Saxon® Reading Foundations provides multisensory instruction to support all learning modalities and aligns with the Orton-Gillingham approach for differentiated reading instruction. This program ensures that all students, including those with dyslexia, receive the targeted support they need to succeed in their literacy journey.
What Do Students with Dyslexia Need to Learn to Read?
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability with a neurobiological origin, characterized by "unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader." This difficulty is typically linked to issues with the phonological processing system, which impacts the ability to read, spell, and speak (Shaywitz & Shaywitz, 2020, p.100). Students with dyslexia often face challenges in reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and background knowledge, which may further impede their academic growth (IDA, 2020).
Early identification and intervention are crucial in minimizing these challenges and preventing the negative effects of continued reading struggles. If left unaddressed, a student’s aversion to reading can worsen as they fall further behind. Systematic, explicit instruction combined with ample opportunities for practice and review are proven strategies for helping students with dyslexia overcome these challenges.
Research highlights that students with dyslexia struggle more with irregular and nonsense words compared to regular words, indicating that difficulties with decoding are a hallmark of dyslexia (Ziegler et al., 2008). Rapid naming skills, which are essential for fluent reading, are often impaired in dyslexic students (Georgiou, 2013; Jones et al., 2010). These students may also lack the stamina necessary for sustained reading sessions, making it essential to provide them with extra time, practice, and materials that align with their proficiency levels.
How Saxon Reading Foundations Aligns with Research to Support Students with Dyslexia
Saxon Reading Foundations K–2 provides systematic, explicit, incremental, and cumulative instruction that fosters the development of essential literacy skills. Designed with the needs of struggling readers in mind, this program incorporates best practices from reading science and aligns with the Orton-Gillingham approach to differentiated reading instruction. Through ongoing review and application, Saxon Reading Foundations supports students at all skill levels, particularly those with dyslexia.
The program’s flexibility allows teachers to tailor lessons to individual needs. With the Resources for Differentiation booklet, educators can adjust their approach to ensure that all students, regardless of ability, receive the appropriate support.
Differentiated Instruction for Students Showing Signs of Dyslexia
To address the individual needs of students with dyslexia, Saxon Reading Foundations offers Options for Differentiation at the end of each lesson. These activities provide additional support and focus on multisensory reinforcement of letter shapes and sounds, phonemic awareness, and pre-reading skills. Small-group instruction based on skill levels allows teachers to customize activities for each child's specific needs, helping them progress at their own pace.
The Options for Differentiation activities are designed for small groups and are leveled according to the support required by each student. For example, children who need extra help can receive individualized support with reading materials and activities, ensuring they are exposed to the same vocabulary and concepts as their peers. As students’ skills improve, their learning needs in other areas are not overlooked.
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Fluency Readers to Meet Individual Needs
Saxon Reading Foundations includes Fluency Readers that are tailored to match students’ independent reading levels. These readers are carefully designed to help children engage with content at a level appropriate to their abilities, allowing them to explore common topics such as ants or farms while reading at their own pace.
If assessments show that students need additional remediation, teachers can incorporate Kid Card Deck activities. These interactive games provide extra practice and repetition, giving students the time they need to master phonics concepts. Teachers can group students based on their learning needs and adjust the difficulty to ensure that all students receive the right level of challenge.
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Multisensory Learning for Dyslexic Students
Saxon Reading Foundations incorporates multisensory learning strategies, ensuring that students with dyslexia benefit from varied instructional methods. The program includes activities using manipulatives, skywriting techniques for letter formation, and hands-on exercises with materials such as sand, salt, or glitter. These multisensory activities are available for individual, small-group, or whole-class learning, providing all students with additional practice.
About Saxon Reading Foundations
Saxon Reading Foundations is a supplemental resource for grades K–2 that explicitly teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. Backed by scientific research, this program has been shown to be effective across various student populations, regardless of ability level or socioeconomic background.
Saxon Reading Foundations primarily targets the decoding component of the Simple View of Reading. It is aligned with the key elements of effective reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency—as identified by the National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000). The program also supports vocabulary development and reading comprehension, ensuring students build a solid foundation in their early literacy skills.
Editor's note: This post is an excerpt from the report, "Saxon Reading Foundations: Research Evidence Base." It's been lightly adapted for format. All research citations can be accessed in the linked full report.
