Supporting Learners with Dyslexia in the Business Classroom
- Teaching Business
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
Continuing our series of articles about the need to support our SEND pupils' needs in the the business classroom, this latest extract from our FREE e-book focuses upon how we can make small changes and adjustments to help maximise the engagement and academic potential of our dyslexia cohort.
Understanding Dyslexia in the Classroom
Dyslexia primarily affects reading, spelling, and processing speed. In a Business Studies setting, where students are expected to interpret dense case studies, analyse terminology-rich scenarios, and respond with structured written answers, these challenges can seriously impact confidence and performance.
Common Challenges for Dyslexic Learners
•Slow reading speed, making it difficult to finish tasks in allocated time
•Difficulty decoding business terminology (e.g., "liquidity," "stakeholders")
•Spelling issues, particularly with subject-specific vocabulary
•Fatigue from extended reading and writing tasks
Practical Strategies for Business Teachers
•Use dyslexia-friendly fonts (sans-serif, e.g., Arial or Open Dyslexic) and pastel backgrounds for handouts and slides
•Pre-teach key vocabulary with visuals and definitions
•Break texts into bite-sized chunks with bolded subheadings or bullet points
•Allow oral explanations or mind maps as alternatives to long written answers
•Offer reading pens or text-to-speech tools for independence during longer case studies
Differentiating Business Content
•Provide guided reading questions alongside case studies to direct focus
•Use dual coding: combine icons or diagrams with text to aid processing
•Supply fill-in-the-blank templates or scaffolded essay planners
Assessment & Feedback
•Allow extra time or offer alternative assessment formats where applicable
•Focus feedback on content understanding, not just spelling or grammar
•Offer voice notes or 1-to-1 review of written work to clarify improvements
Dyslexic learners can excel in Business Studies when barriers to reading and writing are removed. Their verbal reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving skills can become powerful assets in class discussion, group work, and strategic analysis.
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