two older half-brothers. Williams attended elementary school at Gorton Elementary School and middle school at Deer Path Junior High School. He described himself as having been a quiet child, and while he did well in school, he initially struggled with reading and writing. "I suffer from severe dyslexia. I was the only child on my block on Halloween to go 'trick or trout' ... Here comes that young Williams boy. Better get some fish," Williams told Johnny Carson in an interview on The Tonight Show.

At the time of his graduation in 1969, Williams was voted "Most Likely Not to Succeed" and "Funniest" by his classmates. Despite this, the former ended up being entirely wrong, thanks in no small part to the latter. Gerald Freedman, one of his teachers at the Juilliard School, even described him as a genius. Although he had so much potential to succeed, Williams still had lingering self-doubts and a need to prove himself, which he expressed in several interviews. This could likely have contributed to his depression, a struggle which plagued him even more than his dyslexia. However, his success as a comedian and actor proved that he somewhat overcame his initial self-doubt.

Succeeding with dyslexia is, contrary to popular belief, not a matter of luck. As so many others have said, success often comes down to perseverance, and Robin Williams' situation was no different. The fact that he was able to make light of his early struggles with dyslexia and succeed in the face of adversity is proof that he did persevere, and that he did overcome those self-doubts.

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Robin Williams: An Iconic Comedian's Lifelong Struggle With Dyslexia

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Robin Williams was an American actor & comedian, known for his roles in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, One Hour Photo, and Night at The Museum. Williams was renowned as one of the greatest comedians of all time, being the recipient of multiple awards, and building a legacy that would shape comedy as we know it.

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"I rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards."

Einstein's unique way of thinking allowed him to see problems differently and develop innovative solutions. He once said: "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Einstein's curiosity and determination helped him to overcome his learning challenges and become one of the greatest minds in history.

But Einstein's legacy goes beyond his contributions to science. He was also an advocate for peace and social justice, using his platform to promote nuclear disarmament and civil rights. In a speech, he once said : "The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives." Einstein believed that everyone had the potential to be a genius, and that embracing our unique strengths was the key to success.

"I rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards."

Einstein's unique way of thinking allowed him to see problems differently and develop innovative solutions. He once said: "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Einstein's curiosity and determination helped him to overcome his learning challenges and become one of the greatest minds in history.

But Einstein's legacy goes beyond his contributions to science. He was also an advocate for peace and social justice, using his platform to promote nuclear disarmament and civil rights. In a speech, he once said "The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives." Einstein believed that everyone had the potential to be a genius, and that embracing our unique strengths was the key to success.

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The Dyslexic Genius: How Albert Einstein Overcame Learning Challenges to Revolutionize Science

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Albert Einstein is considered one of the greatest minds in the history of science, with his groundbreaking theories and discoveries still impacting our understanding of the universe. But what many people don't know is that Einstein struggled with dyslexia, a learning difference that made reading and writing challenging for him.

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Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with dyslexia? You're not alone. Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting millions of people in the U.S. It can be tough to know where to start when it comes to finding resources and help, but don't worry - we've got you covered. Check out these 25 great dyslexia resources for parents and teachers!

There's no question that dyslexia can pose unique challenges for students and their families. But with the right tools and resources, parents and teachers can help make a real difference in the lives of kids with dyslexia. To get you started, we've gathered 25 of the best resources for dyslexia from around the web. Check them out below! They provide a great starting place and reliable information to help you find what you need. There are many more fantastic resources available, so drop me a comment and share your favorites.

My Favorite Websites for Dyslexia Resources

This is my go-to site for teachers and parents. Bookmark it and be prepared to stay for a while. You can find useful information such as classroom strategies, reading basics, professional development, lesson planning, tips from reading experts, and so much more.

This a great site to help everyone understand what those with learning and attention issues experience. Their mission is to help parents understand their children's issues and relate to their experiences. Get practical information, expert advice, resources, and a parent tool kit. Take their simulations to find out why learning and attention issues can be incredibly frustrating.

This is one of the leading educator's guides to learning disabilities (LD) and ADHD. One of my favorite places to find information and tips on anything LD related.

The International Dyslexia Association

University of Michigan. This is another place I love for finding just the right resources. Great for parents and teachers. My favorites on this site include a comparison of reading and spelling programs for those with dyslexia and a great list of books to get kids reading.

The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity Visit their site to learn more about cutting edge research and get concrete tips for parents, educators and individuals with dyslexia.

This is a reading program with resources for struggling readers and those with dyslexia. They have helpful information, online-games, workbooks, and print resources for instruction.

The place for great human-narrated audio books and textbooks as well as parent webinars, and a wealth of resources. Learning Ally requires proof of eligibility for membership and a yearly fee.

Bookshare makes reading easier for people with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading obstacles. They can customize their experience with ebooks in audio and audio + highlighted text, braille, large font, and other formats. Find virtually any book you need for school, work, or enjoyment. Free to schools and students. Non-students pay a low fee. Bookshare requires proof of disability.

