Essential Reading Support Tools for Struggling Readers & Children with Dyslexia
Serving families in Fort Worth, TX and online nationwide.
If your child still struggles to read, avoids reading time, guesses at words, or freezes when the text gets harder—despite being bright and eager—you’re in the right place. I’m Catherine Mitchell, a structured‑literacy reading therapist who specializes in dyslexia and reading differences.
On this page, you’ll find my top‑recommended apps, books, and starter strategies that have helped many kids go from frustration to confidence.
Start Here: Get Clarity on What’s Keeping Your Child Stuck
Before you try another app or program, get a quick snapshot of where reading is breaking down.
Free 5‑Minute Reading Root‑Cause Snapshot Checklist
Download my mini‑assessment to see which skills are most likely keeping your child stuck and what to focus on first at home.
Top Apps for Building Reading Confidence at Home
Cognuro
Great for strengthening working memory and attention—helpful for kids who lose focus quickly.
Sight Words Made Easy by EBLI
Best for building phonics and decoding skills in kids ages 6–10. Easy to use, engaging, and designed with struggling readers and dyslexia in mind.
Kindle Read‑Aloud / Immersion Reading
Excellent for having books read aloud while highlighting text, so students can follow along and connect spoken and written words.
Elephant Learning
A math app that builds conceptual understanding—useful for many kids who struggle with both reading and math.
TTRS (Touch‑Type Read and Spell)
Currently not ideal in its default form for struggling readers. I’m in contact with the company about changes; I’ll update this page when the program is better aligned for dyslexic and struggling readers.
Recommended Books for Parents
Why Our Children Can’t Read and What We Can Do About It
Why I recommend it: A clear, research‑aligned explanation of what often goes wrong in reading instruction and practical ideas for supporting your child at home.
Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties
Why I recommend it: A deeper look at dyslexia and other reading difficulties, with practical guidance for understanding assessments and effective interventions.
“If you’d like to understand what’s happening in your child’s brain as these skills develop, visit my How the Reading Brain Really Works section to see a simple breakdown of how the brain learns to read