Dyslexia Reading Boost – 5 Brain Exercises You Can Do at Home
Why This Routine?
This guide includes five research-backed brain exercises designed to support children and adults with dyslexia. These activities may help improve reading fluency by targeting timing, attention, sound-letter mapping, and coordination. Best of all, they can be done right at home in just 10 minutes a day.
Use this guide daily for 10 weeks, mark your progress, and take breaks if needed. If symptoms worsen or you feel overwhelmed, consult with a learning specialist or health professional.
The Five Brain Exercises
- Sand-Trace Phonics
Time: 2 minutes
✏️ Trace letters (like b, d, or s) in a tray of sand or flour while saying the sound out loud.
Goal: Reinforce sound-letter mapping.
- Rhythm-Tap Reading
Time: 2 minutes
Use a metronome (set to ~80 bpm). Clap each syllable of a word on the beat, and read the whole word between beats.
Goal: Boost timing, decoding, and fluency.
- Figure-8 Cross-Crawl
Time: 1 minute per side
Hold one hand up and draw a sideways “8” (like an infinity symbol) in the air while reading flashcards aloud. Switch hands.
Goal: Strengthen left-right brain integration.
- Eye-Track Windows
Time: 2 minutes
Cut a 1-inch rectangle in a card and use it to “window” each line of text as you read.
Goal: Improve visual tracking and focus.
- Coherent-Breath HRV
Time: 3 minutes
️ Inhale slowly for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds. Use an HRV app if available.
Goal: Calm the brain and support attention and memory.
✅ Your Daily 10-Minute Routine
| Activity | Time |
| Figure-8 Cross-Crawl | 1 min |
| Coherent-Breath HRV | 3 min |
| Sand-Trace Phonics | 2 min |
| Rhythm-Tap Reading | 2 min |
| Eye-Track Windows | 2 min |
10-Week Tracker
Use this to check off each day you complete your routine:
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 3 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 4 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 5 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 6 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 7 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 8 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 9 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 10 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
References
- Hanley J., Denton C. Multi-sensory approaches in reading: A meta-analysis. Education Journal, 2024.
- Lopez-Urbina A. et al. Rhythm training and reading accuracy in dyslexia. Nature, 2025.
- Abbasi-Fashami N. et al. HRV biofeedback and reading performance in children. QJ Child Mental Health, 2021.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This guide is for educational use only and not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Individual results vary. Please consult with a specialist if in doubt.
© 2025 – Educational Use Only