Embedded Classroom Support

Dyslexia & Reading Challenges

When students with dyslexia struggle at school, it’s not because they aren’t bright and capable. Instead, it’s because they aren’t receiving adequate, systematic, structured literacy lessons based on the Science of Reading. This approach ensures students learn to read proficiently.

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A group of students sit at desks in a classroom, reading textbooks and taking notes during a lesson.

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A woman sits in a library raising her hand, while a young boy sitting on the floor also raises his hand. Bookshelves filled with books are in the background.

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A woman sits on the floor in a library with two young children, all reading books, surrounded by bookshelves filled with colorful books.

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Embedded Classroom Support for Students with Dyslexia & Reading Challenges

Early Screening & Monitoring

Evidence-based assessments, such as Acadience Reading Screeners, ensure timely support, track growth, and inform instruction at every step. Early intervention ensures student success.

Structured Literacy Program

Using a research-based approach, students learn all components of reading and writing through systematic, explicit, and cumulative instruction. This approach benefits all students, and particularly those with dyslexia.

Direct Phonics Instruction

Students progress through an Orton-Gillingham scope and sequence to master phonemic awareness skills, sound-symbol correspondence, and decoding and encoding of single and multisyllabic words. As students learn these skills, they read and spell words, sentences, and extended text. Instruction utilizes routines and games to keep students motivated and engaged.

Fluency & Comprehension Strategies

Using evidence-based routines, students practice fluency at the word, sentence, and passage level. Fluency practice helps our students connect their phonics knowledge to deeper comprehension.
Comprehension is targeted through themes and genres, exposing students to both fiction and nonfiction texts to build knowledge and expand vocabulary.

Tailored, Small Group Instruction

Students are grouped by skill level for structured lessons and personalized support. Separate reading and writing classes from kindergarten through grade 12 ensure that students receive targeted, explicit instruction in both reading and writing. In grades 9-12 options for targeted small group work for Literacy support exist as needed, along with separate English and literature classes.

Trained, Committed Educators

All kindergarten through grade 6 homeroom teachers and grades 7 and 8 literature teachers receive training in Structured Literacy. All McLean faculty are committed to supporting all students.

Collaborative Teaching Model

Classroom teachers, Reading Specialists, and the K-12 Literacy Coordinator work together closely to ensure that each student’s literacy needs are met. Through regular planning, shared strategies, and ongoing communication, this team creates a coordinated approach.

Assistive Technology & Accommodations

Tools, when needed, such as adult readers, Learning Ally, text-to-speech, and note-taking support, ensure that all students fully access the curriculum. Supportive accommodations would be outlined in the McLean Learning Profile℠, and, if needed for high-stakes testing and college admissions, an Academic Achievement Plan in grades 9-12

What Reading Success Looks Like

Our assessments show that over 80% of students are at or above benchmarks in reading by the end of grade 8. Students experience growth in:

foundational reading skills
strategies to decode and encode multisyllabic words
reading fluency
comprehension strategies
breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge

Along with this comes improved confidence, independence, and academic engagement!

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Complimentary Reading Screenings

Early intervention is essential. It takes four times as long to bring a struggling grade 4 student up to grade level in reading as it does for a kindergarten student.

If you’re concerned about your child’s reading progress, McLean School offers complimentary Acadience Reading Screenings throughout the year for children in kindergarten through grade 3.

Learn More

A young child looks at a whiteboard with words and phonetic symbols. Text promotes complimentary reading screenings for kindergarten to grade 3 at McLean School.

Dive Deeper

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Academic Performance Anxiety

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Dysgraphia & Writing Challenges

Discover the McLean Experience

It’s critically important for a child to be in a school that respects them for who they are, and supports their academic strengths and challenges. This has always been true for McLean.

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Programs

Embedded Classroom Support

Dyslexia & Reading Challenges