Dyslexia Teaching Methods That Empower Struggling Readers

Want to help students with dyslexia read better? Here's what works:

Teaching Method	What It Does	Why It Works
Multi-Sensory Learning	Uses sight, sound, and touch	Makes learning stick
Structured Phonics	Teaches letter sounds step-by-step	Builds reading skills
Digital Tools	Text-to-speech, colored overlays	Makes reading easier
Hands-On Activities	Sand writing, letter tiles	Links sounds to actions

Here's the thing: 30-50% of students with dyslexia don't improve with regular reading methods. But using the right approach changes everything.

What you'll learn:

Proven teaching methods that work
Step-by-step reading instruction
Digital tools that help
Ways to track progress
Quick classroom tips

Want the #1 tip that works? Start with multi-sensory learning. Mix what students see, hear, and touch. It's that simple.

Quick Start Guide	What You Need	Time Needed
Morning Reading	Phonics cards, letter tiles	10-15 mins
Sound Practice	Sand tray, sound cards	10 mins
Writing Time	Digital tools, colored paper	15-20 mins

Remember: Dyslexia isn't about intelligence - it's about how the brain processes words. The right teaching methods make all the difference.

Using Multiple Senses to Learn

When teaching dyslexic students to read, combining sight, sound, touch, and movement gets better results. Here's how each sense helps them learn.

Learning Through Sight

Visual tools boost reading skills. Check out these proven methods:

Visual Tool	How It Helps
Colored flashcards	Makes key words pop
Word walls	Shows common words clearly
Interactive whiteboards	Helps kids play with words
Picture books	Connects words to images

Quick tip: Big, bold text on flashcards makes words easier to remember.

Learning Through Sound

Sound-based learning helps kids match letters with their sounds:

Sound Method	What Kids Do
Read-alouds	Follow along with text
Word family practice	Work on rhyming
Phonemic games	Split words into sounds
Audio recordings	Learn correct sounds

Learning Through Touch and Movement

Getting physical with reading helps the brain learn better. Here's what works:

1. Sand Writing

Kids get sand on paper plates and:

Write letters in sand
Say letter names
Make letter sounds

2. Blending Boards

Using letter cards, students:

Look at one letter
Make its sound
Combine sounds into words

3. Arm Tapping

Students learn words by:

Looking at word cards
Tapping arm for each letter
Sliding hand down arm to say the word

Activity	What You Need	Goal
Sand Writing	Paper plates, sand	Learn letter shapes
Blending Boards	Big letter cards	Mix sounds together
Arm Tapping	Word cards	Remember whole words

"If a child is not learning in the way you teach, change your teaching strategy and teach the child in the way he learns!" - Praveen A.V

These hands-on methods work because they give kids multiple ways to learn each concept. Using eyes, ears, and hands together helps students remember letters and words better.

Step-by-Step Reading Methods

Teaching Letter Sounds

Here's how to teach letters to students with dyslexia - one or two at a time:

Step	Action	Purpose
1. Card Setup	Mix new and known letters on index cards	Build confidence
2. Letter Recognition	Point and name letters	Link sight to sound
3. Sound Practice	Make sounds while tracing letters	Connect sound and shape
4. Comparison	Show differences between similar letters	Stop mix-ups

"My job is to make letters NOT confusing." - Linda Farrell, Educator

Two methods that work:

Orton-Gillingham Method

Look at letter s
Name it
Make its sound
Write in shaving cream

Wilson Reading System

Tap sounds with fingers
Mix sounds together
Say the word

Reading Words More Easily

Here's what works, step by step:

Level	Focus	Practice Method
Basic	Letter sounds	Read texts with 98% known patterns
Middle	Word patterns	Mark vowels yellow, consonants blue
Higher	Word families	Sort words by sound

What Works:

Start simple
Master each step
Pick texts that match what you've taught

"Phonics instruction means going step-by-step through phonics skills." - Laura Phillips, PsyD, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Child Mind Institute

Daily Practice:

Use letter tiles to sound out words
Make words that match patterns
Read practice texts
Play word games

The Barton Reading Program shows this in action:

Yellow tiles = vowels
Blue tiles = consonants
Build words piece by piece
Read out loud to check

Using Digital Tools

Tool Type	Purpose	Examples
Text-to-Speech	Reads text aloud while highlighting	Natural Reader, ReadSpeaker TextAid
Speech-to-Text	Converts speech to written words	Google Docs Voice Typing
Text Display	Makes text easier to read	OpenDyslexic Font, BeeLine Reader
Audio Books	Provides narrated books with text	Bookshare, Learning Ally

Here's the thing about digital tools: They're not just fancy add-ons. They're game-changers for students with dyslexia.

How Lesson Bud Helps Teachers

Let me show you what LessonBud's AI can do:

It creates reading passages about stuff kids ACTUALLY care about (like sports and space). Plus, it pumps out word lists and practice sheets that match exactly what each student needs.

Think about it: Instead of spending hours making materials, teachers can focus on what matters most - teaching.

Reading Tools with AI

Want to know what makes AI reading tools different? Check this out:

Feature	How It Works	Result
Smart Text	Changes text size and spacing	Makes reading less tiring
Color Help	Adds color to highlight words	Shows where to focus
Voice Reading	Reads text out loud	Helps learn new words
Progress Check	Tests reading speed	Shows improvement

"AI can finally give students with dyslexia and other learning differences the personalized lessons needed to help them work with - instead of work around - their disability." - Landmark School Teacher

Top Tools That Get Results:

Readability: Text highlighting + fluency practice
Nessy: Reading skills through games
Dyslexia Gold: Built-in progress tracking

Want to Get Started? Here's How:

Pick ONE tool (don't overwhelm yourself)
Play with different text colors
Find the right reading speed
Keep notes on what works best

The key? Start small. Test what works. Then build from there.

