Your struggling readers have likely asked themselves, or you, “Why is reading hard for me?” Sometimes, there is not a clear reason. With some extra help, many struggling readers are simply able to crack the code and catch up. Other times, the explanation is more specific: for millions of people, it’s dyslexia. Unfortunately, many individuals with dyslexia remain undiagnosed and have a more difficult time catching up to their peers.

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in the country, affecting about 1 in 10 individuals. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence; rather, differences in brain processing make reading more challenging. The dyslexic brain has a more difficult time understanding how letters and letter combinations represent sounds, and how letters are combined to form syllables and words. The symptoms of this learning disability include trouble with decoding, spelling, rhyming, and phonological awareness. If you have a child who struggles with these skills, visit the International Dyslexia Association page for self-assessment tools that provide information about diagnosing dyslexia in specific age groups.

Embarrassment about their learning struggles often causes students with dyslexia to retreat from class participation, lose confidence in their abilities, and underperform in school. To break this cycle, a greater understanding of dyslexia is essential. Teachers must be trained to identify dyslexia early on and provide appropriate intervention. When students with dyslexia receive the right kind of support, they are just as capable of performing well in school as their peers. Additional support at home is also helpful.

Sally Shaywitz, renowned dyslexia researcher and author of Overcoming Dyslexia, states that students with dyslexia typically need intensive, individualized instruction with feedback, guidance, and ongoing assessment in phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading fluency. Instructional programs should emphasize these core elements as well as building vocabulary and increasing comprehension. The instructional components emphasized by Sally Shaywitz align closely with the features of Read Naturally interventions, particularly systematic instruction in phonics and fluency. Read Naturally is the parent company of One Minute Reader. One Minute Reader was adapted from Read Naturally programs so that kids could use an effective reading tool independently at home.

One Minute Reader and Read Naturally programs build phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through the use of high-interest, nonfiction stories. The strategy used in these programs was designed to help students build confidence and motivation through self-monitoring of progress. One Minute Reader and Read Naturally programs have helped countless students with dyslexia become competent readers. 

Dyslexia may be a barrier to learning to read, but One Minute Reader can provide a pathway for students to navigate around this barrier. It's an ideal program to use at home with kids who need extra help building their reading skills and confidence. Try it out for a free week! After that, it's only $8/month.