Blog home
The Blog

Fresh Ideas and Inspiration for education

How to create a Dyslexia friendly classroom

A Dyslexia friendly classroom includes a variety of teaching and learning strategies, enabling every child full access to the curriculum. Done in the right way you will encourage confidence and success, as well as helping children to develop good self-esteem.

Posted on Thursday 06th October 2016

 

How to create a Dyslexia Friendly ClassroomThe following list is a summary of successful primary classroom strategies:

  • A well organised environment with clear routines to minimise movement and noise.
  • A good mix of Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic activities within each lesson.
  • Dyslexic pupils ideally sit within easy eye contact of the teacher.
  • Colour coded storage systems (e.g. yellow for Literacy; blue for Numeracy).
  • Resource boxes / Goody boxes – lots of visual and hands-on support
  • A variety of writing implements including red and blue pens for practising spellings before writing in books (red for vowels; blue for consonants).
  • Revisiting reading and spelling strategies at the start of each year and having these displayed for constant reference.
  • A selection of high interest/ low reading age texts available.
  • Whiteboards with coloured markers to practise spellings and sentences.
  • Keyword cards /Days of the week/Months of the year cards.
  • Writing planning boards or writing frames.
  • Using a variety of recording methods – mind maps, storyboards, flowcharts, video, diagrams, oral presentation.
  • Using ICT as a multi-sensory method of working.
  • Giving children thinking and talking time.
  • Having drinking water available.
  • Using ‘buddies’ or ‘peer mentors’ to help with homework / organising.
  • Colour photocopies / coloured wallets / coloured reading rulers for use with white paper or reading books to help reduce any visual stress

Dyslexia

If a child’s working environment is right – they will find it easier to achieve! Good luck.