For many students with dyslexia, the school year is filled with hard work, determination, and significant progress. But when summer arrives, and structured reading routines disappear, some of those gains can fade. Students with dyslexia often need consistent, repeated practice to build strong reading foundations. This is generally more than what a typical 9-month school year can provide.
That’s why summer is a crucial time for continuing their growth.
The good news? With the right support, summer can be a season of meaningful progress rather than regression.
Why Students With Dyslexia Need Continued Summer Practice
1. Preventing Skill Regression
All students experience some learning loss over the summer, but for students with dyslexia, the effects can be more pronounced. Without regular practice, skills such as decoding, phonemic awareness, and fluency can become rusty.
Short, structured sessions over the summer help students maintain the progress they made during the school year.
2. Strengthening Foundational Reading Skills
Students with dyslexia benefit from systematic, multisensory practice. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to reinforce:
- Sound–symbol connections
- Decoding and spelling patterns
- Reading fluency
- High-frequency word recognition
- Comprehension strategies
Because the pace is slower and the pressure is lower, students can focus on true mastery.
3. Building Confidence Through Consistency
Students with dyslexia often face frustration or self-doubt about reading. Regular summer practice:
- Builds positive momentum
- Reinforces success
- Reduces anxiety about the coming school year
- Shows students that they can improve and grow
Confidence is one of the most important outcomes of sustained literacy support.
4. Avoiding Overwhelm in the Fall
When students take a long break from structured reading instruction, returning to school can feel overwhelming.
Continued summer work ensures that students re-enter the classroom with:
- Stronger skills
- Better stamina
- More confidence
- A sense of readiness
This sets the tone for a smoother, more successful academic year.
5. Taking Advantage of Individualized Attention
During the school year, teachers do their best—but classroom instruction moves quickly. Summer offers something rare:
Time. Space. Individual focus.
Whether a student needs to revisit earlier phonics patterns or move on to more advanced reading skills, summer provides the flexibility to meet them exactly where they are.
Why Expert Support Makes a Difference
Parents want to help, but teaching reading—especially to a child with dyslexia—requires specialized strategies, patience, and training.
Working with a summer literacy expert ensures the instruction is:
- Structured
- Evidence-based
- Multisensory
- Delivered at the right pace
- Tailored to the student’s needs
Students stay motivated, and parents get peace of mind knowing progress is happening without conflict or frustration.
How SummerEdge Supports Students With Dyslexia
At SummerEdge, our Intensive Reading Camp provides targeted summer programs that help students with dyslexia maintain and grow their skills through:
- Systematic, multisensory reading instruction
- Guided practice tailored to each student
- Support in decoding, fluency, and comprehension
- Confidence-building routines
- Gentle, consistent daily or weekly practice
We help students build the skills they need—and the confidence they deserve.
Final Thoughts
For students with dyslexia, summer isn’t a time to pause learning—it’s a chance to reinforce progress and continue building strong reading foundations. With the right support, summer becomes a powerful opportunity for growth, confidence, and success.
Give your child the benefit of steady, supportive summer practice. Learn more about SummerEdge’s Intensive Reading Program at Summeredge.org.