Dyslexia
Dyslexia is an often misunderstood disability. Many people believe that persons with dyslexia see words backwards. The truth is that dyslexia is not a visual disorder but rather a language disorder.
The reason that letters “move around” is that the individual sounds or phonemes have less value.
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurobiological, language-based learning difference that affects accurate and fluent word recognition, spelling, and decoding.
It is not caused by low intelligence, poor effort, or lack of motivation.
According to decades of research, dyslexia primarily impacts phonological processing — the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language. Because reading is built on sound-symbol connections, weaknesses in this area make learning to read significantly more difficult without explicit instruction.
Dyslexia exists on a spectrum. It can range from mild to severe and often coexists with strengths in reasoning, creativity, problem-solving, and big-picture thinking.
The Science of Reading and Dyslexia Intervention
Research in cognitive science and reading development consistently shows that students with dyslexia benefit most from:
Explicit phonemic awareness instruction
Systematic phonics
Multisensory teaching methods
Direct instruction in syllable types and spelling rules
Morphology (prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots)
Frequent progress monitoring
This approach is known as structured literacy, and it forms the foundation of effective dyslexia intervention.
Common Characteristics of Dyslexia
Students with dyslexia may:
Struggle to decode unfamiliar words
Read slowly or laboriously
Avoid reading aloud
Spell inconsistently
Confuse similar-looking words
Have difficulty with phonemic awareness
Appear bright verbally but underperform in written work
These challenges are persistent — not simply developmental delays that children “grow out of.”
What Dyslexia Is Not
Seeing letters backwards
A vision problem
A lack of intelligence
Caused by poor teaching alone
Something a child will outgrow
While good instruction matters, students with dyslexia require systematic, structured literacy instruction that explicitly teaches how language works.
Why Early Intervention and Targeted Instruction Matter
Without appropriate intervention, dyslexia can impact:
Academic confidence
Writing development
Vocabulary growth
Access to grade-level curriculum
Emotional well-being
However, with the right instruction, students with dyslexia can become accurate, confident readers.
The difference is not intelligence — it is instructional alignment.
The Science of Reading and Dyslexia Intervention
Research in cognitive science and reading development consistently shows that students with dyslexia benefit most from:
Explicit phonemic awareness instruction
Systematic phonics
Multisensory teaching methods
Direct instruction in syllable types and spelling rules
Morphology (prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots)
Frequent progress monitoring
This approach is known as structured literacy, and it forms the foundation of effective dyslexia intervention.
Dyslexia Support at Sea of Strengths Academy
Sea of Strengths Academy is a private school in Sarasota serving families throughout Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Venice, and across Florida.
Our entire academic model is built around structured literacy and Orton-Gillingham–based instruction.
Unlike traditional schools that provide accommodations without remediation, we:
Teach the structure of the English language explicitly
Provide small, skill-based groups
Deliver daily structured literacy lessons
Monitor growth using data-driven assessment
Build executive functioning alongside academics
We do not simply support students with dyslexia — we specialize in teaching them.
Visit Us
- Tours can be scheduled by emailing John Hettler at jhettler@sosaschool.com , by using our Contact Us page, or calling (941)538-6822 x102.
- Prospective students are required to join us for a shadow day, in which they will spend the day at SOSA and see what a typical day at school is like.
Is Your Child Struggling
In Reading?
- Take a look at our "Red Flag" Checklist of reading skills.
- The Dyslexia Screener is another useful tool in looking at your child's reading skills
Financial
- Most of our students receive funding through the Step Up for Students Scholarship Program.
- The school also offers financial aid for families who qualify.
