Are you looking for ways to support kids with reading disabilities? If so, keep reading.
1. Record complicated reading content for the student to listen to while they read along.
2. Minimize the amount of content the student reads at one time (e.g., lessen reading content to individual sentences or one paragraph, etc.). As the student shows success, slowly increase the amount of content to be read at one time.
3. Alter or adjust reading learning materials to the student’s capacity and ability level.
4. Establish a system of reinforcers, either concrete (e.g., extra computer time, helper for the day, etc.) or informal (e.g., smile, handshake, praise, etc.), to urge the student to be more successful in reading.
5. Keep a simple image-coded phonics chart available at all times for the student to use when decoding words.
6. Record the student reading aloud. Play it back so that they hear omissions, additions, substitutions, or reversals.
7. Support the student in reading written information. As the student shows success, slowly decrease the assistance, and require the student to independently assume more responsibility.
8. Make sure that the reading requirements of all subjects and tasks are within the capacity and ability level of the student. If they are not, adjust the reading content to the student’s capacity and ability level.
9. Make sure that the student’s knowledge of a particular skill is being assessed rather than the student’s capacity and ability to read instructions. Reading instructions to the student can enable success.
10. Get the student to write those words in which they omit, add, substitute, or reverse letters or sounds. Get the student to practice reading those words.
11. Create a list of those words in which the student has made omission, addition, substitution, or reversal errors when reading. Get the student to practice reading those words.
12. Utilize a highlighter to find crucial syllables, words, etc., for the student. These words and phrases become the student’s sight word vocabulary.
13. Utilize a cardboard window to focus attention on a single line as you read.
14. Get the student to point to syllables, words, etc., as they read them to help them recognize omissions, additions, substitutions, or reversals.
15. Teach the student to use context clues when reading to aid word recognition and meaning. These skills will be particularly helpful when they are experiencing difficulty with reversals.
16. Teach the student essential word lists (e.g., Dolch) to assist in reading.
17. Create a list of words and phrases from the student’s reading content that they will not recognize (e.g., have the science teacher find the words and phrases the student will not know in the following week’s task). These words and phrases will become the student’s list for reading learning activities for the next week.
18. Get the student to find words and phrases that they do not recognize. Make these words part of the student’s sight word list to be learned.
19. Record pronunciations of words that the student commonly mispronounces so that they can hear the correct pronunciation.
20. Get the student to read written information more than once. Place emphasis on accuracy, not speed.
21. Give extra time for the student to read instructions.
22. Consider using AI to teach reading comprehension.
23. Consider using Alexa to teach reading skills.
24. Try using one of our many apps designed to teach literacy skills and help students with reading issues:
10 Apps That Teach Your Child to Read
7 Must-Have Apps to Make Learners Love Reading
7 Must-Have Phonics Apps and Tools
9 Reading Apps and Tools for the Elementary Classroom
The Tech Edvocate’s List of 24 Literacy Apps, Tools & Resources
