How to Make Learning Stick: Effective Teaching Strategies for Learners with Dyslexia

What Makes a Great Teacher?

“What is one quality that makes you a good teacher?”

I often ask this during interviews, and most candidates answer: Patience.

While patience is important, it’s not the key to effective teaching. The real challenge—and skill—is making learning stick, especially for students with dyslexia.

Why Dyslexic Learners Struggle with Memory

Children with dyslexia often have weaker working memory, making it harder for them to retain new information. This is why how we teach matters just as much as what we teach.

One of the best ways to support learning is to link new knowledge to what students already know. When we do this, we create “hooks” that secure new information in their long-term memory, making it easier to recall later.

The Power of Analogies in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia

A simple yet powerful teaching strategy is using analogies. Analogies:

• Make difficult concepts easier to understand
• Create a familiar and comfortable learning experience
• Help students retain and recall information more effectively

Explaining Dyslexia to Children: 2 Powerful Analogies

1. Dyslexia is like being shortsighted. 

   If you are shortsighted, you struggle to see clearly without glasses. But once you find the right pair, the world comes into focus. Similarly, if you have dyslexia, reading and spelling may be challenging. But with the right strategies and support, you can succeed!

2. The dyslexic brain is like a magical garden. 

   Most people’s gardens grow in neat, straight rows, making it easy to find things. But a dyslexic brain is like a lush, magical garden with winding paths and hidden corners. Finding words while reading, spelling, and writing may take extra effort. But with guidance, structured learning, and strong foundations, this garden can flourish in incredible ways.

Making Learning Stick: The Key to Teaching Success

If students don’t remember what we teach, it means our ideas aren’t sticky enough.

Do you have teaching strategies that help students retain information? Share your best tips in the comments!

📚 Want to Learn More? Explore Our Courses!

At DAS Academy, we offer professional development courses to help educators, parents, and specialists support learners with dyslexia and other learning differences. Check out our upcoming workshops and certificate courses!