Build Why Students with Dyslexia Need More than Foundational Skills Instruction Science tells us that if we want students to become fully literate, we must change not just standard foundational skills instruction but also the dominant approaches to reading comprehension and writing. That’s particularly true for students who struggle with decoding. If we limit those students to practicing reading comprehension skills on texts they can decode, they may not acquire the academic knowledge and vocabulary needed for success at higher grade levels. If we don’t explicitly teach them how to construct complex sentences, they may not be able to understand the syntax of written language. Participants will gain an understanding of the research supporting the use of read-alouds and writing instruction to boost comprehension for students with reading difficulties, what this approach looks like in the classroom and actionable strategies for implementing it. Natalie Wexler Education writer and author