By Karina Richland, M.Ed.
If your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, or you suspect they may have it, you are not alone. Roughly one in five children has some form of reading difficulty, and dyslexia is the most common learning difference affecting reading skills. The good news? With the right approach, every child with dyslexia can learn to read. It takes patience, the right tools, and a proven method, but it absolutely can be done.
This guide walks you through a clear, step-by-step process for teaching a child with dyslexia to read. Whether you are a parent, homeschool educator, or classroom teacher, these strategies are grounded in decades of research and the Science of Reading.
Key Takeaways
- Dyslexia is not a barrier to reading. Children with dyslexia can become strong readers when taught with evidence-based, structured methods.
- Traditional reading instruction often fails dyslexic learners. Programs based on whole language or balanced literacy do not provide the explicit phonics instruction these children need.
- The Orton-Gillingham approach works. Multisensory, systematic, and explicit instruction is the gold standard for teaching reading to children with dyslexia.
- Patience and celebration matter. Small wins build confidence, and confidence fuels progress.
Why Traditional Reading Instruction Falls Short
Before diving into the steps, it is important to understand why many children with dyslexia struggle despite being bright and capable. Traditional reading programs often rely on strategies like memorizing sight words, guessing from context clues, or using pictures to predict words. These approaches assume that children will naturally develop decoding skills over time.
For a child with dyslexia, that assumption does not hold. Dyslexia is a neurobiological difference that affects how the brain processes the sounds of language. Children with dyslexia need direct, explicit instruction that teaches them to connect sounds to letters in a systematic way. Without this, they fall further behind each year, and their confidence erodes along with their skills.
This is why choosing an evidence-based reading program designed for dyslexic learners is so critical. The right dyslexia reading programs use structured literacy principles to close the gap and build lasting reading skills.
Step 1: Get a Proper Evaluation
The first step is understanding exactly where your child stands. If you suspect dyslexia, seek a formal evaluation from a qualified professional, such as a psychologist, educational diagnostician, or reading specialist. A thorough assessment will identify your child’s specific strengths and areas of difficulty, including phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
Early identification matters. Research consistently shows that children who receive targeted intervention earlier make significantly greater progress. If your school district offers screening, take advantage of it. You can also use a reading level assessment to understand where your child’s skills currently stand.
A diagnosis is not a label that limits your child. It is a roadmap that tells you exactly what kind of support they need.
Step 2: Understand Your Child’s Specific Needs
Every child with dyslexia is different. Some struggle primarily with phonological awareness, the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds in words. Others may decode single words adequately but lack fluency. Some have difficulty with spelling, while others struggle with reading comprehension.
Understanding your child’s unique profile helps you focus your instruction where it will have the greatest impact. Work with your child’s evaluator or reading specialist to identify:
- Phonological processing strengths and weaknesses
- Decoding accuracy and speed
- Spelling patterns and errors
- Reading fluency and expression
- Comprehension strategies they use (or lack)
This information guides every decision you make moving forward, from choosing a reading curriculum for dyslexia to selecting specific activities for daily practice.
Step 3: Choose an Evidence-Based Reading Program
Not all reading programs are created equal, and for children with dyslexia, program selection can make or break their progress. The research is clear: the most effective reading programs for dyslexia are based on the Orton-Gillingham approach.
What Makes Orton-Gillingham Effective?
The Orton-Gillingham approach is a structured, systematic, and multisensory method of teaching reading. It was specifically designed for individuals with dyslexia and has been used successfully for over 80 years. Here is what sets it apart:
- Systematic and sequential: Skills are taught in a logical order, from simple to complex, with no gaps.
- Explicit instruction: Every concept is directly taught. Nothing is left to chance or guesswork.
- Multisensory: Lessons engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways simultaneously.
- Cumulative: Each lesson builds on previously mastered material, with regular review.
- Diagnostic: Instruction is adjusted based on continuous assessment of the student’s progress.
