Students with Reading Difficulties
Diagnostic Testing
The identification of students with potential reading difficulties begins with informal observation by the class teacher, which is supplemented by screening measures until the middle of first grade and by standardized, norm-referenced tests from first grade onward. Specialist teachers may choose from a variety of diagnostic tests, depending on the student’s stage of reading development. Occasionally, an educational psychologist may be asked to assist with diagnosing reading difficulties.
Instruction for Children with Reading Difficulties
Class teachers have the main responsibility for students’ progress in reading. Support teachers provide supplementary teaching to students with reading difficulties, as needed. After initial diagnostic testing, the support teacher—in conjunction with the class teacher and usually the parents—produces a tailored program with specific learning targets to support these students. The program may be delivered to individual students or small groups in a withdrawal setting, or less frequently, via in‑class support.21 Typical activities in reading support sessions include reading familiar texts, practicing modified reading strategies, learning new reading strategies, and, finally, reading a new text.
Some primary schools have specialist reading units for students with specific reading difficulties. Four special reading schools cater to students with severe dyslexia and average or above average intelligence as determined by external assessments. These schools offer intensive support in small class settings for up to two years, at which point students return to their original school. The National Council for Special Education offers a visiting teacher service for students with visual or hearing impairments. Teachers in this program liaise with parents, teachers, and other professionals to advise on the use of assistive technology and model appropriate teaching methods.