When eight-year-old Thomas first sat down in Ms. Rivera’s third-grade class, he already knew what was coming. Another year of struggling to read aloud, watching other kids breeze through chapter books while he got stuck on simple words, and feeling that familiar knot in his stomach every time the teacher called on him. What Thomas […]
For parents guiding children learning to read in English as an additional language (EAL), the journey can feel exciting and challenging. You might wonder how to support your child’s reading development best while honoring their first language. The good news? Research shows that multilingual children can become exceptional readers with guidance and support. Understanding the […]
Did you know that the foundation for learning to read is understanding speech sounds? While letters and words are seen with our eyes, when learning to read the brain facilitates a process that correlates with spoken language. This is why it’s so important for children to sound things out when they’re learning to read. In […]
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can significantly affect academic performance. When it comes to reading, people with ADHD often have different ways of being able to effectively focus, comprehend, and retain information in text. If your child has ADHD and is struggling with reading, know that this struggle doesn’t have to last forever. […]
No matter how your family approaches reading at home, children develop literacy skills and learn best in a reader-friendly environment. Nurturing your child’s love for reading can positively affect their emotional, cognitive, and mental development. One way to foster healthy reading habits in your home is to create an inviting, cozy reading nook—also known as […]
Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills in literacy development. In fact, comprehension—being able to actively understand and remember what is read—is the ultimate goal of reading. When children are learning to read, it can take time to develop strong comprehension. Every child learns essential skills at their own pace. If your child […]
When kids are learning to read, the books they explore play a role in shaping their skills and attitudes toward reading. Books also impact literacy development: texts must be appropriate for a child’s age, interests, and stage of reading development. It’s important to choose beginning reader books for your child that support their literacy journey […]
The ability to decode words, read them fluently, and understand their meaning is the goal of successful reading. To do this, children need to develop reading comprehension skills. According to the National Reading Panel, The five pillars of learning to read are phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. All five components are important, but […]
Teaching your child to read is a challenging and rewarding process. If your child has already developed phonemic and phonological awareness, they’re ready to start learning the connection between those sounds and the letters that represent them. In order to read, children need to develop specific decoding skills to help them recognize letters and the […]
Children are gathering skills they’ll use in reading and writing everyday. So how can you help get your child reading confidently and instill a lifelong love of books? The world is filled with words, letters, and numbers. Watching your child transition from a nonreader to one who can both entertain and educate themselves with a […]
