Educational Books Recommendations

Here are five highly recommended books and resources specifically designed to help children with dyslexia improve their reading and comprehension skills. These resources focus on structured literacy techniques, phonics, and multisensory approaches that have been shown to benefit dyslexic learners.

1. “Toe by Toe: A Highly Structured Multi-Sensory Reading Manual for Teachers and Parents” by Keda Cowling and Harry Cowling

• About: Toe by Toe is a structured, step-by-step reading manual designed for parents, teachers, and tutors to use with struggling readers, particularly those with dyslexia. The program uses a multisensory approach, focusing on decoding skills in small, manageable steps.
• Why It’s Helpful: This highly structured, phonics-based program is particularly effective because of its incremental design and repetition. It’s used widely and has a strong track record of success with dyslexic students.

2. “The Barton Reading & Spelling System” by Susan Barton

• About: This is a comprehensive, Orton-Gillingham-based program that uses a multisensory approach to improve reading and spelling. The Barton system includes phonics, fluency, and spelling lessons and is designed for home and school use with one-on-one instruction.
• Why It’s Helpful: The Barton System is known for its clear structure and incremental approach, which works well for students with dyslexia. It’s specifically designed for students who have not succeeded with other reading interventions.

3. “The Dyslexia Help Handbook for Parents: Your Guide to Overcoming Dyslexia Including Tools You Can Use for Learning Empowerment” by Sandra K. Cook

• About: Although aimed at parents, this book offers tools, strategies, and techniques that can be adapted for working directly with dyslexic children. It includes phonics-based exercises, tips for reading and writing, and suggestions for creating a supportive learning environment.
• Why It’s Helpful: This book provides accessible strategies that parents can implement at home and guides them through understanding dyslexia and supporting their child’s learning journey effectively.

4. “Apples and Pears Spelling” by Sound Foundations (Dancing Bears Reading Program)

• About: “Apples and Pears Spelling” is a structured, phonics-based spelling program that uses systematic, cumulative techniques to improve spelling skills in dyslexic learners. Created by the same team that designed the “Dancing Bears” reading program, it has shown success in boosting literacy for dyslexic students.
• Why It’s Helpful: The program is specifically designed for dyslexic learners and builds spelling skills through carefully structured exercises, making spelling less overwhelming and more manageable.

5. “The Orton-Gillingham Approach: A Practical Guide to Teaching Reading, Spelling, and Writing” by Kristina Smith and Cynthia M. Shapiro

• About: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the Orton-Gillingham approach, one of the most effective structured literacy methods for dyslexic learners. It explains how to teach reading, spelling, and writing skills using multisensory techniques.
• Why It’s Helpful: This guide is excellent for parents and educators who want to understand and apply the Orton-Gillingham approach at home or in a classroom setting. It includes sample lessons and practical strategies that align with evidence-based approaches for dyslexia.

Bonus Resource: “Overcoming Dyslexia” by Dr. Sally Shaywitz

• About: Written by a renowned dyslexia researcher, this book provides insights into what dyslexia is and offers practical, research-based strategies to improve reading and spelling. It includes detailed advice on how to support children and includes a structured plan to enhance reading skills.
• Why It’s Helpful: Although it’s more of an educational book for parents and teachers, “Overcoming Dyslexia” provides essential information on dyslexia and includes exercises and methods that can be used in tutoring or support sessions.

These books and programs offer structured, research-backed methods and tools for supporting children with dyslexia, providing a solid foundation in phonics, decoding, and literacy skills essential for reading success.