Dyslexia can present unique challenges for students, particularly when studying at home. In this blog post, we explore practical strategies for supporting students with dyslexia, helping them manage these challenges and build confidence in their learning.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects the development of literacy and language-related skills. It is a neurological condition that influences how the brain processes written and spoken language. Dyslexia is not linked to intelligence or effort; rather, it reflects differences in how the brain interprets and organises language-based information.
Supporting students with dyslexia involves recognising that their challenges in reading, writing, spelling, and sometimes verbal expression can vary widely. While some may struggle with reading fluency, others may find written expression or spelling particularly challenging.
Importantly, dyslexia is a lifelong condition, though its impact may change over time. For young learners, it might first become apparent when they struggle with phonics or recognising high-frequency words. In older students and adults, it may manifest as difficulty with writing, organising ideas, or managing tasks that require significant reading.
Dyslexia is estimated to affect around 10-15% of the population to varying degrees, making it one of the most common learning differences.
How Dyslexia Affects Learning
Dyslexia can significantly shape a student’s learning experience. For instance, difficulties in decoding words often lead to slow and inaccurate reading, which can hinder comprehension as students focus more on deciphering words than understanding content. This difficulty is closely tied to phonological processing, where students may struggle to connect letters with their corresponding sounds. As a result, recognising and blending sounds to form words becomes a slow and effortful process, making reading less automatic and more mentally taxing.
Writing and spelling can also feel frustrating at times, as students often struggle with connecting sounds to letters, remembering spelling rules, and forming words accurately. These challenges can lead to inconsistencies in their written work, where they may spell the same word differently within a single paragraph. Additionally, the effort required to focus on correct spelling and handwriting can make it harder to organise and express their thoughts clearly, as so much mental energy is spent on the mechanics of writing. Over time, this can cause frustration, especially when their written work doesn’t reflect the depth of their ideas or knowledge.
Moreover, the cognitive load required for tasks like reading and writing can be substantial, impacting working memory and the ability to follow instructions or manage time effectively. Over time, these experiences can take a toll on a student’s confidence, leading to lower self-esteem, anxiety, or reduced motivation. The situation is often made worse when others mistake their struggles with reading or writing for a lack of intelligence. These misunderstandings can leave students feeling frustrated and undervalued, further draining their energy and making it harder for them to stay engaged with learning.
Despite these challenges, students with dyslexia often demonstrate strengths in areas like creativity, problem-solving, and holistic thinking. With the right support and teaching approaches, students with dyslexia can learn to use their strengths and navigate their education with confidence.
Practical Strategies for Supporting Students with Dyslexia
1. Create a Calm Study Space
Creating a calm and tidy study area can make a big difference for students with dyslexia. A dedicated space helps signal that it’s time to focus, building a sense of routine and making learning feel more manageable. Try to choose a quiet spot in the house, away from busy areas or noisy distractions, so the student can concentrate without interruptions.
It’s also helpful to include tools that suit their needs. Noise-cancelling headphones are great for cutting out background noise, especially in a busy household. Good lighting is just as important - natural light works best, but an adjustable desk lamp can also help reduce eye strain.
Organisation is key to creating a productive study space. Keeping the area tidy with labelled containers for supplies like pens, paper, and calculators makes it easier to stay focused. Colour-coded folders or binders for each subject can save time and reduce frustration by making everything easy to find. Adding a corkboard or whiteboard for schedules, reminders, or even motivational notes can also make the space feel more relaxing and functional.
Comfort is just as important as organisation. A chair and desk that support good posture can make long study sessions more manageable. Small items like a stress ball or fidget tool can be a great way to help with nervous energy, giving students an outlet to stay calm and focused.
Finally, minimising distractions is important for maintaining focus. Where possible, removing non-essential items like mobile phones or TVs from the workspace can help create a calm and dedicated learning area. A consistent and inviting setup encourages students to associate the space with learning, fostering a sense of control and readiness. This kind of environment supports concentration and helps ease the stress that often comes with managing dyslexia-related challenges.
2. Use Assistive Tools and Technology
Assistive tools can help students with dyslexia overcome daily learning challenges and access education more effectively. Supporting students with dyslexia through technology allows them to engage with learning in ways that suit their strengths. Examples include:
Text-to-speech software: This tool reads written material aloud, helping students comprehend content without the strain of decoding words. It can improve reading comprehension and make studying less stressful.
Speech-to-text software: This allows students to dictate their ideas, bypassing difficulties with spelling and handwriting. It builds confidence by enabling them to express their thoughts clearly.
Organisational apps: Tools like digital calendars and task trackers help students manage deadlines and break tasks into smaller, manageable parts, reducing overwhelm and improving time management.
Audiobooks: Listening to audiobooks while following along in the text supports word recognition and understanding, making reading more engaging and accessible. emotional pressure.
3. Break Down Tasks
Students with dyslexia often find large tasks, such as coursework, overwhelming, particularly if they involve multiple steps. The effort required to process instructions, organise information, and execute the work can feel daunting, leading to frustration or procrastination. Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable chunks can make them more approachable and easier to tackle. Supporting students with dyslexia in this way helps prevent overwhelm and allows them to focus on one step at a time.
For example, a History essay, which may feel very daunting at first, can be divided into clear stages: brainstorming ideas, conducting research, drafting the essay, revising content, and proofreading. Each stage can be further simplified; brainstorming might involve creating a mind map of ideas while drafting could focus on writing one paragraph at a time. Taking short breaks between stages ensures the student doesn’t feel overburdened and helps them maintain focus.
