6. It isn’t as simple as it may seem. If children can decode words, but their comprehension isn’t there, they’re technically not reading, says Nelson. Students need not only to figure out what words say but also what they mean. This is where classroom tools like audiobooks can really help kids. Listening to others read can build vocabulary, word knowledge and familiarity with the complex syntax of written language. Nelson cautions, however, that if you offer a student the opportunity to listen instead of read, you should first check to be sure that the child doesn’t also have a problem with listening comprehension. She says you should also make sure that the student has help to improve the reading, decoding and spelling skills that are impaired in dyslexia, and she adds, “Remember, students will only get better with good instruction and practice, so be sure to help them find something they enjoy and can read independently for at least a portion of every day.”