What type of instruction is best for students with dyslexia?

Structured literacy instruction that is systematic and explicit is considered the best approach for students with dyslexia because it is designed to address the specific difficulties these students face with reading. This type of instruction emphasizes a systematic sequence of concepts and skills, starting with the most basic and building to more complex levels. It ensures that lessons are explicit and clear, focusing on the relationships between sounds (phonology), letters (orthography), and word meaning (semantics).

By incorporating elements such as phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, and comprehension strategies, structured literacy provides a supportive framework that allows students with dyslexia to develop their reading skills in a way that is accessible and effective. This approach is backed by research indicating that students with dyslexia benefit most from instruction that is tailored to their learning needs, fostering better outcomes in reading and writing.

In contrast, whole language instruction often relies on context and exposure to text rather than on systematic teaching of the foundational skills necessary for reading, which can be challenging for dyslexic learners. Project-based learning environments might not provide the focused, step-by-step skill development needed for students with dyslexia, and simply reading aloud in front of the class may not address the underlying issues they face in processing written language. Thus, structured literacy