Using visual aids such as checklists, flowcharts, or even a calendar to outline each step provides essential structure and support. For instance, a checklist for a science experiment might include tasks like gathering materials, writing a hypothesis, conducting the experiment, and creating a presentation. Visual tools not only make tasks more accessible but also give students a sense of accomplishment as they tick off completed steps.
Encouraging students to set realistic goals for each task and celebrate their progress can also help build confidence. Even small achievements, such as completing a single paragraph or organising their notes, can contribute to a sense of momentum and reduce feelings of overwhelm. This approach reduces anxiety and reinforces their ability to succeed when tasks are broken into achievable steps.
4. Use Multisensory Techniques
Multisensory learning combines visual, auditory, and tactile elements to reinforce learning, making it highly effective for students with dyslexia. Flashcards with images and keywords can be adapted for complex topics, such as illustrating scientific concepts or highlighting key vocabulary for essays. Visual tools like colour-coded notes, diagrams, and mind maps are excellent for breaking down detailed information, helping students organise their ideas and recognise patterns or relationships between concepts.
Tactile strategies can also enhance understanding. Writing key terms or equations on textured cards or using dry-erase boards for drafting ideas can make abstract concepts more tangible. Hands-on activities, such as arranging sentence fragments to practise structuring essays or using 3D models to explore systems or processes, provide a practical and interactive approach to learning.
Movement-based techniques, such as mapping out sequences of events or creating physical representations of concepts, can also deepen understanding by engaging both the body and mind. These methods help students approach challenging material in a way that plays to their strengths and enhances retention.
5. Encourage Reading for Enjoyment
Reading for pleasure, rather than solely for assignments, can help students with dyslexia develop literacy skills in a low-pressure and enjoyable way. It allows them to engage with stories or information at their own pace, building confidence and fostering a positive attitude towards reading.
Some suggestions to make reading more accessible and enjoyable include:
- Books with larger fonts or illustrations: These features can reduce visual strain and make the text less overwhelming. Many publishers now offer dyslexia-friendly editions with clear fonts, wide spacing, and supportive layouts.
- Short stories or poetry with less dense text: These formats provide manageable reading experiences without the commitment of a long novel. Short stories often deliver satisfying narratives, while poetry introduces rhythm and wordplay, making reading more engaging.
- Audiobooks: Listening to audiobooks allows students to enjoy stories without the pressure of decoding words. It can also improve listening skills and vocabulary while introducing them to genres they might otherwise avoid. Following along with a printed copy while listening can further support word recognition.
Pairing reading with enjoyable activities - like discussing the story, acting out parts, or drawing scenes, can also enhance the experience and encourage students to see reading as something fun rather than a chore. When students associate reading with relaxation and enjoyment, they are more likely to explore it independently, leading to gradual skill development and a deeper appreciation for literature.
Seeing yourself represented in books can be empowering, especially for students with dyslexia. When they encounter characters who share their experiences - facing reading challenges, using creative problem-solving, or excelling in unexpected ways - it reinforces that dyslexia is just one part of who they are, not a limitation. It can also help them feel understood, reduce frustration, and build self-esteem.
Some books featuring dyslexic characters include:
- Thunder Boots by Naomi Jones (Ages 4–7) - A heartwarming story about a boy with dyslexia who learns to embrace his unique way of thinking and builds confidence in his abilities.
- Knees: The Mixed-Up World of a Boy with Dyslexia by Vanita Oelschlager (Ages 6–9) - This book explores the experiences of a young boy with dyslexia, highlighting his challenges and strengths.
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Ages 9–12) - A moving story about a girl who discovers her strengths beyond reading struggles.
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Ages 9–14) - The famous hero has dyslexia and ADHD, but his differences make him a powerful demigod.
Reading about characters with similar challenges can help students with dyslexia feel seen and valued. It also encourages empathy in neurotypical readers, fostering greater understanding and inclusivity.
Supporting students with dyslexia by providing accessible reading materials and alternative formats, like audiobooks, can make reading a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.
6. Provide Extra Time and Flexibility
Processing information and decoding text takes longer for students with dyslexia. Allowing extra time for assignments, tests, and projects can alleviate pressure and give them the opportunity to perform at their best. For example, offering a 25% time extension during tests or homework assignments can be a game-changer.
Flexibility in how tasks are completed is also key. Students might prefer oral presentations or creative projects over traditional written assignments. This allows them to showcase their strengths without being limited by their challenges with reading or writing. Research has demonstrated that these accommodations significantly reduce stress and enable students to fully demonstrate their abilities.
Schools have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for students with dyslexia under the Equality Act 2010. This includes exam access arrangements such as extra time, a reader, a scribe, or assistive technology to ensure they are not disadvantaged. These adjustments help create a fair testing environment, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge without being held back by difficulties with reading or writing speed. Parents can work with schools to ensure the right support is in place well before exams.
7. Build Confidence by Highlighting Strengths
Students with dyslexia often excel in areas like creative thinking, problem-solving, and storytelling. Highlighting these strengths can build self-esteem and motivate them to persevere through challenges. For instance, encourage them to express their ideas through art, create a digital presentation, or collaborate on a group project where they can contribute their unique perspective.
It’s equally important to celebrate achievements, no matter how small. Acknowledge their effort with specific praise, such as, “You organised your thoughts really well for that essay.” Research confirms that focusing on strengths and providing positive reinforcement helps students develop resilience and a growth mindset, both of which are crucial for long-term success.
Building a Positive Future
Supporting students with dyslexia at home involves creating an environment where they feel calm, confident, and capable. With practical strategies and understanding, these students can thrive in both their studies and personal growth.
Explore our website to find more resources and read regular blogs on supporting students with learning differences.