When selecting a reading curriculum for dyslexia, look for programs that incorporate all of these elements. A fully scripted, easy-to-implement program can be especially helpful for parents and teachers who do not have specialized training, making structured literacy accessible to everyone.
Step 4: Use Multisensory Techniques
Multisensory instruction is the cornerstone of effective dyslexia intervention. Instead of relying solely on visual input (reading words on a page), multisensory techniques engage multiple senses at the same time. This creates stronger neural pathways and helps information stick.
Multisensory Activities You Can Use Today
Here are practical, hands-on activities that reinforce reading skills through multiple senses:
- Sand or salt tray writing: Have your child trace letters and words in a tray of sand while saying the sound aloud. They see the letter, feel it forming under their finger, and hear themselves say the sound.
- Letter tiles and magnetic letters: Use physical letter tiles to build and break apart words. Move the tiles to show how changing one letter changes the whole word (e.g., “cat” to “bat” to “hat”).
- Arm tapping: As your child spells a word aloud, have them tap each sound on their arm. This connects the auditory and kinesthetic senses.
- Skywriting: Trace large letters in the air with a finger or whole arm while saying the corresponding sound. The large motor movement reinforces memory.
- Textured letters: Form letters out of clay, pipe cleaners, or sandpaper. Trace them with a finger while saying the sound.
These activities may seem simple, but they are grounded in neuroscience. For children with dyslexia, engaging multiple pathways helps the brain form the connections needed for fluent reading.
Step 5: Focus on Systematic, Explicit Phonics Instruction
Phonics instruction is the process of teaching children the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent. For children with dyslexia, this instruction must be both systematic and explicit.
Systematic means skills are introduced in a carefully planned sequence, starting with the most basic letter-sound relationships and progressing to more complex patterns like vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, and multisyllable words.
Explicit means every rule and pattern is directly taught. The child is never expected to figure it out on their own. The teacher models, the child practices, and mastery is confirmed before moving on.
This approach is the opposite of “discovery learning” or “whole language” methods, which rely on children absorbing reading skills naturally. For dyslexic learners, explicit phonics instruction is not optional; it is essential.
A strong dyslexia reading program will include:
- Letter-sound correspondence drills
- Blending and segmenting practice
- Syllable type instruction (closed, open, vowel-consonant-e, r-controlled, vowel team, consonant-le)
- Morphology instruction (prefixes, suffixes, roots)
- Dictation and encoding (spelling) practice
- Connected text reading at the child’s instructional level
Step 6: Build Fluency with Decodable Texts
One of the most overlooked aspects of teaching reading to dyslexic students is providing the right practice materials. Many well-meaning parents and teachers hand children books that are too difficult, filled with words and patterns the child has not yet been taught. This leads to frustration, guessing, and a deepening cycle of failure.
Decodable books solve this problem. These books are written using only the phonetic patterns and sight words the child has already learned. When a child reads a decodable book, they are practicing real reading, not guessing. They can sound out nearly every word on the page, which builds accuracy, speed, and confidence.
Why Decodable Books Matter
- They provide controlled practice that reinforces newly learned skills
- They allow children to experience success with real books
- They build fluency through accurate, repeated reading
- They reduce frustration and increase motivation
As your child masters each level of phonics instruction, the decodable texts they read should grow in complexity. This gradual progression keeps them challenged without overwhelming them. For a deeper look at what makes these books so effective and how to select the right ones, read our guide on what decodable readers are and why they matter.
Step 7: Practice Patience and Celebrate Small Wins
Teaching a child with dyslexia to read is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress may feel slow at times, especially in the early stages. But every sound mastered, every word decoded, and every sentence read aloud is a genuine victory.
Here is what patience looks like in practice:
- Keep sessions short and focused. Fifteen to twenty minutes of structured practice is more effective than an hour of unfocused work.
- End on a positive note. Always finish a session with something your child can do well.
- Use specific praise. Instead of “good job,” say “I noticed you sounded out that word all by yourself. That was excellent.”
- Track progress visually. Use charts or checklists so your child can see how far they have come.
