If you’ve been following education news lately, you might have heard about “the reading wars.” As a parent, you may wonder what these “wars” mean for your child’s reading journey. Let’s break down this decades-long debate and, more importantly, understand what the science tells us about helping children become successful readers. What Are the Reading […]
That familiar bookstore scent of fresh paper and possibility can signal the start of a wonderful learning adventure for you and your child. While screens and online shopping offer convenience, there’s something special about exploring a physical bookstore together. Beyond just selecting books, these visits can build crucial literacy skills and create lasting memories. The […]
The first-grade year marks an incredible transformation in your child’s reading journey. This is often the year when all those early literacy skills begin coming together, and many children take their first steps toward reading independence. It’s an exciting time filled with both wonderful achievements and natural challenges. What Makes First Grade Special First grade […]
Watching our children develop reading skills is exciting and challenging. Those first moments when your little one identifies a letter in their name or tries to sound out a word on their own are absolutely magical. You might wonder: Is my child on track? What should I be looking for? How can I best support […]
Vocabulary is one of the foundational skills required for reading. It plays a crucial role in how children learn to read and how they engage with text! As one of the five core components of reading instruction, vocabulary is essential for helping students develop their literacy skills from early letter recognition to mastery. Let’s explore […]
Learning the alphabet is a major milestone in a child’s early literacy development! While singing the ABC song is a fun and memorable way to introduce the letters, true alphabet mastery involves much more. This blog post will explore some fun, effective ways to help your child not only recognize letters but also understand their […]
The timeline of literacy development varies from child to child. From what science now knows about reading, however, there are some general milestones that most children follow as they gradually learn to read. For example, children typically begin to identify words that rhyme and recognize some familiar words by the age of 5. In first […]
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 […]
As parents, we all want our children to become confident, skilled readers. To do this, they not only need to practice but must also have strong foundational skills that support their current reading abilities, as well as their long-term academic journey. When choosing books for your early reader, one previously popular approach has been “reading […]
Learning to recognize alphabetical letters is step one on a child’s reading journey. Understanding the typical letter recognition milestones as parents can help us make sure our kids are on track with their early reading development, equipping us with knowledge and practical tips for helping them practice at home. In this article, we go over […]
