In this episode, Michael Shanahan is joined by experienced specialist dyslexia tutor Sally Andrew to discuss The Literacy Support Kit (LSK)—a comprehensive set of resources designed to support children for whom standard literacy intervention programs are too difficult.
Sally Andrew
Sally holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Dyslexia and Literacy from the University of York, UK. Sally has been tutoring students with dyslexia for 25 years and has trained many parents and educators in evidence-based multisensory interventions for dyslexia. Sally is the director of By Your Side Tutoring. Sally formally ran the popular Teaching Students with Dyslexia (TSD) suite of training for Specialist Multisensory Literacy Teachers. Sally co-developed the Literacy Support Kit and Word Cracker suite of morphology resources.
Show notes
Michael and Sally explore the challenges faced by students living with dyslexia, dysgraphia, intellectual disability, and fine motor difficulties, sharing strategies and practical solutions to bridge gaps in literacy instruction. They emphasize the importance of customized resources, multi-sensory learning, and breaking skills into fine-grained steps to ensure student success.
Key Topics Discussed
1. Why Some Students Struggle with Standard Intervention
- Not all students progress at the expected rate in structured literacy programs.
- Some need more fine-grained steps to break down learning concepts.
- Kids living with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and intellectual disability often require additional scaffolding.
- The LSK provides targeted resources to address these challenges.
2. The Importance of Teacher Discretion in Literacy Instruction
- Teaching should not be one-size-fits-all.
- Experienced tutors develop custom resources based on student needs.
- If a student is struggling with a concept, slowing down and focusing on prerequisite skills is essential.
- Using varied formats to present the same material helps build automaticity.
3. Supporting Kids with Alphabet Difficulties
- Many students, even in Year 5 or 6, do not truly know the alphabet beyond the song.
- Some students believe “LMNOP” is a single letter due to how they learned the alphabet song.
- Intervention strategies:
- Using picture alphabets to build phoneme awareness.
- Matching games to reinforce letter recognition.
- Writing letters over pre-written models to build confidence.
4. Helping Students Blend Sounds (Phonemic Awareness)
- Some students struggle to blend sounds into words, making decoding very difficult.
- Key strategies in LSK:
- Chunking sounds together rather than focusing on individual phonemes.
- Onset and rime activities (e.g., working on “at,” “it,” “in” before full words).
- Repeated exposure through varied activities to build automaticity.
5. Handwriting as a Literacy Barrier
- Fine motor control issues can make writing exhausting.
- Poor handwriting can lead to low confidence and avoidance of writing tasks.
- LSK handwriting support includes:
- Pre-writing activities (tracing, erasing letters, solving mazes).
- Cursive instruction to improve fluency.
- Explicit teaching of letter formation and spacing.
6. Keeping Students Engaged with Repetitive Learning
- Students need hundreds of repetitions to master basic literacy skills.
- Standard drills can be boring and frustrating.
- LSK provides a variety of engaging activities, including:
- Chunky Pig – A game reinforcing phoneme blending.
- Make-a-Chunk sheets – Matching and handwriting exercises.
- Tracking sheets – Strengthening phonemic awareness.
- Close reading sheets – Filling in missing words from context.
7. Addressing Sticking Points in Phonics Programs
- Some students get stuck on complex spelling rules (e.g., C/K rule, open/closed syllables).
- LSK removes these difficult concepts temporarily so students can continue making progress.
- Focus remains on:
- Mastering short vowel sounds before moving to long vowels.
- Learning suffixes before tackling multi-syllable words.
8. High-Frequency Words: A Key Component
- High-frequency words are essential for reading fluency.
- Traditional word lists cause stress for many students (e.g., weekly school spelling tests).
- LSK includes:
- Traceable worksheets for repeated practice.
- Snakes and Ladders game using high-frequency words.
- Word search puzzles for additional reinforcement.
9. The Power of Repetition and Daily Practice
- Flashcard Decks: Each new letter or sound is added to a child’s personal deck.
- Spelling Drills: Structured practice with traceable letters for extra support.
- Daily reinforcement builds automaticity without overwhelming students.
10. Who Can Use the Literacy Support Kit?
- Teachers and tutors looking to support struggling students.
- Parents who want a structured, easy-to-follow literacy program.
- Intervention specialists who need additional materials to customize instruction.
- The LSK is simple enough that parents can use it at home, even without formal training.
Resources & Links
The Literacy Support Kit (LSK)
Word Cracking Membership: Now includes LSK resources, morphology materials, and training courses.
Games and Activities for Literacy
Handwriting Support Resources
Final Thoughts
Sally and Michael reflect on their years of experience working with children living with learning difficulties and how the most challenging students make you a better teacher. They emphasize the importance of adapting instruction to fit individual student needs and giving students small successes to build confidence.
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This episode is packed with practical advice, strategies, and free resources to support struggling readers and writers. Tune in and explore how the Literacy Support Kit can make a difference.
