A Guide for Teachers and Parents Supporting Dyslexic Students
When a child is diagnosed with dyslexia, it can spark a whirlwind of emotions for both parents and teachers—concern, confusion, and the deep desire to help. But amidst the flood of specialists, programs, and pricey “brain training” promises, how do you know what really works?
One parent recently asked:
“My son’s school says he has dyslexia. There are specialists charging a lot of money who say they can ‘retrain the dyslexic brain.’ But my research says one-on-one teaching, phonics, and fluency are key. What’s actually the best way to help my dyslexic child succeed in school?”
It’s a powerful—and important—question. Let’s break down what truly helps dyslexic students thrive, based on research and real-world experience.
🧠 Understanding Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that primarily affects reading, spelling, and sometimes writing. It is not related to intelligence, and with the right support, dyslexic students can thrive.
✅ 1. Structured Literacy: The Gold Standard
Structured Literacy is a proven teaching approach designed specifically for students with reading difficulties like dyslexia. It’s:
- Explicit – Clearly teaches language rules.
- Systematic and Sequential – Starts with basics and builds logically.
- Multisensory – Uses sight, sound, movement, and touch.
- Diagnostic and Responsive – Adapts to the student’s progress.
Trusted programs include:
- Orton-Gillingham (OG)
- Wilson Reading System
- Barton Reading and Spelling System
- Sonday System
- SPIRE
✅ 2. One-on-One or Small Group Instruction
Meeting a student where they are and building from there is crucial. Dyslexic learners benefit from personal attention and tailored pacing, especially when learning foundational reading skills.
You don’t need a $300/hour guru—just a trained, compassionate educator using a structured literacy method. I’ve also found Hooked on Phonics to be a helpful resource.
✅ 3. Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Are Key
Dyslexic students often struggle with:
- Phonemic awareness – hearing and manipulating sounds in words
- Phonics – connecting letters and sounds to decode words
These skills must be taught explicitly and systematically. Repetition and practice are essential.
✅ 4. Build Fluency, Vocabulary & Comprehension
Reading success goes beyond decoding. Dyslexic kids also need support with:
- FLUENCY – reading smoothly and with expression (You can find my fluency practice HERE.)
- Mastering sight words also helps immensely with increasing reading fluency.
- VOCABULARY – building a bank of known words
- COMPREHENSION – strategies to understand and reflect on what they read (I’ve bundled some of my favorite comprehension activities that reinforce a wide range of standards—super handy for centers or at-home practice!)
✅ 5. Use Accommodations Strategically
While working on remediation, students also need support that helps them succeed right now. Consider these:
- Extra time on tests
- Audiobooks
- Speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools
- Reduced reading load when appropriate
- Spelling accommodations in non-language subjects
These aren’t “cheats”—they level the playing field while foundational skills develop.
✅ 6. Protect Their Confidence
Dyslexic students often feel “less than” in traditional classrooms. Help them build confidence by:
- Celebrating their strengths (creativity, spatial reasoning, big-picture thinking)
- Encouraging progress over perfection
- Giving them access to books they can enjoy—even if that means listening instead of reading
❓ What About Specialists and Expensive Programs?
- If they’re certified in a reputable program like Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Sonday, or Barton, and they can show a track record of success—maybe.
- If they talk vaguely about “retraining the brain” without clear references to established, evidence-based methods—proceed with caution.
- You may also be able to get free or reduced-cost services through your child’s school under an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or a 504 plan.
🧭 Where Should Educators & Parents Start?
- Make sure the intervention program at school is it evidence-based?
- Request a full reading evaluation if one hasn’t been done yet.
- Read together at home—use audiobooks and high-interest stories.
- Start now—the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome.
Most importantly, never underestimate the power of your one-on-one support. Continually work with the child individually on phonics & reading fluency. Identify their specific needs – words or phonics patterns that they are struggling with, use sight word flash cards & tracking sheets, and find “just right” texts that build confidence and skills at the same time.
🔥 HOT TIP 🔥
** If you’re having trouble getting them to cooperate, they will likely need to “work” in many short bursts with longer movement/play breaks. Try using a rotation of 4 or 5 minutes of learning, then 10 minutes of play. Adapt this time schedule to the individual needs of the student. A visual timer can help with this.
✨ Final Thoughts
Dyslexia doesn’t need to be a barrier—it just means the child learns differently. With the right approach, they can develop into confident, capable readers and thinkers. The key isn’t magic or expensive therapies—it’s targeted, research-backed support from people who care.
Whether you’re teacher supporting a student or a parent navigating this journey, know this: You are not alone. And what you do matters—a lot.
📝 Coming Up Next in the Series:
We’ll look at vocabulary and comprehension strategies that work especially well for struggling readers. Stay tuned!