When students are having difficulty learning to read, they need additional instruction and practice to develop accuracy and automaticity. If they continue to have difficulty even with the additional support, consider testing to determine whether they have a language-based learning difference, such as dyslexia.
Resources
International Dyslexia Association’s Dyslexia Handbook
International Dyslexia Association’s Fact Sheets
Cómo Aprenden Los Niños A Leer
University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI): Dyslexia Resource Hub
How Can I Help My Teen With Their Reading Skills in Different Subjects?
Resources from the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children:
The Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (DABC) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that aims to stop the extra disadvantages Black children face when dyslexia and similar learning disabilities go unrecognized and unaddressed. They provide workshops, family literacy programs, and partnerships with educators to reach families and professionals, creating advocates for equity in literacy.
Resources
Dyslexia Roadmap
FAQ videos answered by families and caregivers of Black children with dyslexia
Monthly special topic workshops and recordings
Sometimes students can read the words on the page without a problem, but they cannot understand what they mean. They may also have difficulty expressing themselves when they speak. Assessments can determine if they have a learning difference called developmental language disorder (DLD).
Sometimes, students struggle with both decoding and language. The Quadrant Model helps explain this in greater detail.