Putting Methods into Practice

Here's exactly what you need to do in your classroom:

Setting Up Your Classroom

Area	Setup Tips	Purpose
Study Spaces	Individual desks + headphones	Cuts down noise
Visual Aids	Blue smartboard + overlays	Makes reading easier
Learning Tools	Letter tiles, sand trays	Hands-on practice
Organization	Step-by-step cards	Keeps things clear

Must-Have Items:

Phonics cards showing mouth positions
Colored overlays (they cost less than £1)
Word mats in clear folders

Making Learning Work

Time	What to Do	How to Help
Morning	Reading	Use SOS for new words
Mid-Day	Writing	Let students type
Afternoon	Practice	Give 25% extra time

Simple Changes That Make a Big Impact:

Give printed notes (no copying from board)
Keep lessons short (15 minutes max)
Don't force students to read out loud

"I use SOS method for spelling - students repeat the word, then spell it with their finger or tap out the sounds. It's part of the Orton Gillingham approach." - Amy Yacoub, Speech-Language Pathologist

Daily Flow:

Phonics (10 min)
Blending practice (15 min)
Sand tray writing (10 min)
Move around between tasks

Look at ideas and content when grading - not spelling or grammar.

Tech Tools That Help:

Programs that read text
Voice recording tools
Reading pens for solo work

Checking Student Progress

Here's what works to track how well your students are learning:

Assessment Type	Tool Name	Testing Frequency	What It Measures
Quick Screen	DIBELS	Every 3 months	Reading basics
Word Reading	TOWRE-2	4 times per year	Reading speed
Spelling	TWS-5	Monthly	Writing skills
Full Reading	GORT-5	Quarterly	Reading fluency

Want to know if your teaching methods are working? Do these quick checks each week:

Test how students break down sounds
Check if they read words correctly
Look at spelling progress
Time their reading speed

Here's what to do when you spot common problems:

Problem	Solution	Why It Works
Can't recognize words quickly	5-min sound drills	Makes word reading automatic
Keeps making spelling errors	Words Their Way test	Shows which patterns need work
Stops often while reading	Try parallel texts	Fresh content at same level
Up-and-down progress	Weekly skill checks	Spots problems fast

Make Your Testing Count:

Keep it SHORT (5 minutes max)
Test at the same time each day
Focus on ONE skill at a time
Write down exact scores

"Research shows that identifying dyslexia and starting research-supported interventions early - in kindergarten or 1st grade - can enable children with dyslexia to make fewer reading mistakes, increase the speed of word recognition, and improve their phonological and phoneme-blending skills." - International Dyslexia Association

Monthly Game Plan:

Start with a baseline test
Check specific skills
Look at last month's scores
Fix your teaching plan
Talk to parents about progress

Test after finishing each Orton-Gillingham level. Keep everything in a student binder - it helps during parent meetings.

Key Points to Remember

Here's what works for teaching students with dyslexia to read:

Teaching Method	What to Do	Why It Works
Phonics Focus	Teach letter sounds one at a time	Helps students decode words
Multi-Sense Learning	Mix sight, sound, and touch	Makes learning stick better
Step-by-Step	Start simple, build to complex	Keeps learning clear
Sound-Symbol Practice	Mix reading with spelling	Builds both skills together

Core Teaching Tools:

Tool Type	Examples	Purpose
Visual Tools	Phonics cards, letter tiles	Shows patterns clearly
Movement Items	Letter tracing, sound tapping	Connects sounds to actions
Sound Tools	Recording devices, sound cards	Builds sound skills
Reading Materials	Simple books, word lists	Matches what's taught

Daily Must-Do's:

Split words into sounds
Work on letter patterns
Read simple texts
Use hands-on tools
Check progress

"Systematic phonics instruction... means moving step-by-step through a progression of phonics skills." - Laura Phillips, PsyD, Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Child Mind Institute

Quick Facts:

5-10% of people have dyslexia
60-100% need math help too
Students need 25% more time on tasks

What Works vs What Doesn't:

Do This	Not This
Small, clear steps	Long instructions
Simple reading books	Guessing at words
Weekly progress checks	Big tests only
Direct sound teaching	Indirect learning

"By using specialized teaching strategies for dyslexia students, teachers can significantly enhance the academic success and overall well-being of the students." - Amy Yacoub, Speech-Language Pathologist

The Orton-Gillingham method works because it uses ALL your senses to learn reading. Start with basic sounds, then move up. Keep track of how students do, and adjust your teaching based on their needs.

FAQs

What are 3 interventions that can help students with dyslexia?

Intervention	What It Does	How to Use It
Phonics	Connects letters to sounds	Practice letter sounds and word building each day
Multisensory	Links sight, sound, and touch	Mix writing in sand, making letters in air, and sound practice
Reading Tools	Makes text easier to process	Use text-to-speech software and colored overlays

What are multisensory methods for dyslexia?

Here's how to teach reading using multiple senses at once:

Method	How It Works	What You Need
Sand Writing	Write letters in sand + say sounds	Sand tray
Air Letters	Make letters in air + say sounds	Just space
Touch Letters	Feel sandpaper letters + say sounds	Sandpaper letters
Word Building	Place tiles to build words + say sounds	Letter tiles
Sound Tapping	Tap arm while saying sounds	Nothing

These methods work because they connect:

What kids see (the letters)
What they hear (the sounds)
What they do (the movements)
What they feel (the materials)

Mix 2-3 methods in each lesson. Start with simple sounds, then move to harder words.