8/3/2023

8 Dyslexia Resources for Educators: A Curated List

Today, 15%-20% of students show signs of a learning disability, and the majority of these students have dyslexia. Yet, it’s still widely misunderstood. If you feel like you lack accurate information about how dyslexia manifests and what students with dyslexia need to succeed, you’re in the right place.

Our top eight dyslexia resources

We gathered some of the latest research, interviews, white papers, guides, and expert-led webinars in this curated list.

1. Debunking the IQ-Dyslexia Link and Other Myths
   Do students with dyslexia have lower IQs? Short answer: No. For students with dyslexia-related struggles, intellectual capabilities rise but reading levels do not. If left unchecked, this can lead to increased feelings of inadequacy for the student. And unfortunately, the myth that students with dyslexia just aren’t as smart as their peers isn't the only erroneous belief out there. Here’s a look at some of the other prevailing misconceptions about dyslexia, along with how to combat them.
    
2. What’s the Best Reading Program for Dyslexia?
   If you think about it, potentially one in five of your students will have a learning difficulty. How do you make sure you can support them? Advancements in brain science have pushed the topic of best practices in reading instruction to the forefront, including techniques for teachers to better identify and assist students with dyslexia.
    
3. Understanding Dyslexia Today: An Interview with Dr. Suzanne Carreker and Lee-Ann Tolfree Mertzlufft
   What exactly is this learning difference? How can educators better understand dyslexia? And how can we best meet the needs of students with dyslexia today? Experts discuss the current state of dyslexia and how affected students are coping. Short on time? Here’s an audio version (Hint: Listen at 2x speed).
    
4. Teaching Students with Dyslexia: How to Recognize Early Warning Signs, Provide Effective Intervention, and Unlock Student Achievement
   Because dyslexia can initially present as an “invisible” learning impairment, it is helpful for educators to understand it, recognize its warning signs, and learn how to provide the appropriate interventions so students can become successful readers and motivated, confident learners. This white paper is a must-read for educators at all grade levels.
    
5. Assessing and Assisting Working with Emergent Bilingual Students and Students with Dyslexia
   In the past, the needs of Emergent Bilinguals (also known as English Language Learners) and students with dyslexia have sometimes been conflated—often resulting in unnecessary referrals to special education classes. With more than 5 million students learning English in U.S. schools, you’ll want to have the correct plan in place. This white paper guides teachers and school leaders to ensure equitable access to personnel, programs, and resources to maintain rich and culturally appropriate instruction.
    
6. Overlooked and Misdiagnosed: Developmental Language Disorder
   School leaders can share with educators the six most common signs of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in students, but they should also prioritize ongoing professional learning that expands teachers’ capacity to identify and meet the specific needs of students with DLD. In this white paper, explore the four key concepts of language comprehension students should learn: Semantics, syntax, pragmatics, and discourse.
    
7. Supporting Literacy for Students with Dyslexia and Developmental Language Disorder: Understanding for All
   When supporting students with dyslexia, DLD, and other learning disabilities, teachers’ understanding of how these students’ brains process information is vital for effective learning. When teachers have the knowledge and resources to help these students learn how to decode the written word and understand spoken language, their students can access literacy. In this webinar, national literacy consultant John Bennetts unpacks learning disabilities in the classroom and offers actionable skills teachers can use to best support these students.
    
8. Instructional Support for Students with Dyslexia in Lexia Core5 Reading
   The guide gives you the most commonly used interventions appropriate for students with dyslexia and discusses the innovative, scientifically proven techniques used in Lexia® Core5® Reading to support these students. Explore how Core5® supports phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics support, vocabulary, automaticity and fluency, comprehension, explicit presentation of concepts, and multisensory learning opportunities.

We serve more than 6.5 million students across more than 22,000 schools nationwide and continue to lead the field in developing innovative approaches based in the science of reading to literacy’s biggest challenges. Our research-proven, evidenced-based solutions help educators create personalized learning paths for students of all abilities, which are essential for students with dyslexia.

Lexia currently has more than 20 studies published in independent, peer-reviewed journals that meet the standards of evidence required under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Core5 recently received a “Strong” rating—the highest ranking available—from Evidence for ESSA, and the National Center on Intensive Interventions (NCII) reported positive effects favoring Lexia users over non-users in all reviewed studies. Learn more.