The Best Reading Programs for Dyslexia

July 27, 2020

The Best Reading Programs for Dyslexia

All new readers struggle at some point in the learning process. Learning to read for the first time can be very difficult, but some students struggle even more than others. Millions of students who struggle with reading often have dyslexia. An estimated one in five students has a learning disability, with dyslexia being the most common.

This does not mean it will be impossible for them to read. Your child with dyslexia just needs more tools and support on their journey. Using an online reading program can help them improve their reading skills at home. These are the best reading programs for dyslexia and can be a great way to supplement your child’s reading instruction.

What are the best reading programs for dyslexia?

There is more support now than ever for students with dyslexia and the earlier they receive intervention the better they do later. However, you can always do more and have more tools to help your child succeed. These online reading programs can help your child get more practice with reading. They also offer an alternative way to learn to read that can greatly benefit your child’s learning experience.

  1. Readability Tutor – This app is a great overall tool to use that helps create a multisensory experience for learners with dyslexia. Your child is able to get a model of good reading whenever they want. The app is also great for getting instant feedback and error correction that is specific to them. The app actually is able to listen to your child as they read aloud then gives them advice just like a real-life tutor.
  2. Moose Materials – This website is filled with activities and games that can help your child learn to read and spell. They follow the Orton-Gillingham skills and concepts and use activities that encourage multisensory learning opportunities.
  3. Nessy Reading – Nessy is another website that has many different materials that can help your child with dyslexia get a more varied learning experience. Many of the materials on the website also adhere to the Common Core curriculum, so it can be a great supplement for students attending public schools.
  4. Learning Ally – This program is an established learning tool that many schools have used for several years. It is essentially an audiobook library with books that are adapted for students with learning disabilities and dyslexia. Check with your child’s school if they are already using the program as it can be pricey to gain access.
  5. Rewordify – This website helps breakdown complicated texts to sentences that are simpler and easier to read. You can also input any text you like and the program will mark the parts of speech of each word. This can help your child learn more about sentence building.

The Best Reading Programs for Dyslexia

How can I help my child improve their reading skills?

Using any of the reading programs can greatly improve your child’s reading skills. Often your child might not be able to get the one-on-one reading support they need at school. In addition to using a reading program, you can help them improve at home by incorporating one or more of these activities:

  1. Read with them – Remember, the key is to read with them and not just to them. You want to provide a model for good reading but you also want them to practice their skills as much as possible. You can set aside some family reading time every day or even as little as once a week can make a big difference.
  2. Encourage them to enjoy reading – Along with reading with them, you can encourage their practice by showing them they can actually enjoy reading even if they are struggling. You can have them choose books that they want to read and also use books as a reward.
  3. Let them read at their own pace – Children with dyslexia can often feel self-conscious about their reading speed or pace. However, encourage them to read as slowly as they need to in order to understand the text. This shows them that the important thing is to accomplish comprehension, not just rushing through a text.
  4. Set reading goals – You can help them have more motivation to practice reading by setting reading goals. Once your child has set their reading goals, you can help them track their goals by creating an actual visual such as a graph or chart that helps them track their progress.
  5. Celebrate accomplishing goals – Not only should you build motivation, but you should also boost their confidence in reading by celebrating even the small successes. With every goal they accomplish, you can throw a little movie night or make them their favorite dinner.
  6. Work with their teacher – A key part of helping children with dyslexia succeed is to make sure they have a strong support system. Their teacher plays an important part in their reading journey, so you should work with them often to create a “reading team” for your child. 

Can a reading app really help?

Yes! There are tons of reading apps that help with targeted concerns such as sight words, phonics, and vocabulary. However, the best app to use for students with dyslexia is one that combines multisensory learning and targets several skills at once.

Readability is a key app to use to help supplement your child’s reading progress. The app not only helps with fluency and pronunciation but also reading comprehension.

The app essentially works like a one-on-one tutor for your child. Using artificial intelligence and speech-recognition technology, the app actually listens to your child reading the passages and provides personalized feedback to help them improve. It also uses innovative Interactive Voice-based Questions & Answers to almost have a discussion with your child about the story they just read.

This app truly marries a multisensory experience with active learning techniques that greatly benefit students with dyslexia. Readability offers a free trial, but you will likely see that it is an essential tool for learning.