Five Classroom Accommodations That Made the Biggest Difference for Our Dyslexic Students

When parents first hear that their child has dyslexia, one of the first questions they ask is:

"What accommodations should my child have at school?"

It's an important question.

Accommodations are not a substitute for evidence-based, structured literacy intervention. The ultimate goal is for students with dyslexia to receive science-informed reading instruction and intensive Tier 3 intervention when needed. Accommodations simply provide access to learning while students are developing those essential reading and writing skills.

As both a literacy tutor and the parent of two dyslexic children, these are the accommodations that have consistently made the biggest impact:

1. Audiobooks

If I could recommend just one accommodation, it would be audiobooks.

Reading is hard work for dyslexic students. Because decoding requires so much effort, many children avoid books that interest them or spend so much energy reading the words that little is left for comprehension.

Audiobooks allow students to:

• enjoy age-appropriate books

• build vocabulary

• strengthen comprehension

• develop a love of reading

  
  

Perhaps most importantly, they allow children to participate alongside their peers instead of feeling left behind.

2. Rethinking Weekly Spelling Tests

Traditional spelling tests can be one of the most discouraging parts of the school week.

Many dyslexic students can memorize a list of words long enough to pass a spelling test, only to forget them by Monday. That does not necessarily translate into improved spelling in everyday writing.

Rather than emphasizing memorization, I believe instructional time is often better spent helping students understand spelling patterns, morphology, vocabulary, and the small number of truly non-decodable words that require memorization.

For many students with dyslexia, this approach is both more meaningful and less stressful.

3. No Popcorn Reading

Few classroom activities create more anxiety than being unexpectedly asked to read aloud.

Popcorn reading often leaves students focused on worrying about when their turn is coming rather than listening to the information. For dyslexic students, it can also create embarrassment and discourage classroom participation.

There are many ways for teachers to model fluent reading or invite volunteers without putting struggling readers on the spot.

A classroom should feel like a safe place to learn, not a place where students fear making mistakes.

4. Reading Support and a Scribe

One of the most heartbreaking things to watch is a child with incredible ideas struggle to get them onto paper.

A scribe allows students to express their thinking without spelling and handwriting becoming barriers. Similarly, having directions, questions, or assessments read aloud ensures students are demonstrating what they know, not simply how well they can decode text.

These supports reduce cognitive load and allow students to show their true understanding.

5. Multiple Ways to Demonstrate Learning

Reading and writing are important skills, but they should not be the only way students demonstrate their knowledge.

When appropriate, students may be able to:

• explain their thinking orally

• create a video

• build a model

• design artwork

• give a presentation

  
  

These alternatives allow educators to assess learning outcomes without unnecessary barriers created by dyslexia.

Honourable Mention: Assistive Technology

Assistive technology can be incredibly valuable, but only when implemented thoughtfully.

Tools such as speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and word prediction can increase independence and reduce frustration; however, they do not replace explicit reading and writing instruction.

Speech-to-text, in particular, requires direct teaching. Students need to learn how to dictate clearly, add punctuation, capitalize letters, and edit their work afterward. Without instruction, these tools can become frustrating rather than empowering.

Final Thoughts

Every child with dyslexia is different, and accommodations should always be individualized.

But when accommodations are paired with evidence-based intervention, they help remove barriers so students can focus on learning instead of simply surviving the school day.

Written by Jessica Mosley, with insights by Tierney Van der Vlugt