The moment your child sounds out their first three-letter word—”c-a-t”—and suddenly exclaims “cat!” with pure delight is magical. That breakthrough moment represents mastery of CVC words, the fundamental building blocks that transform children from letter-knowers into actual readers. Understanding CVC words isn’t just about teaching your child to read simple words; it’s about laying the […]
Specific Language Impairment (SLI) affects oral language development in ways that become apparent during the preschool years, before children even enter formal schooling. This condition impacts between 5-10% of preschoolers, making it surprisingly common, yet many parents have never heard of it. Unlike typical variations in language development, where some children are naturally chattier or […]
Text structure refers to the organizational patterns authors use to present information in written material. Think of it as the architectural blueprint that guides how ideas are arranged and connected throughout a text. When students recognize these patterns, they can better predict what comes next, identify key concepts, monitor their understanding, and effectively summarize central […]
Second grade marks a crucial transition point in reading development. Children at this level read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction texts that are appropriately designed for their grade level, while accurately decoding multisyllable words and using knowledge of print-sound mappings to sound out unknown words. This represents a significant shift from first grade, where […]
Every night, as you settle in for bedtime stories, you’re actually introducing your child to the building blocks of storytelling. Whether you’re reading a simple board book about a sleepy bunny or a more complex tale about a brave little mouse, every story contains the same fundamental elements that make narratives work. Understanding these story […]
Your first grader proudly reads aloud: “The cat sat on the mat.” But when you ask what happened in the story, they stare blankly. Sound familiar? This is the classic challenge of early reading comprehension. Children can decode words but struggle to understand their meaning. Understanding what reading comprehension looks like in first grade helps […]
Remember the magic moment when your child first realized that “The Three Little Pigs” wasn’t just a fun story, but actually followed a pattern? That’s the power of understanding text structure and the secret framework that helps young readers make sense of stories and information. When children recognize these patterns in their favorite picture books, […]
Picture a beautifully braided rope, each strand essential to its strength and purpose. Now, imagine that rope represents everything your child needs to become a skilled reader. This powerful visual, created by Dr. Hollis Scarborough in the early 1990s, has become one of the most influential tools for understanding reading development. But how does this […]
Here’s a beautiful truth: when teachers and parents work as a team, magic happens for young readers. Let’s explore how to make parent-teacher conferences productive, supportive, and focused on helping every child succeed. Why Reading Conversations Matter So Much Reading forms the foundation for all academic learning, making it one of the most important topics […]
For decades, American classrooms have been shaped by different philosophies about how children learn to read. Several prominent approaches have contributed to the conversation. Two of those are Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study (often called balanced literacy) and the Science of Reading. Understanding these approaches can help teachers make informed decisions about supporting their readers. […]