→ Check out my post on Dyslexia and Orton-Gillingham Instruction for a list of other great websites on dyslexia. You can also download a printable list here.

My Favorite Books About Dyslexia for Parents and Teachers

It was almost impossible to narrow down the list of great books to a few. Here are some favorites from my bookshelf. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Overcoming Dyslexia offers the latest information about reading problems and proven, practical techniques that, along with hard work and the right help, can enable anyone to overcome them.

In this book, Ben Foss discusses his dyslexia, his triumphs and failures, and his approach to success.

This is a comprehensive guide to recognizing and overcoming childhood reading difficulties. It was written by the mother of a struggling reader and an educational researcher to provide everyday tips and practical solutions.

This book delves into how different minds learn differently and how to strengthen abilities and overcome weaknesses.

Understand what it's really like to be a child with dyslexia.

Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills, By J.R. Birsh and S Carreker.

This is a comprehensive textbook on using multisensory techniques and evidence-based approaches to improve reading and language skills.

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25 Dyslexia Resources for Parents and Teachers - Tammys Teaching Tools best 2022

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Here are 25 of my favorite dyslexia educational resources for parents and teachers that help teach kids with dyslexia.

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How To Help A Child With Dyslexia At Home

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Strategies to support students with dyslexia in the classroom

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Multisensory Learning

This approach engages multiple senses simultaneously, helping individuals with dyslexia to absorb information more effectively. It may involve activities like tracing letters while saying their sounds or using colored overlays to make reading more accessible.

Assistive Technology

Various software and tools are available to aid individuals with dyslexia. Text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and spell-check software can be valuable tools for reading and writing.

Structured Language Programs

Enrolling in language programs that focus on a systematic and phonetic approach can provide a systematic and individualized approach to reading and writing, breaking language into manageable components.

Accommodation

In educational and professional settings, requesting accommodations like extended test-taking time, audiobooks, or speech-to-text software can help level the playing field for dyslexic individuals.

Supportive Environment

A supportive network, including teachers, family, and friends, can make a difference. Understanding and patience go a long way in helping dyslexic individuals build their confidence and succeed.

Building Self-Esteem & Confidence

Encouraging a positive self-image and building resilience is crucial. Dyslexic individuals can benefit from confidence-building activities to help reduce anxiety and stress associated with the challenges of dyslexia.

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A dyslexic student's arrival in your classroom can forge a step into the unknown, especially if it's the first time you've had that experience.

Dyslexia affects somewhere between 5 and 10% of the population, so it's bound to happen sooner or later.

Here's the good news: there are many easy-to-implement teaching tips and tricks educators continue to use with great success. Quite a few of them will benefit your entire class - and not just your students who have dyslexia.

And there's more good news to add. If you're not strictly teaching students to read, write, or spell - you can still use many of the tips we'll be discussing. So math, science, and even art and P.E. educators can benefit from these tips, too.
Here's an overview of the types of teaching tips for students with dyslexia we'll be covering today:
A Brief Look at How Dyslexia Affects Students

Beyond Teaching Children With Dyslexia to Read

We most closely associate dyslexia with difficulty learning to read and with other language and reading skills like writing and spelling. Dyslexia, however, goes beyond letters, spelling, and learning to read and write.

Dyslexia can affect how a child comprehends what they read and even what they remember. It can cause students to have difficulty following directions.

Dyslexia and Math Skills

Somewhere between 60 and 100% of people with dyslexia experience difficulty learning math.

Children with dyslexia often struggle with math because they have problems following directions, remembering steps, keeping things neat and ordered, and recognizing the meanings of symbols - all required aspects when learning math.

For example, a child with dyslexia may have trouble completing a crowded, busy math worksheet. The student may not remember the complicated steps to solve a mathematical equation or geometric proof.

Yet, challenges in learning are just the beginning.

Students With Dyslexia and Bullying

Children with dyslexia are often teased and bullied - partly because they're viewed as different from the other students and partly because their learning differences often single them out for special attention from teachers.

Bullying is a significant problem for all students with special needs, as their differences make them easy targets for bullies. Low self-esteem from simply living with a disability adds to the problem.

For ways to counteract and prevent bullying in your classroom, have a look at our bullying products and services.

That said, there are also certain positives for children with dyslexia.

Advantages of Dyslexia

Now for some advantages students with dyslexia experience. Studies at Harvard, MIT, and elsewhere have proven that adults and children with dyslexia better understand visual information - such as spotting differences and gaining a broader, more inclusive view.

In the words of one researcher:

"While typical readers may tend to miss the forest because its view is blocked by all the trees, people with dyslexia may...miss the trees, but see the forest." - Matthew H. Schneps

And these abilities are not just limited to visual perceptions, but sound and hearing, as well. Students with dyslexia can often detect softer sounds, hear a single voice in a crowded, noisy room, or excel at musical abilities.

