Low-friction classroom supports

Practical strategies that fit into existing lessons. You do not have to rebuild your entire curriculum to make life better for students with dyslexia.

1. Layout that lowers stress

• Use larger fonts and generous line spacing for core reading tasks.
• Break long instructions into numbered steps with white space.
• Keep key vocabulary in a visible place (side box, top of slide, or board corner).
• Allow extra processing time before calling on students to read aloud.

2. Tech as a layer, not a replacement

• Text-to-speech for dense texts can help with access while you still teach decoding separately.
• Audio versions of novels can support comprehension alongside print.
• Speech-to-text lets students get ideas down before they polish grammar and spelling.
• Offer choices: some students prefer paper and pencil; others thrive with tablets and headphones.

3. Showing what they know

• Where possible, separate grading of content from mechanics (spelling, handwriting, punctuation).
• Allow oral responses, diagrams, or short videos for certain assignments.
• Use checklists or rubrics that make expectations visible.
• Consider when timed tests measure skill and when they mostly measure processing speed.