English
Introduction
English as a subject involves extensive reading, text analysis, vocabulary development, and structured writing. These areas can present particular challenges for students with dyslexia. Decoding unfamiliar words, understanding complex literary language, and producing clear, grammatically accurate written responses may require additional support. Dyslexic learners might also find oral reading fluency, spelling conventions, and sequencing ideas in writing more difficult.
However, with targeted strategies and inclusive teaching approaches, students with dyslexia can build confidence, engage meaningfully with texts, and express their ideas effectively in both spoken and written English.
Key Areas to Support Learning
- Support with spelling and key vocabulary, such as poetry terms.
- Strategies to develop reading fluency and comprehension, especially when engaging with complex or unfamiliar literary texts.
- Guidance in planning and structuring extended written responses, such as essays and comparative answers.
- Techniques to aid recall of quotations, literary terms, and key plot points.
- Scaffolding to support interpretation of figurative and abstract language, and analysis of tone, theme, and character.
Practical Teaching Strategies
- Break down texts into manageable chunks, summarising key scenes or chapters with visuals and bullet points.
- Provide writing frames or sentence starters for essays and comparative tasks.
- Incorporate multisensory learning: Use physical movement (e.g. acting out scenes), highlighting or annotating printed texts, listening to audio versions of novels or plays, and manipulating quote cards to reinforce learning.
- Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Offer multiple ways to access texts (e.g. printed, digital, audio), different ways to express understanding (e.g. video summaries, mind maps), and choices in how tasks are completed.
- Use assistive technology: Encourage use of text-to-speech, dictation tools, and note-taking apps.
- Model exemplar answers and support students in identifying structure and techniques.
- Use repetition and overlearning: Regularly revisit key themes, quotes, and structures through quizzes, retrieval tasks, and cumulative reviews.
- Teach active reading strategies: Model annotation, highlighting, and questioning techniques to improve engagement with texts.
- Build a ‘quote bank’: Use class-created or pre-prepared resources with key quotes, context, and analysis.
- Chunk writing tasks: Scaffold essays into clear, manageable stages (e.g. planning, topic sentences, evidence, explanation).
- Support drafting and redrafting: Encourage drafting via typing or voice tools and support structured revisions.
- Encourage collaborative tasks that reduce the written load and allow verbal processing.
- Teach memory strategies: Use mnemonics, rhyming patterns, and repetition to help students remember key vocabulary.
Tools & Resources
- Oide English Resources: Graphic Organisers, Teaching and Learning Support.
- LitCharts: Simplified summaries and analysis of key texts.
- BBC Bitesize English: Clear videos and explanations for language and literature.
- Subject Revision Books: Revise Wise or Less Stress, More Success.
- Quizlet: Custom flashcards for scientific vocabulary, formulae, and definitions.
- Speech to text/ Text to speech: Supports reading and writing text.
- AI Tools- EduAide, Magic School, Brisk (for differentiation), NotebookLM (turns notes into podcasts).
- BookShare Ireland: Accessible versions of science textbooks (for qualified students).
- The Connemara Further Education website hosts a podcast series titled The West Wind Blows, which includes episodes on Leaving Certificate subjects such as English, Chemistry, and French. Within the English section, you’ll find discussions on key poets and selected Shakespearean plays.
- St Columba’s English Department features a dedicated podcast section. These cover a wide range of content, including poetry, drama, essay writing, and in-depth discussions of Leaving Certificate texts like Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. For instance, Podcast 21 is part of a six-episode series exploring King Lear, each around 10 minutes long. This episode focuses on 10 significant quotations, analysing their relevance to the play’s key moments, themes, and characters. Another useful episode, Podcast 24, looks at recurring patterns in poetry.
- Dyslexia Ireland’s Whole school resources
Contact & Support
- Use your school’s Student Support File to personalise learning goals and supports.
- Liaise with your school’s AEN / SEN Coordinator for additional adjustments or accommodations.
- Dyslexia Ireland: www.dyslexia.ie
- National Council for Special Education (NCSE): www.ncse.ie