- Normalize struggle. Remind your child that their brain works differently, not less. Many successful people, from scientists to entrepreneurs, have dyslexia.
Children with dyslexia are incredibly resilient when they feel supported. Your patience and encouragement set the tone for their entire learning experience.
Step 8: Consider Professional Tutoring Support
While many parents and teachers can successfully implement a structured literacy program at home or in the classroom, some children benefit from one-on-one instruction with a trained reading specialist. A professional tutor who is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach can:
- Provide individualized pacing tailored to your child’s needs
- Identify and address specific skill gaps
- Offer consistent, focused instruction several times per week
- Coordinate with your child’s school to ensure alignment
If your child has been struggling for an extended period, or if progress has stalled despite consistent effort at home, professional tutoring can provide the breakthrough they need. PRIDE Reading Specialists offer one-on-one online tutoring with Orton-Gillingham trained reading tutors who work directly with your child’s specific needs.
Early Signs of Dyslexia to Watch For
Recognizing dyslexia early gives your child the best chance for success. While a formal diagnosis requires professional evaluation, here are some common signs that may indicate dyslexia:
In Preschool and Kindergarten:
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or rhyming words
- Trouble recognizing letters in their own name
- Struggling to learn the sounds associated with letters
- Mispronouncing familiar words
In Early Elementary (Grades 1-3):
- Reading well below grade level
- Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words
- Confusing letters that look similar (b/d, p/q)
- Slow, laborious reading
- Avoiding reading tasks
At Any Age:
- Strong verbal skills but weak written expression
- Difficulty with spelling
- Reading requiring far more effort than expected for age and intelligence
If you notice several of these signs, learn more about what dyslexia is and consider seeking a professional evaluation. Early intervention is the single most powerful factor in helping a child with dyslexia succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a child with dyslexia ever learn to read at grade level?
Yes, absolutely. With proper intervention using structured literacy methods like the Orton-Gillingham approach, children with dyslexia can become proficient readers. Early identification and consistent, evidence-based instruction are the keys to closing the gap. Many children with dyslexia not only reach grade level but develop a genuine love of reading when taught with the right methods.
How long does it take for a dyslexic child to learn to read?
Every child is different, but most children with dyslexia show measurable improvement within a few months of starting a structured literacy program. Significant progress typically occurs over one to two years of consistent instruction. The timeline depends on the severity of the dyslexia, how early intervention begins, and the quality and consistency of instruction.
What is the best reading program for a child with dyslexia?
The best reading programs for dyslexia are based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. These programs are systematic, explicit, multisensory, and cumulative. Look for a program that is fully scripted and easy to implement, especially if you are a parent or teacher without specialized training. A strong program will include phonics instruction, decodable readers, spelling practice, and ongoing assessment.
Should I hire a tutor or can I teach my dyslexic child at home?
Both options can work well. Many parents successfully teach their children at home using a structured literacy curriculum designed for dyslexia. The key is consistency and following the program’s sequence without skipping steps. If your child needs more intensive support, or if you feel unsure about implementing the program, a trained Orton-Gillingham tutor can provide expert guidance and individualized instruction.
How is dyslexia different from just being a slow reader?
Dyslexia is a specific, neurobiological condition that affects how the brain processes the sounds of language. It is not caused by laziness, low intelligence, or lack of effort. A slow reader may simply need more practice or exposure to books. A child with dyslexia, however, has a fundamental difficulty connecting letters to sounds, which requires specialized instruction to overcome. If your child is struggling despite consistent practice, a professional evaluation can clarify whether dyslexia is the underlying cause.
Your Child Can Learn to Read
Teaching a child with dyslexia to read takes commitment, the right tools, and a deep well of patience. But it is one of the most rewarding journeys you will ever take. When you watch your child sound out a word they have been struggling with, or when they finish a book and look up at you with pride, you will know that every effort was worth it.
The path forward is clear: get an evaluation, understand your child’s needs, choose an evidence-based program built on Orton-Gillingham principles, use multisensory techniques, and celebrate every step of progress along the way.
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