What are the best classroom accommodations for students developing reading skills?

Last updated: January 18, 2026

You’ve sat through IEP meetings, nodding along as educators use words like “accommodations” and “modifications,” wondering if any of it will actually help your child experience the joy of reading that seems to come so easily to others. You’ve watched your bright, capable child work twice as hard as their classmates, only to fall further behind—and the weight of wanting to fix it while feeling powerless to do so is exhausting. That frustration you feel when the school’s suggestions seem focused on managing expectations rather than building skills isn’t pessimism—it’s your instincts telling you that your child deserves more. Here’s what I want you to know: effective classroom accommodations exist, they work, and your child’s brain is capable of building the reading pathways that will serve them for life.

TL;DR

Effective accommodations build reading skills rather than just managing limitations
Multisensory instruction and systematic phonics create measurable brain changes
Audio support allows grade-level content access while decoding skills develop
Parent-teacher partnerships using growth-focused language lead to better outcomes
Daily home practice amplifies classroom accommodations for compound improvement

Understanding Why Classroom Support Matters

When a child is developing reading skills differently from their peers, the classroom can feel like an obstacle course. Every lesson that relies heavily on written text becomes an opportunity for frustration rather than learning. The good news is that with the right accommodations, teachers can transform this experience entirely.

Research shows that children developing reading skills need systematic, explicit instruction that builds foundational abilities. The brain remains remarkably adaptable—what neuroscientists call neuroplasticity—meaning that with appropriate support, children can develop the same neural reading networks as their peers. Brain imaging studies confirm that intensive reading intervention creates measurable changes in brain structure and function.

The key is understanding that accommodations aren’t about lowering expectations. They’re about providing the right conditions for your child’s brain to build stronger reading pathways. When we pair high expectations with appropriate support, children thrive.

Your child's brain can build strong reading pathways with the right classroom support. Accommodations should develop skills, not just manage expectations. Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

Evidence-Based Accommodations That Build Skills

Not all accommodations are created equal. The most effective ones don’t just help children get through the day—they actively support skill development. Here are the approaches backed by reading science:

Multisensory Instruction: The brain learns reading best when visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways work together. Teachers can incorporate activities where students see letters, hear sounds, and use movement or touch simultaneously. This approach has been shown to improve reading outcomes significantly.

Systematic Phonics Support: Children developing reading skills benefit from explicit, step-by-step instruction in letter-sound relationships. When teachers break down words into individual sounds and teach decoding systematically, they’re helping build the neural pathways that support automatic reading. Programs based on structured literacy approaches show dramatic results.

Extended Time and Reduced Load: Processing text takes more mental energy for children building reading skills. Providing extended time for reading tasks and breaking assignments into smaller chunks prevents cognitive overload while maintaining skill-building expectations.

Author Quote "

Brain imaging studies show that children developing reading skills can build the same neural reading networks as their peers through intensive, multisensory instruction.

Laura Lurns Learning Success Expert

Expert Insight: Brain imaging studies reveal that children developing reading skills show different patterns of neural activation—but these aren't permanent deficits. After just 12 weeks of intensive, multisensory reading instruction, brain scans show normalized activation patterns, with reading centers lighting up as brightly as in proficient readers.

Practical Strategies for Daily Classroom Success

Beyond formal accommodations in an IEP or 504 plan, teachers can implement simple strategies that make a significant difference:

Audio Support: Providing audio versions of text allows children to access grade-level content while continuing to develop independent reading skills. This isn’t about avoiding reading—it’s about ensuring comprehension isn’t limited by decoding speed.

Visual Aids and Graphic Organizers: Children building reading skills often have strong visual processing abilities. Graphic organizers, color-coded materials, and visual schedules help them organize information and follow along with lessons.

Preferential Seating: Positioning near the teacher reduces auditory distractions and allows for quick check-ins. For children who also experience auditory figure-ground challenges, this simple accommodation can transform their ability to follow instruction.

Chunked Instructions: Multi-step verbal directions can overwhelm working memory. Teachers who break instructions into one or two steps at a time, with visual reminders, set children up for success rather than confusion.

Key Takeaways:

Multisensory instruction engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways for stronger learning

Audio support provides content access while independent reading skills develop

Parent-teacher collaboration with skill-focused language creates the best outcomes

Building a Partnership with Your Child’s Teacher

The most effective accommodations come from collaboration between parents and teachers who share a common goal: helping your child build strong reading skills while maintaining access to grade-level learning.

When communicating with teachers, focus on what helps your child’s brain develop rather than what limitations exist. Instead of saying “my child can’t read grade-level text,” try “my child benefits from multisensory reading instruction and audio support while building decoding skills.” This language keeps expectations high while acknowledging the need for specific supports.

Ask about evidence-based reading programs the school uses. Inquire whether teachers have training in structured literacy approaches. Request regular progress monitoring so you can see the growth happening—because it will happen.

Remember that your daily involvement at home amplifies everything happening in the classroom. Research consistently shows that parent-led practice, even just five minutes daily, creates compound improvements in reading ability. The Learning Success All Access Program provides structured activities you can do at home to reinforce classroom learning and build the cognitive foundations that make reading possible.

Author Quote "

Research demonstrates that neuroplasticity allows the brain to rewire itself for reading success at any age with appropriate challenge and support.

Here’s what I believe with everything I have: your child’s brain is not broken, it’s building skills in its own way—and that way can lead to reading success when paired with the right support. You don’t have to accept a system that treats accommodations as permanent workarounds instead of skill-building bridges. The outdated “wait and see” approach that leaves children struggling while the window for intervention narrows isn’t inevitable—it’s simply the way things have been done. But you’re not bound by that. Your involvement, your advocacy, and your daily presence in your child’s learning journey create more impact than any single classroom strategy. When you pair effective school accommodations with consistent home practice, you’re giving your child’s brain exactly what it needs to rewire for reading success. Start your free trial of the Learning Success All Access Program and discover how five minutes a day can build the cognitive foundations that make classroom learning click.

References

National Reading Panel - Systematic Phonics Instruction Review - Found that systematic phonics instruction significantly improves reading achievement in students with reading differences
Stanford Neuroimaging Research - Brain Changes After Reading Intervention - Demonstrated that intensive reading instruction creates measurable changes in brain structure and normalized activation patterns
International Dyslexia Association - Evidence-Based Reading Interventions - Children with reading differences can develop the same neural pathways as typical readers through multisensory instruction