Support participation and confidence
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Helpful classroom strategies in Years 9-13’
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Create a dyslexia-friendly classroom
Create a dyslexia-friendly classroom
Understand the needs of your learners and remove stressors so they can engage and be successful.
Use this checklist to identify how you can make your classroom more dyslexia-friendly.
![11079 [Screen-Shot-2018-05-24-at-2.34.22-PM.png]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/Screen-Shot-2018-05-24-at-2__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.34.22-PM.png)
Ask students what will help
Ask students what will help
Often the way material and information is presented can create barriers for students.
- What font size, colour, and style works best for you?
- What background colour do you prefer for paper handouts or slides?
- How much white space on a page or slide helps you focus?
- What style of visual is best to help you understand and keep your attention (graphics, photos, line drawings, cartoons)?
- What other things will support your access, understanding, and attention?
Teacher, Sarah Sharpe provides further suggestions for creating neurodiverse friendly “soft” and “hard” copy resources.
Fonts for easy reading
Fonts for easy reading
Use font size that is at least 11 point. Keep plenty of white space on the page.
Easy to read fonts are sans serif, mono-spaced, and roman font types including:
- Helvetica
- Courier
- Arial
- Verdana
- Computer Modern.
Italic fonts are more difficult to read.
Source: Good Fonts for Dyslexia (University of Michigan) (opens in a new tab/window)
Foster trust and confidence
Foster trust and confidence
Build practical supports and actions into the culture of your classroom.
- Use your students’ cultures, interests, and strengths to create opportunities for them to take the lead.
- Foster tuakana–teina relationships and create a class culture where students support each other.
- Give ongoing prompts and positive feedback. Provide the students with strategies to help them when they get stuck.
- Recognise and eliminate situations that students may find difficult or embarrassing, such as reading aloud to the class.
- Recognise avoidance strategies and provide practical support and encouragement.
- Act quickly on any concerns about a student’s wellbeing.
- Give feedback on students’ success to their parents and whānau.
Support access and understanding with visuals
Support access and understanding with visuals
Use visual models to illustrate concepts and provide supports and prompts for learning.
![11820 [IMG-7142.jpg]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/IMG-7142__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.jpg)
Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Recognise student strengths
Recognise student strengths
Rapaaea Henderson has dyslexia. Te reo Māori is his first language and kapa haka, a strength for him, is a pathway for helping him to learn.
Note: Click on the closed-captions icon for English subtitles.
Closed Captions
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Helpful classroom strategies in Years 9-13”:
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Current page Support participation and confidence
Return to the guide “Dyslexia and learning”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Dyslexia and learning
Understand:
- Understanding dyslexia
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Understanding dyslexia and literacy acquisitionShow suggestions for Understanding dyslexia and literacy acquisition
Strategies for action:
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Develop a schoolwide approachShow suggestions for Develop a schoolwide approach
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Identify student needs and how to provide supportShow suggestions for Identify student needs and how to provide support
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Support early literacy development through a structured literacy approachShow suggestions for Support early literacy development through a structured literacy approach
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Helpful classroom strategies in years 1–8Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies in years 1–8
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Helpful classroom strategies in years 9–13Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies in years 9–13
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Supporting literacy and numeracy in NCEAShow suggestions for Supporting literacy and numeracy in NCEA
