Primary School Dyslexia

Dyslexia matters in primary schools because it affects reading, spelling, and writing, which are key skills for learning. This page gives primary school teachers practical strategies to support literacy development and build student confidence in the classroom.

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Conference | The How to Teach Writing Conference

Course | Supporting Students With Dyslexia (SSD)

Supporting Dyslexic Learners in Your Classroom

Dyslexia is about so much more than a student simply "flipping letters." It is a fundamental difference in how the brain processes written language, often characterized by difficulties with decoding, fluent word reading, and spelling. This linguistic difference causes persistent struggles across reading and writing tasks, which can easily lead to intense reading anxiety, frustration, and a loss of confidence over time. As educators, our first step is to create a shame-free environment where students feel safe making mistakes with text without losing their spark for learning. A great way to start is by reducing their cognitive fatigue; you can pre-teach key vocabulary before a lesson so they don't get lost in the text. From there, allow them to bypass the traditional reading barrier by finding alternative ways to showcase their knowledge, such as through oral presentations or visual drawings. Explore these professional development opportunities to gain more confidence in creating an accessible classroom for dyslexic learners.

Grades

Course | Dyslexia (Short Course)

Webinar | Dyscalculia and Co-occurrence With Dyslexia Webinar

Course | Supporting Special Learning Difficulties and Dyslexia in Mainstream Schools

Course | Making Maths Dyslexia Friendly

Scientific Articles

Research and scientific publications on the topic.

How Are Reading Disabled Children Identified?

Joyce Fowler, James E. Patton, Donald B. Yarbrough

The article examines how 39 specialists and 280 elementary school teachers identify students with reading difficulties, including dyslexia. The results show that traditional beliefs and inconsistent methods often lead to misconceptions in identification.

Identifying Students With Dyslexia: Exploration of Current Assessment Methods

Johny Daniel, Lauryn Clucas, Hsuan-Hui Wang

The study examines how dyslexia is diagnosed in pupils, including those in primary school, in the UK. The results reveal significant variations and misconceptions, highlighting the importance of standardized, evidence-based assessment for early support.

The Effectiveness of Phonemic Awareness Instruction to Early Reading Success in Kindergarten

Adel T. Al-Bataineh, Siobhan Sims-King

Review of experimental research on phonemic awareness training. Shows that brief, focused instruction linked to letters improves later decoding, especially for at‑risk children. Teachers can integrate 10–15 minutes a day of oral sound games tied to print in K–2 to support dyslexic learners.

Avoiding the Devastating Downward Spiral: The Evidence That Early Intervention Prevents Reading Failure

Joseph K. Torgesen

A review article describing risk factors, research on early intervention, and effective intensive phonemic decoding instruction. Explains how schools can prevent long‑term reading failure by screening early, providing explicit phonics in small groups, and monitoring progress closely.

The Role of Instruction in Learning to Read: Preventing Reading Failure in At-Risk Children

Barbara R. Foorman, David J. Francis, Jack M. Fletcher, Christopher Schatschneider, Paras Mehta

Longitudinal intervention study in early grades showing that explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics improves reading for at‑risk children. Provides guidance on grouping, lesson pacing, and balancing code‑focused teaching with comprehension and vocabulary work.

Podcasts

Audio content and podcast episodes related to the topic.

Science of Reading Essentials: Dyslexia

Susan Lambert, Emily Lutrick, Nadine Gaab, Tim Odegard, Sally Shaywitz, Francisco Usero-González

5.1 What Do Students With Dyslexia Really Need?

Emily Gibbons, Casey Harrison

Understanding Dyslexia: Signs, Supports, and Strengths | The Dyslexia Dialogues Podcast Ep. 1

Sherri Rochel

Books

A carefully curated collection of books on the topic.

Overcoming Dyslexia: Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated

Sally Shaywitz, Jonathan Shaywitz

The Classroom Teacher’s Guide to Supporting Students with Dyslexia

Mark Weakland

Dyslexia in the Primary Classroom

Wendy Hall

Teaching Literacy to Learners with Dyslexia: A Multi-sensory Approach

Kathleen Kelly, Sylvia Phillips

100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with Dyslexia

Gavin Reid, Shannon Green

Useful links

Useful tools and resources related to the topic.

IDA Fact Sheets for Educators and Families

Downloadable PDFs explaining dyslexia, classroom accommodations, structured literacy, screening, and more. Teachers can print and share fact sheets with colleagues and families, and use them to guide classroom practice and IEP/504 discussions.

Reading Rockets – Dyslexia Topic Page

Clear articles, videos, and classroom strategies about dyslexia. Includes early signs, assessment, instruction ideas, and accommodations. Primary teachers can explore how-to guides and watch short clips to adapt reading, spelling, and writing support.

Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity – Educators

Research-based guidance tailored to teachers. Includes classroom accommodations, school-wide practices, FAQs, and downloadable tools. Helps primary teachers understand the science of dyslexia and design supportive, strengths-based classrooms.

Understood.org – Dyslexia Overview

Plain-language explanations of dyslexia, signs, and supports. While aimed at families, the site offers many classroom-friendly ideas, visuals, and explainers that teachers can adapt for communicating with students, parents, and colleagues.

British Dyslexia Association – Teachers

Guidance for teachers on identifying dyslexia, planning multisensory lessons, and making reasonable adjustments. Provides checklists and classroom tips that primary teachers can adapt, even outside the UK, to improve literacy support.

Frequently asked questions

Practical resources and inspiration to prepare children for the future.

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