Which evidence-based reading approach is suitable for students with dyslexia?

• A. Balanced literacy
• B. Phonics-only instruction
• C. Structured literacy
• D. Whole language approach

Answer: (C)

For students with dyslexia, the most effective approach is explicit, systematic instruction that builds decoding and language skills in a careful, sequenced way. This is what structured literacy provides: clear explanations and modeling of phonemic awareness, letter–sound relationships, decoding and encoding, and the patterns of syllables, along with instruction in morphology, syntax, and reading comprehension. It’s often multisensory, giving multiple pathways to learn and a steady, cumulative progression so skills build on one another with plenty of guided practice and frequent checks for mastery. Dyslexia involves difficulties with phonological processing, so directly targeting sound-letter relationships and decoding routines helps students become accurate and fluent readers and improves spelling and comprehension over time. Other approaches, like balanced literacy, phonics-only programs, or whole language, tend to mix methods or emphasize meaning and strategies without always providing the explicit, structured, and comprehensive decoding instruction that evidence shows is most effective for dyslexia. In short, structured literacy aligns with the needs of dyslexic learners by delivering explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction across decoding and language skills.