Y4 Whole Class Reading –Chapter 1 The Secret Diary of a Housemaid (Comprehension) Dyslexia Friendly

Summary
A complete dyslexia-friendly comprehension lesson pack for Year 4, based on The Secret Diary of a Housemaid – Chapter 1.
Pupils learn to find and use textual evidence through skimming, scanning and highlighting keywords, before writing full-sentence answers supported by proof from the text.
Every slide and worksheet follows British Dyslexia Association design guidance, with Century Gothic font, cream backgrounds, and dual-coding visuals for accessible and confident comprehension.

What’s Included
Full lesson plan (Learning COGS format) with clear objectives, success criteria and structured teaching sequence
PowerPoint slideshow introducing key strategies: Skim – Scan – Evidence
Two differentiated comprehension resource packs (main + LA) containing:
Extracts for retrieval and inference
“Find the Evidence” grids and self-assessment checklists
Sentence-starter scaffolds to support structured written answers
Vocabulary support boxes with definitions of dialect words

Learning Aims
Identify and retrieve key information from a text using skim and scan skills
Highlight and record evidence that proves an answer
Write clear, full-sentence responses using sentence stems
Reflect on how using evidence strengthens understanding

Dyslexia-Friendly Design
All materials are created in line with British Dyslexia Association Style Guide principles:
Century Gothic font for clear, rounded letters
Cream or pastel backgrounds to reduce visual stress
Dark grey text for soft contrast (not black)
1.5–2.0 line spacing and wide margins to aid eye-tracking
Left-aligned paragraphs (no justification)
Bold keywords instead of italics or underlining
Dual-coding icons and simple visuals to link text with meaning
Predictable slide layout and uncluttered design to lower cognitive load
These adjustments make the lesson accessible for pupils with dyslexia, visual processing, or working-memory difficulties, while benefiting all readers.

Curriculum Links

Reading: retrieval, inference, evidence and vocabulary in context
Writing: constructing full-sentence answers with textual support
Speaking & Listening: explaining how evidence supports meaning
History: Victorian life, dialect and voice in context

Perfect For
Whole-class reading, guided comprehension or targeted SEND literacy groups.
Engaging dialogue, humour and accessible formatting ensure every pupil can build reading confidence and evidence-based comprehension skills.