What is Dyslexia?
According to the International Dyslexia Association®, “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding
abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction.”
For a more detailed description, see the IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know.
Structured Literacy is Key to Student Success
Effective reading instruction for students who struggle requires research-based solutions that keep them motivated and excited to learn. The most effective solutions are those that follow the Structured Literacy approach, which is distinctive in guiding how critical elements are taught.
Structured Literacy is the approach endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association’s Board of Directors. It encompasses instruction that conforms to IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
Structured Literacy
Structured Literacy is defined by several elements and principles outlined in the Effective Reading Fact Sheet. Explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in the essential elements listed below is critical to ensuring student success in learning to read. This approach is not only vital for students with dyslexia, but research has found it is effective for all students.
Elements
- Phonology
- Sound-Symbol Association
- Syllable Instruction
- Morphology
- Syntax
- Semantics
Principles
- Systematic and Cumulative
- Explicit Instruction
- Diagnostic Teaching
Structured Literacy is:
- Systematic and Cumulative. Material is organized to follow a scope and sequence that is a progression of easier to more difficult language structures and concepts. Each new step must be based on concepts previously learned.
- Explicit Instruction. Instruction should deliberately teach all concepts with continuous student-teacher interaction. It is not assumed students will naturally develop an understanding of these concepts on their own, through exposure to text, or through incidental instruction.
- Diagnostic Teaching. The teacher must use diagnostic assessments for phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, automatic sight word reading, and language comprehension to complete individualized instruction. Formal and informal assessments
are used for screening, progress monitoring, and educational diagnostics.
Who Benefits from a Structured Literacy Approach?
- Students with dyslexia
- Students in all grades
- Students who struggle to read
- Students who are learning to read
- Students with reading challenges
Dyslexia Reading Programs
The following programs align with the principles of Structured Literacy. Use the links below to learn more about each solution.
LANGUAGE! Live® | Grades 5–12
This blended program applies the Structured Literacy approach recommended by the IDA and provides explicit, systematic, and cumulative foundational reading skill instruction. The program emphasizes higher-level comprehension as students progress and develop speed, accuracy, and automaticity while reading more complex text.
Voyager Passport® | Grades K–5
Voyager Passport’s explicit, systematic instructional delivery is focused on phonology, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Its daily lesson framework, formative assessments, and differentiation supports align to the Structured Literacy approach.
REWARDS® | Grades 4–12
This powerful research-validated, specialized program is ideal for students who struggle reading long, multisyllabic words and comprehending content-area text. With explicit, systemic, teacher-led instruction, this intervention gives students new skills to unlock grade-level, content-area text.
Read Well® | Grades K–3
Read Well has many meaningful instructional components that support a student with dyslexia or other language disability as well as students with processing disabilities. The program is language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, and cumulative, cognitive, and flexible.
Acadience® Reading K–6 | Grades K–6
Acadience Reading K–6 is a universal screening and progress-monitoring assessment solution that measures the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. Acadience Reading K–6 helps identify students who need additional support and uncovers which early literacy skills to target for additional instruction.
Acadience® (RAN) | Grades K–1
Acadience Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) is a brief assessment that can be used to screen for students who may be at risk for dyslexia.
Featured Resources
WEBINAR: The Truth About Dyslexia—Myths Vs. Facts
As a consequence of advocacy, many states have now adopted laws pertaining the identification and treatment of dyslexia. While recognition of dyslexia is long overdue, conflicts between scientific evidence and popular beliefs continue to complicate implementation of these well-intentioned laws. Dr. Louisa Moats, author and nationally recognized literacy expert, will address quandaries such as the definition of dyslexia, appropriate criteria for identification, teacher preparation, and selection and use of instructional approaches.
Dyslexia Screening and the Use of Acadience Reading
Acadience® Reading provides one of the best methods of identifying students who are at risk for early reading difficulties, including dyslexia, monitoring those students to determine whether they remain at risk, and identifying students who are not making adequate progress and should be referred for further assessment.
WEBINAR: Addressing the Dyslexia Continuum: Strategies for Teachers, Schools, and Districts
Join author and literacy expert Marilyn Sprick for an enlightening and timely presentation during Dyslexia Awareness Month. Sprick will discuss the dyslexia journey—specifically talking about students on the dyslexia spectrum, and their challenges and successes.
Blogs and Podcasts
Of ‘Hard Words’ and Straw Men: Let’s Understand What Reading Science is Really About
The time has come to call the public’s attention to reading science and to dispel the misconceived beliefs and practices that are so widespread in our classrooms.
View More Dyslexia Blogs