#56: How to Spot Early Signs of Dyslexia in Preschool and Kindergarten with Lori Josephson
That Gut Feeling You Just Can’t Shake…
You know the moment. You’re sitting on the carpet, reading a book aloud, and you glance over at a child who just isn’t connecting the dots. They’re bright, curious, and love storytime—but something’s off. You’ve done the letter names, the sounds, the songs, the rhymes… and still, it’s not clicking.
If you’ve ever had that gut feeling—“This is more than just being behind”—you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong.
In this episode of the podcast, Malia sits down with longtime educator, trainer, and author Lori Josephson to talk about something every K–2 teacher needs to be fluent in: spotting the early signs of dyslexia in preschool and kindergarten.
What Are the Early Signs of Dyslexia in Young Learners?
Dyslexia isn’t about seeing words backwards or letters flipping on the page. That’s a myth we’re officially tossing out. According to Lori—and the International Dyslexia Association—it’s a neurobiological language-based disorder, not a vision issue.
So what should you be looking for?
Here are a few red flags Lori shares:
- Delayed speech development (though not always)
- Difficulty learning letter names or matching sounds to letters
- Lack of interest in word play or rhyming games
- Trouble blending or segmenting sounds (e.g., not being able to say the sounds in “cat” as /k/ /ă/ /t/)
- Avoidance of reading or lack of confidence with books
- Poor pencil grip or difficulty forming letters
- Using pictures to “guess” words instead of decoding
These clues might seem subtle—but combined, they’re powerful indicators that a student may need support.
Strategies for Supporting At-Risk Readers Early
The best part? You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis. You don’t need permission to start helping.
Here’s what Lori recommends:
Use a Dyslexia Screener
Tools like the EarlyBird screener or Well Screen can flag students at risk—even before kindergarten.
Look at Spelling and Writing
Children’s invented spelling gives you a direct window into how they process sounds and symbols. It’s not just cute—it’s diagnostic.
Focus on Sound Blending & Segmenting
Rhyming gets a lot of credit, but phoneme blending and segmentation are the most powerful early skills to build.
Try:
- Say the sounds /k/ /a/ /t/ and ask students to blend.
- Say “cat” and ask them to break it into sounds.
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel—Intensify the Instruction
Students with dyslexia don’t need different lessons—they need more intensive, direct, and repeated instruction using the same Tier 1 materials.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- The most common myths teachers still believe about dyslexia—and what’s actually true
- A clear breakdown of phonological vs. phonemic awareness
- What orthographic mapping is—and why it matters
- The power of letter-sound connection (and why “What does B say?” might need a rethink)
- Actionable tips for helping at-risk students—before they fall too far behind
Bringing It All Together
You don’t have to be a specialist to spot the signs of dyslexia early—and you don’t need a brand-new curriculum to start supporting your students more effectively. With sharp observation skills, science-backed strategies, and a commitment to direct, explicit instruction, you can change the trajectory for your struggling readers.
Remember: You are not alone. You are not powerless. And with tools like Lori’s book Calling All Neurons and insights from this episode, you’re already on the right path.
Want More Support?
If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of reading instruction, The Science of Reading Formula gives you the proven strategies, tools, and confidence to support every student—especially those struggling the most.
👉 Join The Science of Reading Formula for step-by-step guidance, ready-to-use resources, and the support you need to confidently help every PreK–2nd grade student become a successful reader.
Whether you’re just beginning your Science of Reading journey or looking to deepen your practice, this membership gives you the tools to teach with clarity—and impact.
LINKS
Lori Josephson Website / LinkedIn / X / Facebook / Instagram / Medium
Science of Reading-What I Should Have Learned in College Facebook Group
International Dyslexia Association
GAAB Early Screener
Well Screening
Ladder of Reading by Dr. Nancy Young
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!
WHAT TO LISTEN TO NEXT
Rate, Review, and Follow
If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review”. Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!
While you’re there, be sure to follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don’t want you to miss out! Follow right here.
