Structured Literacy and Dyslexia

In this video, we explain what is meant by a structured literacy approach to reading instruction and what this means for students with dyslexia. Structured literacy is an umbrella term that refers to approaches to reading that reflect key instructional features (i.e., how instruction is provided) and content elements (i.e., what teachers teach) associated with gains in reading development. First, we describe the features of explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction and explain how these features can be applied within the delivery of effective reading instruction. Next, we review the content elements of a structured literacy approach, which include decoding, spelling, writing, and comprehension. Finally, we delineate features of instruction specifically for students with dyslexia. Namely, effective instruction for students with dyslexia is diagnostic and prescriptive, includes frequent progress monitoring, and involves more repetitions of practice as well as strategic scaffolding.