December 12 2023

Bridging the Gap: Tailoring Education for Dyslexic Students with Advanced Reading Tools

One in five students, or 15-20% of the population, has a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia is the most common of the language-based learning disabilities. Children with dyslexia, regardless of their IQ, often face challenges in reading fluently.

The Role of Specialized Reading Programs

The treatment of dyslexia should be directed to the specific learning problems the person has. The usual course is to modify teaching methods and the educational environment to meet the specific needs of the individual with dyslexia.

Many schools have shifted towards reading programs based on the Science of Reading, which emphasizes phonics and letter identification. These methods are more effective but may still not be sufficient for students with dyslexia, who often need additional support in these areas:

1. Decoding and Phonics Support: Programs should assist students in learning to decode, and identify patterns, sounds, and letters.
2. Progress at Mastery: Children should only advance to more complex materials after mastering current levels.
3. Age-Appropriate Content: High-low books that offer age-appropriate content but are written at lower reading levels.
4. Vocabulary Development: Incorporation of vocabulary tools and dictionaries.

For students not receiving adequate support in school, educators may need to look for external reading programs that focus on dyslexia.  

Integrating Multisensory Teaching Approaches

A key aspect of addressing dyslexia in educational settings is the integration of multisensory teaching methods. These methods involve using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways simultaneously to enhance memory and learning of written language. Links are consistently made between the visual (language we see), auditory (language we hear), and kinesthetic-tactile (language symbols we can touch) pathways in learning to read and spell.

Educators are encouraged to employ these techniques to facilitate a deeper and more effective learning experience for students with dyslexia, adapting to their unique learning style and helping them connect various aspects of language.

Readability incorporates elements of the Orton-Gillingham approach and the broader principles of the Science of Reading to enhance its reading instruction methodology:

• Phonics Emphasis
• Multi-Sensory Learning
• Structured and sequential
• Individualized Learning
• Evidence-based
• Comprehension Focus
• Progress Monitoring

In essence, Readability combines the systematic, structured, and multisensory aspects of the Orton-Gillingham approach with evidence-based principles from the Science of Reading to provide a comprehensive and personalized reading instruction experience. This approach supports students in developing strong reading skills and a deep understanding of language.

Key Elements of Independent Reading Practice for Students with Dyslexia

Personalized Reading Material: Offering a variety of texts that cater to the individual interests and reading levels of students is essential. This personalized approach ensures that students are neither overwhelmed by the complexity of the material nor under-challenged by overly simplistic texts. Usually, students with dyslexia can’t read independently. Readability allows them to have a personalized approach to reading that is empowering and builds their confidence.

Regular Monitoring and Feedback: While independence is the goal, regular check-ins are important to ensure that students are progressing and to address any emerging challenges. This monitoring can be achieved through informal assessments or through AI-driven tools that track and analyze student performance.

Readability Tutor

Readability makes it easy for educators to help children from kindergarten through sixth grade with dyslexia to improve their reading ability. Readability Tutor includes:

• Text Highlighting and Background Color Change: These features help students follow along with the text more easily and maintain focus​​​​.
• Customization Features: Students can adjust reading speed, font size, and select a dyslexic-friendly font like OpenDyslexic. The default text style is Century Gothic, known for its suitability for dyslexic readers​​​​​​​​.
• Independent & Personalized Practice: It uses AI and speech recognition to provide a personalized learning experience, adapting to individual needs​​.
• Fluency Practice: The tool focuses on fluency, phonological awareness, and decoding skills, addressing common challenges dyslexic learners face in reading and comprehension​​.
• Assessments and Level-Appropriate Material: It ensures learners receive book recommendations at their reading level, fostering confidence and encouraging consistent practice​​.
• Multisensory Learning Experiences: Readability Tutor incorporates visual, auditory, and haptic feedback, essential for engaging dyslexic students​​.
• StoryTime with Multisensory Approach: This feature combines sight and sound, highlighting words as they are read aloud, which is beneficial for learning sight words
• Motivation through Badges: Readability’s reward system motivates students and keeps them engaged. As students earn badges, it boosts their self-confidence and fosters a passion for learning.

These features demonstrate Readability Tutor’s alignment with multisensory teaching methods, providing a comprehensive tool to support students with dyslexia in their learning journey.

For educators looking to support students with dyslexia, Readability can be a valuable addition to any child’s learning resources, especially for those needing extra help in reading.

To learn more about bringing Readability to your classroom, please Request a Demo.