So while it may be more challenging to teach children with dyslexia to read or spell, they may have surprising other talents your students without dyslexia don't have.

Let's look at methods you can adopt to benefit all your students.

Teaching Tips That Benefit the Entire Class

Take Some Advice from the OG (Approach, That Is)

Two very famous educators named Orton and Gillingham developed an approach to teaching children with dyslexia that has since been found to help non-dyslexic students as well.

It's called the Orton-Gillingham approach.

While it's specifically geared towards helping students learn to read - from letters to phonics to independent learning with proficient reading skills - the method introduces aspects that can help you teach any child any subject.

The Orton-Gillingham approach stresses teaching methods that are:

Multisensory - since dyslexia affects the way the brain processes visual information, engaging the other senses like touch and sound works around this deficit

Direct - it's helpful for the students to know what they are to learn, why they need to understand it, and how it will be taught

Systematic and sequential - step by step, building upon the skills already mastered

Positive and reinforcing - focus on the successes, the work that was done well, and the individual skill strength, rather than overall performance

Emotionally sound - focusing on the positive and on each child's success concerning their prior skillsets creates a learning environment that fosters positive mental attitudes and self-esteem

There are many ways to implement these strategies into your teaching methods, no matter what subject or age you teach.

From Scrabble tiles and magnetic letters for teaching spelling, to math manipulatives at any grade level, to hands-on science, art, and music lessons - this approach's multi-sensory aspect benefits all students.

And whether it's a lesson on how to spell three-letter words or Einstein's theory of relativity - knowing what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how they will learn it gives all students a sense of the goal and the structure of their learning.

Nearly every subject from math to P.E. should be approached similarly to teaching language arts: as a set of subskills that can be mastered in a systematic, ground-up, sequential way.

Awareness of this approach can make a massive difference in a student's performance.

And what student wouldn't benefit from a focus on success and individual progress in an atmosphere of positive reinforcement?

General Classroom Tips

Here are some other tips that can help all your students, in all of your subjects - from teaching a five-year-old child with dyslexia to read, to teaching middle schoolers to spell, to teaching teenagers trigonometry:

1. Don't punish students for forgotten or lost items. Instead, set up systems to keep everything in its place.

2. Create bookmarks or take-home slips with homework assignments that include numbered step by step instructions.

3. Allow voice recorders in place of note-taking.

4. Allow typed and printed assignments instead of handwritten. Using word processors on computers can eliminate spelling and grammar issues in essays, reports, stories, and poems.

5. Create an "oral" classroom with "thinking time" that allows for more spoken answers. Prompt answers from more than one student for each question to provide different linguistic and auditory inputs.

6. Provide opportunities for private reading and writing every day. This will help reinforce skills without the potential for public embarrassment.

7. Explicitly teach how to break down assignments and tasks into their ordered, separate, sequential parts.

8. Include "fun" learning in your curriculum - board games, puzzles, workbooks, computer games, and other fun and exciting activities (especially those created specifically for people with dyslexia).

Now let's look at some ways you can help the student with dyslexia in a more personalized manner.

One-On-One Teaching Tips

What NOT to Do With Your Students With Dyslexia

Let's first look at some things not to do when teaching a student with dyslexia, regardless of age:

Don't ask them to read aloud. It can lead to embarrassment and a sense of failure.

Don't ask them to copy things from a board or text.

Don't expect them to complete assignments as quickly as the rest of the class.

Tips You SHOULD Be Using

Now, let's get to the things you should do for your student with dyslexia:

1. Set up a study carrel or individual space with noise-canceling headphones to help eliminate distractions.

2. Allow the use of headphones and text-to-speech screen readers for any in-class lessons on a computer. The software will "read" the text on the screen, so the student doesn't have to. Encourage them to set one up at home, too.

3. Provide an Aline reader to help with written text and create templates that highlight just one math worksheet problem at a time.

4. Provide copies of the text and highlighter markers when you are covering textbook material. Guide the student on what to highlight for future reference.

5. Work with the student's parents so they can help their child at home in an appropriate manner, using some of your tips and tools. Simple awareness of dyslexia might not equate to proper management of the learning disability at home.

6. Ensure parents follow through with their child practicing the non-academic skills they'll need to succeed throughout life - like following instructions, breaking tasks into smaller parts, "everything in its place," etc.

How Positive Action Can Help

Positive Action supports teachers of all grade levels. We offer evidence-based curricula for special needs kids that enhance learning skills, improve classroom management, create positive school communities, and strengthen your students' families and your school's community.

Register for a 15-minute webinar overview of everything we offer. We can help you create the classroom, the school, and the community all your students deserve.

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How to Teach Students With Dyslexia? 14 Evidence-Based Tips

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A dyslexic student's arrival in your classroom can forge a step into the unknown, especially if it's the first time you've had that experience. Dyslexia affects somewhere between 5 and 10% of the population, so it's bound to happen sooner or later.