You don't need to be a trained dyslexia tutor to teach reading at home.

You don't have to be a trained dyslexia tutor to teach your child to read at home. But you do need to understand what kind of reading instruction works for children with dyslexia and how to recognize progress along the way.

When my first child was diagnosed with dyslexia, I had no idea why learning to read was so difficult for him. Reading had come easily to me, and I assumed that with the right books and enough practice, it would eventually click for him, too.

I had a lot to learn!

After more than 30 years of homeschooling my eight children, seven of whom have dyslexia, and becoming a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor myself, I've learned that effective instruction, realistic expectations, and consistency make an enormous difference.

Here's what I recommend.

1. Choose a Reading Program That Uses Structured Literacy

Children with dyslexia benefit from reading instruction that is explicit, systematic, cumulative, and responsive to their individual learning needs.

This approach, often called Orton-Gillingham or structured literacy, teaches children how written language works rather than expecting them to discover reading patterns independently.

Look for a reading program that includes:

• Phonemic awareness: Learning to identify and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words.
• Explicit phonics: Teaching the connections between sounds and the letters that represent them.
• Systematic instruction: Introducing concepts in a logical progression, building on previously learned skills.
• Cumulative review: Regularly practicing previously taught concepts so learning becomes more automatic.
• Decoding and encoding: Practicing both reading and spelling words using the patterns being taught.
• Fluency and comprehension: Helping children become increasingly accurate, automatic, and thoughtful readers.

Research on dyslexia repeatedly shows that Orton-Gillingham-based reading programs with my own children and have found them especially helpful for providing this kind of organized instruction.

See my comparison of the top four Orton-Gillingham Reading Programs below to help you choose a program that best fits your family.

Helpful resources:

• What Is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?
• Comparison of Four Orton-Gillingham Reading Programs for Homeschoolers

If you'd like a deeper understanding of the methods behind effective reading instruction, my Reading Instruction That Works Parent Education Class explains what parents need to know to teach children with dyslexia.

Learn about my Parent Education Classes

2. Start at Your Child's Current Skill Level

One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is choosing reading instruction based on their child's age or grade level instead of their actual reading skills.

A ten-year-old who struggles with basic decoding may need instruction in foundational reading skills, even if they're capable of understanding middle-school-level science and history.

That doesn't mean treating an older child like a first grader. It means giving them the specific instruction they need while continuing to provide age-appropriate learning opportunities in other subjects.

Most well-designed reading programs include placement assessments to help determine where to begin. Start where your child can experience success while still learning new skills.

3. Teach Reading Consistently, With Plenty of Review

One thing that took me a while to learn was that kids with dyslexia can learn a concept one day and forget it the next - often! In addition to choosing a research-based, effective reading curriculum. kids with dyslexia need a LOT of opportunities to practice before reading skills become consistent.

A few things I've learned over the years:

• Short, focused lessons are often more productive than long, exhausting sessions.
• Consistent practice is important, ideally on most school days when possible.
• Reviewing previously taught concepts is just as important as introducing new ones.
• A child who remembers something one day and forgets it the next may need more cumulative practice.
• It's okay to slow down, repeat lessons, or spend additional time on difficult skills.

And remember, finishing a lesson is not the same as mastering a skill. In fact, completing a reading lesson may take several days or more. Don't feel pressured to move through a curriculum. Go at their pace and offer lots of review.

4. Make Reading Instruction Interactive

Many Orton-Gillingham-based programs incorporate multisensory activities, such as letter tiles, writing, speaking sounds aloud, and manipulating word parts. While these activities can seem tedious or like a lot of work for busy, homeschool parents, they are super important for helping the information to stick in your kids' memory.

These activities can help make abstract language concepts more concrete and give children additional opportunities to practice.

For example, your child might:

• Say the sounds in a word while moving counters for each sound.
• Build a word using letter tiles.
• Change one letter to create a new word.
• Read and spell words containing a newly taught pattern.
• Practice reading short, decodable sentences using skills they've already learned.

Follow your program's instructional sequence, and use hands-on activities when they support learning.

5. Adjust Your Expectations About Reading Progress

This may be one of the most important lessons I've learned. Children with dyslexia often learn to read on a different timeline than their peers. Some make steady progress. Others seem to plateau for a while before making noticeable gains. A child may successfully decode a word one day and struggle with that same word the next.

That can be discouraging, especially when you're working hard to provide good instruction. But progress isn't always measured by jumping reading levels.

It may look like:

• Remembering letter-sound relationships more consistently.
• Blending sounds with less effort.
• Decoding unfamiliar words instead of guessing.
• Recognizing previously practiced words more automatically.
• Reading with greater accuracy and confidence.

These small improvements matter.

I recently wrote an article about the many ways reading progress can show up, including six practical ways to track your child's growth over time.

Teaching Kids With Dyslexia to Read: What Progress Really Looks Like

6. Don't Let Reading Difficulties Hold Back the Rest of Your Child's Education

One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is that we can adapt instruction to meet our children's actual needs. Your child may struggle to read a history textbook but be perfectly capable of discussing complex historical events. They may have difficulty decoding science vocabulary while being fascinated by biology or astronomy.

While you're teaching reading, continue feeding your child's curiosity through:

• Read-alouds and audiobooks
• Documentaries and educational videos
• Hands-on projects
• Oral discussions
• Assistive technology
• Opportunities to explore personal interests and strengths

These accommodations help children continue learning at their intellectual level while foundational reading skills develop.

7. Know When to Ask for Help

You don't have to figure everything out on your own.

If your child isn't making adequate progress, consider seeking guidance from a qualified reading specialist or dyslexia tutor who can assess current skills, identify gaps, and offer more skill and experience with teaching.

Read: How and When to Hire a Dyslexia Tutor

You may also need to adjust your reading program, instructional pace, or amount of practice.

Sometimes parents need help understanding the curriculum. Other times a child needs more individualized or intensive instruction than a parent-friendly program can provide.

You Can Teach Your Child to Read

Teaching a child with dyslexia to read may be one of the most challenging parts of your homeschool journey.

I know it was for me!

But you don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Choose effective instruction. Start where your child is. Be consistent. Watch carefully for progress, and adjust your approach when necessary.

And above all, remember that children with dyslexia can learn to read, even when their path looks different from what you originally expected.

Keep learning about your child and how they learn.

More Resources for Teaching Kids With Dyslexia to Read

Every child with dyslexia learns differently, and there's no single timeline for learning to read. Whether you're just getting started or have been teaching reading for years, these resources can help you understand what your child needs and how to support their progress.

How to Teach Phonemic Awareness

Learn how to help your child recognize and work with the individual sounds in words—one of the foundational skills for successful reading.

How to Prepare for a Great Year of Reading

Simple ways to organize your reading curriculum, prepare lessons, and create a consistent routine that works for your family.

Teaching Kids With Dyslexia to Read: What Progress Really Looks Like

Wondering whether your child is making enough progress? Learn what reading growth can look like and practical ways to track improvement over time.

Building Reading Fluency in Dyslexic Readers

When your child can sound out words but still reads slowly or laboriously, these strategies can help build greater fluency.

Spelling and Dyslexia: Why Can My Child Read a Word but Not Spell It?

Understand why spelling often develops more slowly than reading and how to support your child's progress in both areas.

Want to Learn More About Effective Reading Instruction?

My Reading Instruction That Works Parent Education Class helps parents understand the research behind effective reading instruction, evaluate reading programs, and make informed decisions about teaching their children with dyslexia.

You don't have to figure it all out on your own!

Do you need help with teaching reading? Leave a comment below.