What Type of Reading Instruction Works Best for Struggling Readers?
The school year is almost half way over and you are watching your child continue to struggle with reading. Teachers tell you that he/she will catch up eventually. Everyone tells you to read aloud to your child and they will learn to love to read. You are doing everything you are told to do, but you know the struggle is real and you see no improvement. You see the tears, frustration, and damage to self-esteem and realize that you need to take further steps. What type of reading instruction works… Read more What Type of Reading Instruction Works Best for Struggling Readers? →
Building Phonological Awareness
What is phonological awareness? Phonological awareness is not just phonics, but includes the ability to hear sounds and isolate them from one another (sound discrimination), to segment, blend, and rhyme sounds. Building phonological awareness is an important step in preparing children to read. A curriculum is not required. You can help build phonological awareness with the following activities: Sound discrimination involves being able to identify if sounds are different or the same. Simple activities, such as giving a child 2 sounds to compare will help build sound discrimination. For example,… Read more Building Phonological Awareness →
Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Child
Books, books, books! I love books! I love a variety of genres. Some of my favorite times with my sons, as they grew up, was reading aloud every night at bedtime. From The Warrior series to Lord of the Rings, we were able to spend many quality hours together exploring different worlds and getting to know exciting characters. Reading aloud to your child regular has many benefits, no matter what age they are. Here are just a few of those benefits: Quality time-From infants to teens, there is nothing like bonding over a… Read more Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Child →
Partnering With Your Child’s Teacher
As the school year is ending, are you satisfied with your child’s progress? Do you feel that your child is working at grade level, or do you have concerns? If you are not satisfied with his/her progress, if you have concerns or may even suspect your child has a learning disability, there are some steps that you can take to insure that they will have a better year next year. Communication with teachers is a crucial part of their success. Most teachers desire open communication with parents. They want your… Read more Partnering With Your Child’s Teacher →
What is Dyslexia?
In my last post I discussed the myths surrounding dyslexia. This week I would like to discuss what we know about dyslexia. As I shared in my last post, there are over 30 years of well-documented research on dyslexia. The Connecticut Longitudinal Study is one such study. It began in 1978 and followed 445 children beginning in kindergarten, according to Sally Shaywitz, M.D. in Overcoming Dyslexia. There are international organizations, such as the International Dyslexia Association that share information to educate teachers and parents on dyslexia. So, what is dyslexia? Dyslexia… Read more What is Dyslexia? →
Common Myths About Dyslexia
There are many common myths about dyslexia. These myths can be damaging to students and adults with dyslexia. It is understandable that parents may be confused as to what dyslexia is. However, it is alarming that some of these myths come from professional educators. I still remember, about four years ago, I was in the process of applying for accomodations for a high school student when I contacted the high school special education director. She was a highly educated (working on her PhD.), well-loved, and highly regarded teacher in her… Read more Common Myths About Dyslexia →
Early Intervention
Most teachers and parents delay evaluating students for dyslexia, or other learning disabilities, because they think children will outgrow whatever reading and spelling difficulties they have. This is not true. The Connecticut Longitudinal Study demonstrated that 3 out of 4 students who struggle with reading and spelling in elementary school, continue to struggle as they get older. By high school, these students’ difficulties can no longer be overlooked. Without early identification and early intervention, these students will continue to struggle into adulthood. Early intervention programs should be researched based and… Read more Early Intervention →
Reading Within Reach 