Hey there! I’m a dyslexia tutor and my mission is to help students with dyslexia succeed in reading. Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects approximately 15-20% of the population, and it impacts a student’s ability to read, write, and spell. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some effective reading strategies for dyslexic students in the classroom that I’ve found to be helpful. If you’re a teacher, parent, or tutor of a dyslexic student, please feel free to use these strategies to help your student feel more successful and confident in their reading abilities!

Provide Audiobooks for Assigned Readings 🎧

Audiobooks are a fantastic tool for dyslexic students who struggle with reading fluency and comprehension. By providing audiobooks for assigned readings, students can listen and follow along with the text, allowing them to better understand the content and increase their overall reading skills. Encourage your students to utilize audiobooks and allow them to choose the reading speed that works best for them.

Audible app playing an audiobook of Harry Potter

Use Multi-Sensory Approaches 🌈

Dyslexic students benefit greatly from multi-sensory approaches that allow them to use more than one sense to learn and remember information. There are many ways to incorporate multi-sensory learning in the classroom, such as writing words in sand, spelling out words with magnetic letters, and tracing letters with their finger. This type of learning engages different parts of the brain and can improve reading skills and memory retention.

Student tracing letters with their finger

Model Reading Strategies and Talk About Them 👨‍🏫

As a teacher, you should model good reading strategies when reading aloud to the class. This can include highlighting key points, using expression when reading, and stopping to ask questions. After reading, encourage the class to discuss what strategies were used and why they were helpful. This not only helps dyslexic students learn reading strategies, but it also helps build a community of learners who can support each other in their reading journey.

Teacher reading to the class and stopping to discuss a reading strategy

Encourage Note-Taking and Summarizing ⌨️

Dyslexic students often struggle with reading fluency, which can impact their ability to remember and process information. Encourage your students to take notes while they read and to summarize what they’ve read in their own words. This helps them retain information and reinforce comprehension. Additionally, being able to summarize and synthesize information is a valuable skill that will benefit them throughout their academic and professional careers.

Student taking notes while reading a textbook

Allow Additional Time for Reading Assignments ⏰

Dyslexic students often need more time to complete reading assignments due to their learning difference. As a teacher, it’s important to be understanding and accommodating to your students’ needs. Provide extra time for dyslexic students to complete the reading and ensure that they have enough time to use the reading strategies that work best for them.

Student reading a book with an hourglass timer next to them

I hope these strategies help you support and empower your dyslexic students in the classroom! Remember, every student learns differently, so it’s important to find what works best for each individual student. By implementing effective reading strategies and supporting your student’s learning process, you can help them feel more confident and successful in their reading journey.

An image with the words "Effective Reading Strategies for Dyslexic Students in the Classroom" on a chalkboard with a smiling student in the background