What Educators Should Know

Kids with dyslexia have a hard time reading and understanding written language. They can see the words but there is a problem in how the brain processes them.

By understanding their challenges and supporting their needs, educators can help students with dyslexia do their best in school.

Challenges for Students With Dyslexia

Students with dyslexia may have trouble with:

• learning to talk
• pronouncing longer words
• rhyming
• learning the alphabet, days of the week, colors, shapes, and numbers
• learning to identify syllables (cow/boy in cowboy) and phonemes (b, a, t in bat)
• recognizing/sounding out simple words
• reading and spelling words with the correct letter sequence ("top" vs. "pot")
• learning to read and write their name
• with handwriting and other fine-motor coordination

What Educators Can Do

Work with your student’s family to understand their needs and what will help them most:

• If your student has an IEP (individualized education plan) or 504 plan, use all modifications and accommodations.
• Teach with as many visual cues (drawings, photos, charts, etc.) as possible.
• If available, have your student work with a speech and language therapist at school.
• Make sure your student has a way to hear instructions for assignments (not just read them). For example, they can make a voice recording of you or another student reading what the assignments are.
• Record lessons so your student can watch them again or with help.
• For reading assignments, have the student use large-print text or audiobooks.
• Help make reading less stressful and tiring. Don’t force them to read aloud in class if they are uncomfortable. Let them break up assignments that require a lot of reading into smaller assignments.
• For test taking and assignments, you can let the student:
  • speak their answers to you
  • speak their answers to a scribe
  • take extra time
  • take tests in a separate space
• Offer assistive devices (such as talk-to-text devices), a spelling dictionary, and/or a spellchecker.
• Help build your student’s confidence by recognizing and appreciating their strengths — in math, sports, drama, art, or whatever else they enjoy. 
• Provide support. If you think your student is feeling very anxious or down, talk to them and their family about counseling options in school or in the community. Some school districts don’t require parents’ permission for a student to see a counselor at school while others do. Check your local school district’s policies.