Where confidence and skills grow together
Dyslexia
What is it?
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography. These difficulties occur along a continuum of severity and persist even with instruction that is effective for the individual's peers. The causes of dyslexia are complex and involve combinations of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental influences that interact throughout development. Underlying difficulties with phonological and morphological processing are common but not universal, and early oral language weaknesses often foreshadow literacy challenges. Secondary consequences include reading comprehension problems and reduced reading and writing experience that can impede growth in language, knowledge, written expression, and overall academic achievement. Psychological well-being and employment opportunities also may be affected. Although identification and targeted instruction are important at any age, language and literacy support before and during the early years of education is particularly effective.
Source: Adopted by the International Dyslexia Association Board of Directors, October 22, 2025
The primary characteristics of dyslexia:
difficulty reading words in isolation
difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words
difficulty with oral reading (slow, inaccurate, or labored)
difficulty spelling
The characteristics are associated with:
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phonemic awareness: segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words
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learning the names of letters and their associated sounds
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phonological memory: holding information about sounds and words in memory
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rapid naming: rapidly recalling the names of familiar objects, colors, or letters of the alphabet
Consequences of dyslexia:
difficulty with reading comprehension
difficulty with written language
limited vocabulary growth due to reduced reading experiences
Source: © 2018 by the Texas Education Agency
Resources
✨Make Reading Practice Fun Again✨
Looking for ways to make your reading lessons a little more playful? In my Teachers Pay Teachers store, you'll find printable games and activities created with dyslexic learners in mind. From phonemic awareness practice to spelling rules and syllable patterns, there’s something for every stage of the journey.
Featured Games and Bundles
Click any image to view it on my TPT store
✨Explore games and activities made for dyslexic learners and struggling readers✨
⭐️ Let's Have Some Fun ⭐️
Each week, I share tips for helping struggling readers, easy activities to try at home, and a spotlight on one of my Bookworm Basics games—sometimes a brand-new one, sometimes an old favorite that fits the topic of the month.
If you’re a homeschool parent or a therapist looking to add some fun to your sessions, you’ll feel right at home here.
💫 When you join, you’ll also get my FREE Four to Score – Star-Themed Game Board!
It’s a simple, print-and-play board that can be used with any word list, sentence list, or spelling list—perfect for review or extra practice time.
Email subscribers even get the occasional exclusive freebie—games I only share with my list!
About Me
Robbin Kelly is a Certified Academic Language Therapist. She has 20 years experience working with students of all ages in a variety of settings. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her passion for teaching struggling readers started when her youngest son was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. She received training in the Specialist Preparation Program with Nehaus Education Center. Currently a homeschool mom, she works part time as a Dyslexia Therapist.
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