Which instructional approaches support PK–3 students with dyslexia?

• A. Silence and drill worksheets only
• B. Structured, explicit, systematic phonics instruction; multisensory approaches; and targeted, scaffolded practice
• C. Whole-language vague exploration
• D. Group reading without explicit instruction

Answer: (B)

Structured, explicit, systematic phonics instruction combined with multisensory approaches and targeted, scaffolded practice is most effective for PK–3 students with dyslexia. Dyslexia often involves difficulties with phonological processing and mapping sounds to letters, so teaching letter–sound relationships in a clear, sequential way helps students learn to decode and read new words. Multisensory methods—engaging sight, hearing, touch, and movement—strengthen memory and retrieval by forming multiple pathways for recall. Scaffolded practice provides just-right supports, with guided instruction and gradual release as students gain confidence and independence.

Other approaches fall short because they don’t provide the explicit, systematic decoding instruction or the multisensory engagement that supports encoding and retrieval, and they often rely on passive activities or unguided group work that don’t address individual decoding needs.